At one time or another we have all experienced some type of
burning feeling. Maybe it was when we touched a hot stove,
sipped a scalding drink, stayed out in the sun too long, or
played with fire. Sometimes we even feel burning sensations when
we eat spicy food. Whatever the cause, the burning feeling is no
fun at all. For this reason, scientists were especially curious
when they discovered an animal that doesn’t feel certain burning
sensations. This animal is the naked mole rat. Several years
ago, researchers accidentally discovered naked mole rats didn’t
have something called “substance P.” To put it simply, substance
P is a compound that sends signals of burning pain in our
nerves. Since naked mole rats don’t have substance P, they don’t
feel pain from burns but will from other injuries. For example,
they feel pain from pinching, prodding, and other physical
injuries, but can’t feel pain from acid or the burning sensation
from chili peppers (BioEdOnline.org). What makes this ability
especially interesting