How Humans Sense - Mechanisms and Implications of Human Sensory Systems

This 32-minute talk from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 explores the groundbreaking discoveries about how humans sense touch, temperature, and pressure—mysteries that remained unsolved until the early 2000s. Join speakers Ardem Patapoutian and Irene Tracey as they discuss the profound implications of these sensory mechanisms for addressing chronic pain, sensory disorders, and developing human-machine interfaces. Discover how curiosity-driven science has revolutionized our understanding of the human body's sensory systems. The talk is part of the 55th Annual Meeting, which brings together over 100 governments, international organizations, and 1000 Forum Partners to focus on fundamental principles of trust, including transparency, consistency, and accountability.