Just because they break so many laws of physics doesn't mean The Flash writers don't care about science. Quite the contrary, the "Flash Facts" section of the classic Silver Age Flash comics always went out of their way to try to explain just how the Scarlet Speedster's powers worked and just what happens to a body under the super-speed conditions he so often finds himself in.
The result is a whole lot of pseudo-science and it actually makes a lot more sense than one might think. The human body just wasn't built to go at the near-light speeds, but The Flash is no ordinary human. On top of the Fastest Man Alive, he could be the Strangest Man Alive. Here are the five weirdest things about the superhero's anatomy.
What Are The Flash's Powers?
There's a whole lot more to The Flash than just being able to run fast. The same way super-strength might come with making super jumps or super throws, moving extremely fast comes with a whole host of other powers that don't immediately come to mind. The Flash can create whirlwinds, run across the surface of water and phase through solid objects.
By vibrating the molecules of his body extremely fast, The Flash is able to "slide" his molecules through those of other solid objects. It's an extremely difficult move for a speedster to master and often comes later in The Flash's career, whenever a new hero takes up the mantle. Flash's vibrational abilities show just how thorough he is -- it's not just his legs that are fast, it's his every molecule.
How Fast Is The Flash's Brain?
If Flash's super speed goes down to the level of his molecules, it must affect every aspect of his body, even his brain. Flash's neurons fire at incalculable speeds, allowing him to enter a mental state in which time appears frozen and he can work through complex problems in mere moments. This ability serves Barry Allen extremely well as a forensic scientist, allowing him to analyze the minutiae of a crime scene with a glance and then process all the data with his super computer of a brain.
Flash most often needs to activate the ability, but there is a subconscious level on which his instincts can kick into protect him. Since he is unconsciously processing all that information at every moment, even the slightest shift in air pressure can tune him into a potential threat. Since he's too fast for most villains to touch, they will often try surprising him before he knows he's in a fight, but that's a lot easier said than done.
What Is the Speed Force?
One can only go so far into the science of discussing The Flash before it's an absolute necessity to discuss the Speed Force. Conceived as a way to explain many of the more physics-breaking aspects to The Flash's powers, the Speed Force is an extradimensional power source which fuels and protects all the speedsters of the DC Universe. The Speed Force it the answer to almost any question that asks how something a speedster can do is possible. One of the most potent examples is friction.
Any object moving as fast as The Flash would generate a lot of heat. That heat should incinerate the clothing and even the skin of someone moving so fast, but the Speed Force generates a protective envelope around the Flash and anyone he is touching that keeps them safe from harm. The same holds true for the air that presumably blasts into The Flash's eyes, which explains why he's one of the few speedsters who doesn't need goggles.
Why Does The Flash Eat So Much?
Every aspect of The Flash moves faster than that of a normal human's, and that holds true for his metabolism. The most common example of his super metabolism is his appetite, as The Flash constantly scarfs down feasts of food in fractions of a second to feed his ferocious appetite. The super metabolism isn't entirely an inconvenience, as he was once poisoned by Poison Ivy and managed to run the toxins out of his system before they ever hit his heart.
Can The Flash Regenerate?
Ordinarily The Flash does not visit the hospital, as his body heals faster than a normal human's. Generally, his white blood cells and regeneration go to work immediately following any injury, allowing him to recover from near-fatal wounds in almost no time at all. Bart Allen even had his knee cap blown off and was in well enough shape to run himself out of the emergency room shortly after.
There can be a downside to this, as the healing process can happen so fast that bones will grow back improperly. The Flash even broke a bone all over again just to reset it, which is a major inconvenience in the midst of battle. Still, it's certainly better than the alternative, and The Flash isn't going to give up a handy healing factor just because it causes some unpleasantness every so often.