Psychology

This Is Why You Like to Cry In the Shower

Hot, steamy, sad

Does That Button Really Work, Or Is It a Placebo?

Fake buttons are more common than you might think

Painkillers Might Also Dull Your Emotions

A study shows Tylenol could affect emotional evaluations, but judging the meaning of that finding is tough

People seem to flow like river currents through the Central MTR subway station in Hong Kong.

Crowds Are Much Smarter Than We Suspected

In a new book, Michael Bond explores a growing body of research that says people in crowds exercise a collective intelligence

Surprise!

Like Tiny Scientists, Babies Learn Best By Focusing on Surprising Objects

Lab tests suggest that infants learn more about the world around them when they encounter and investigate unexpected phenomena

Crossing Your Fingers Could Reduce Pain (No Lie)

Researchers find the spatial arrangement of our digits affects the sensations they feel

Politicians Are More Persuasive During Interactive Town Hall Meetings

When given a chance at direct persuasion, most politicians are surprisingly good at changing our minds

Ask Smithsonian: How Do People Get Phobias?

The origins of irrational fears

The Desire to Conform Starts In Toddlers

Apes don’t have this problem — if they know the answer to a puzzle, they’ll do it, regardless of what their friends might think

Our Brains Hate Waiting So We Sped Up Everything Else

Sidewalk rage, road rage and anger at slow-loading web pages are all part of our evolutionary inheritance

Can You Draw the Apple Logo From Memory?

New research shows you probably can’t

The Spiritualist Who Warned Lincoln Was Also Booth's Drinking Buddy

What did Charles Colchester know and when did he know it?

Snack first, then try on that cardigan.

Hunger Makes You Buy More Stuff, Even If It's Not Food

Whether you're shopping at the mall or online, having the munchies will compel you to purchase extraneous things

Our furry friends might be able to infer our mood based on our facial expressions - just like human buddies do.

Dogs Can Tell Whether You’re Making a Happy or Mad Face

For the first time, science shows that a non-human animal can recognize the emotional state of another species

How Long Will You Live? Ask Your Friends

A medical personality quiz started in the 1930s shows how your best pals may know more about your health than you do

Are You Binge-Watching Because You're Depressed?

A new study found that people who were depressed binge-watched TV more—and used TV binges to deal with negative emotions

Being Politically Correct Can Actually Boost Creativity

In mixed-gender groups, being PC makes everyone more comfortable and lets ideas flow

A stone relief carving of soldiers made in Assyria and now in the British Museum.

Ancient Assyrian Soldiers Were Haunted by War, Too

A new study finds evidence of trauma experienced by soldiers returning home from combat over 3,000 years ago

Angry Tweets Help Twitter Detect Heart Disease Risk

New research shows that Twitter can detect not just viruses, but long-term public health problems

Your Spouse’s Personality Can Help You Get Ahead at Work

Tests on married couples reveal that conscientiousness in a spouse is the most helpful trait if you want promotions and success

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