OpinionJuly 29, 2024
Parasocial Relationships Can Tell Us a Lot about the Social Brain
People can form surprisingly strong bonds with others—even when that tie is one-sided
Stories by Daisy Yuhas
Daisy Yuhas edits the Scientific American column Mind Matters. She is a freelance science journalist and editor based in Austin, Tex. She is author of the Kids Field Guide to Birds.
OpinionSeptember 15, 2023
Forgotten Memories May Remain Intact in the Brain
Everyday lapses in memory can be a part of learning
ArchaeologyAugust 10, 2023
In a Stone Age Community, Women Moved while Men Stayed with Family
New archaeological finds offer a glimpse of family life 6,500 years ago
NeuroscienceJune 22, 2023
The Heart Can Sway Our Perception of Time
Our sense of time can expand or contract with the rhythm of each heartbeat
Quantum PhysicsMay 12, 2023
Physicists Create Biggest-Ever Schrödinger’s Cat
Physicists have put the largest-ever object into a quantum superposition
OpinionMarch 13, 2023
There’s a Psychological ‘Vaccine’ against Misinformation
A social psychologist found that showing people how manipulative techniques work can create resilience against misinformation
OpinionDecember 30, 2022
Your Response to Stress Improves as You Grow Older
In good news, our reactions to stressful events improve as we age. But living in uncertain times will still take a toll
OpinionOctober 14, 2022
Why Sleep-Deprived People Are More Selfish and Lonely
Poor sleep impairs brain areas that are key to social engagement, but more zzz’s can boost kind behavior
OpinionJune 20, 2022
Why Social Media Makes People Unhappy—And Simple Ways to Fix It
Research suggests platform designs make us lose track of time spent on them and can heighten conflicts, and then we feel upset with ourselves
OpinionNovember 30, 2021
How Brains Seamlessly Switch between Languages
Bilingual people engage the same brain region that monolingual individuals use to put together words—even when combining different languages
BehaviorApril 1, 2021
Pets: Why Do We Have Them?
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BehaviorOctober 9, 2019
Quiet Disadvantage: Study Finds Extroverts Are Happier—Even When They’re Really Introverts
A new study suggests a dose of “acting extroverted” could boost your mood—but some researchers caution there is a cost to acting against type
NeurologyFebruary 28, 2019
Untangling the Ties between Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Autism and OCD frequently accompany each other; scientists are studying both to understand how they differ
Mental HealthApril 8, 2018
Ask Me First: What Self-Assessments Can Tell Us about Autism
Self-report questionnaires gain popularity in Autism spectrum research and clinical practice
EnvironmentJanuary 1, 2018
Ancient Tree Structure Is Like a Forest unto Itself
Arboreal fossils reveal an unusual and complex structure
FitnessOctober 1, 2017
Forget Pills and Surgery for Back Pain
Many physicians are advocating a simpler approach to treating lower back pain: exercise
Mental HealthJuly 24, 2017
The Social Ties between Autism and Schizophrenia
Comparing the social features of the two conditions could lead to better treatments and a deeper understanding of each
Mental HealthMarch 22, 2017
Do Schizophrenia and Autism Share the Same Root?
New research suggests the two conditions may be de different outcomes of one genetic syndrome
BehaviorMarch 1, 2017
So You Want to Be a Genius
When it comes to cultivating genius, talent matters, but motivation may matter more
Mental HealthOctober 1, 2016
Depressed? Do What You Love
Therapies that focus on changing behaviors are just as effective as those that modify thoughts in managing the debilitating mood disorder
CognitionJuly 1, 2016
Shadows in Motion: Participate in a Visual Experiment
A simple animation reveals how the brain perceives shading to create a three-dimensional world
Mind & BrainMarch 1, 2016
4 Generations, 1 Mutation: A Family History with Fragile X Syndrome
Changes to one gene on the X chromosome can cause a range of woes from infertility to neurodegeneration to autism
The SciencesFebruary 29, 2016
Gorilla's Hum Is a Do-Not-Disturb Sign
If a socially prominent gorilla is in the midst of a meal, it may hum or sing to tell others nearby that it's busy at the moment and will get back to you later.
NeuroscienceJanuary 15, 2016
Veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan Show Brain Changes Related to Explosion Exposure
Researchers pinpoint the cerebellum as particularly vulnerable to blast injury