Human Nature

In 1962, at a girls' school in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Africa, some schoolgirl giggles turned into a countrywide health crisis. And, to this day, the laughter remains a mystery.

By Jesslyn Shields

These days, people are looking for ways to find and share more joy instead of feeling happy about someone else's misfortune. That feeling of shared joy is called freudenfreude.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Feeling down and need someone to pick you up? Give the kids of Peptoc a call and we guarantee a smile!

By Patty Rasmussen

It's a term that's often used in an argument. But gaslighting has a very specific meaning that is often lost. What is it and how can you know if you're really being gaslighted?

By Alia Hoyt

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is all about slowing down and "bathing" yourself in the beauty of nature, which leads to psycho-emotional healing and stress reduction.

By Carrie Tatro

Getting lost in a book is one of life's greatest pleasures, but is a digital book just as pleasurable as a paper book? And which format is the best for learning?

By Patty Rasmussen

Everyone experiences boredom at some point and maybe even ennui, a chronic type of boredom. But surprisingly, ennui does have some benefits.

By Alia Hoyt

Perhaps everyone feels unworthy of their achievements at some point. But if you constantly have that feeling, you may have impostor syndrome. So, who's more likely to have it and how do you cope with it?

By Alia Hoyt

A study found that stereotypes of Americans who identified with more than one race were different from stereotypes applied to people of one race. What were they and what do biracial people think about these findings?

By Danielle Douez

The term 'microaggression' has gone mainstream in the last few years. But what counts as a microaggression, and why are some experts critical of the word?

By Danielle Douez

The suicides of two students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as the suicide of a father of a child killed at Newtown Elementary highlight how the shock from a deep trauma remains long after for survivors.

By John Donovan

This weekend's Powerball lottery is up to $800 million. Is that enough to get you to play?

By Dave Roos

More than 250 people in six years have died while taking selfies. Who is taking such risks and why?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

And that difference has a lot to do with dopamine — and how you respond to it.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Experts who've studied this say you have to look at several factors regarding parenting, toy guns and aggression.

By Patrick J. Kiger

The announcements of Kylie Jenner's 'surprise' baby and Beyonce's pregnancy with twins were two of the most liked Instagrams of all time. Why do celebrity babies excite the public so much?

By Alia Hoyt

Loneliness is such a prevalent problem that the British have appointed a minister for loneliness.

By Stell Simonton

Secrets can take a measurable mental and physical toll on those who keep — and share — them.

By Laurie L. Dove

Are facial expressions learned or innate? A study that looked at the facial expressions of people blind from birth found mixed results.

By Alia Hoyt

Short or tall, height affects us all — but does it have the power to determine how long we live, or whether we're happy?

By Laurie L. Dove

The experts have determined the right age for lots of life decisions.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

One expert calls anger a source of creative juice. Here's why.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Americans are struggling to maintain their core values in the face of heightened political polarization.

By Yves Jeffcoat

Green spaces aren't just a city-planning gimmick. Living near birds and shrubs really does have measurable benefits, new research shows.

By Kate Kershner

Would it surprise you to learn that people who used emojis were considered more agreeable than those who didn't?

By Alia Hoyt