Human Nature

Human Nature encompasses peoples' actions, perceptions, and thought processes. Topics include food cravings, mind-reading, and contagious yawning.

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Understanding prehistoric societies explains why most people are happiest in small groups — but some of us break from the norm with cities and solitude alike.

By Jesslyn Shields

Just about every nation and culture has its own special alcoholic beverage — and its own hangover cure. Some may actually work while others may just make you sicker. Which one of these will you try?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

We blink our eyes so often, yet we usually don’t perceive that the world has gone dark, if only for a microsecond. Why is that?

By Yves Jeffcoat

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For difficult questions (Brexit, anyone?), large numbers don’t make for better decisions, says this researcher. But why?

By Dave Roos

Statistics show people have a strange tendency to overestimate the female presence. What are the actual stats behind the "too many women" complaint?

By Julia Layton

A writer test-drives advice on running her life according to her biological body clock with some surprising results.

By Alia Hoyt

The key to a losing weight, winning an argument or anything else depends on knowing if you're a bear, lion, dolphin or wolf, says author of upcoming book.

By Alia Hoyt

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Think that shot of you in the changing room mirror should be posted and shared? You might want to think again, depending on whether you care how you're perceived.

By Chris Opfer

Who hasn't wanted to get away from it all? For British designer Thomas Thwaites, that break entailed turning himself into a goat.

By Kate Kershner

An update to a famous study shows that employers may not discriminate as much as before — with one important caveat.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

That's not really the scoop. A new study doesn’t exactly claim that one minute of intense exercise is the same as 45 minutes of moderate exercise. But it's not far off.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

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Whither the Good Samaritan? A new study finds the chance of receiving a stranger's aid in a public medical emergency is close to zero — and worse if you're black or poor.

By Jesslyn Shields

Most animals don't feel shame, but humans do. Why would we evolve something that causes us pain, stress and discomfort?

By Jesslyn Shields

Researchers found that many white adoptive parents thought African-American children were "too different" for them though they'd consider children of other races.

By Nichole Bazemore

We sat down with magician Brian Brushwood to learn how con artists and hackers can fool their targets with something as simple as a conversation.

By Jonathan Strickland

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Or hey, maybe you'd love to see your favorite football team win the Super Bowl for 13 consecutive years? Yep, those are the crazy odds we're talking about.

By John Donovan

Time to start taking "OMG OMG my heart's literally gonna explode" seriously. A new study shows "broken heart syndrome" has a happy – but still tragic – flip side.

By Christopher Hassiotis

And not just any artist, but post-impressionist superstar Vincent Van Gogh. All for just $10.

By Allison Loudermilk

With 20 percent of U.S. women born after 1970 not having children, the question of who will provide elder care is becoming more urgent.

By Dave Roos

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The Martian day lasts longer than ours, which means that people whose circadian rhythms are out of sync with our planet may do better colonizing our red neighbor.

By Patrick J. Kiger

And you probably don't even realize you're doing it.

By John Donovan

And the U.S. isn't the only country where this gender gap is closing.

By Julia Layton

Researchers discover five different types of procrastinators, including "well-adjusted."

By Alia Hoyt

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If you've ever met someone who obsessively kept track of every perceived wrong committed against them, then you've met one. The problem is when they turn violent.

By Julia Layton

A new website will do the dirty work for you via Snapchat, text, letter or awkward phone call.

By Alia Hoyt