Our fascination with monsters tells us a lot about ourselves
11 September 2024
From serpents to zombie pathogens, there is science behind our love of monsters. It reveals a lot about who we are, says Natalie Lawrence
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Premium
Is digital technology really swaying voters and undermining democracy?
28 August 2024
Many fear that voters are being manipulated by political campaigns that use Facebook ads, TikTok and YouTube videos, but research reveals a more surprising story
We may finally know how the placebo effect relieves pain
24 July 2024
A brain circuit discovered in mice could explain why placebo treatments ease pain in people
How to use psychology to hack your mind and fall in love with exercise
24 July 2024
If the idea of exercise is more attractive than the reality, you aren't alone. But there are ways to train your motivation and develop better habits
If your gym instructor is an iPad, what is lost – and gained?
23 July 2024
When your gym class is online at home, you don't necessarily need to miss out on the benefits that come from exercising in-person with others
Speed of decision-making reflects our biases
10 July 2024
Within a group of decision-makers, the longer it takes someone to make a choice, the less likely they are to be influenced by their inherent biases according to a mathematical model
Why did humans evolve big brains? A new idea bodes ill for our future
8 July 2024
Recent fossil finds suggest that big brains weren't an evolutionary asset to our ancestors but evolved by accident – and are likely to shrink again in the near future
New Quiet Place movie adds to irrational fears over marauding aliens
3 July 2024
Sci-fi depictions of extraterrestrial invasions can heighten anxiety about our efforts to make first contact, says METI president Douglas Vakoch
Why excessive positivity is bad for your health and mental well-being
4 June 2024
There are real benefits to a positive mindset, but the idea that we should always look on the bright side has gone too far. Research into toxic positivity can help restore balance
Chicks link shapes with 'bouba' and 'kiki' sounds just like humans
30 May 2024
Humans from many cultures tend to associate the nonsense words “bouba” and “kiki” with different shapes – and now it seems that 3-day-old chicks have the same inclinations