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Why Is Everything Spicy Now?
The Carolina Reaper is so hot, it makes jalapeños taste like milk. It’s so hot, it causes people to hallucinate, vomit, pass out, wish they’d never been born. It’s so hot that the guy who
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How Older People Are Reaping Brain Benefits From New Tech
Overuse of digital gadgets harms teenagers, research suggests. But ubiquitous technology may be helping older Americans stay sharp. … The opposite appears true. “Among the digital pioneer generation, use of everyday digital technology has been
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How Our Brains Grasp Faces
Podcast: In this episode, cognitive scientists Rebecca Saxe of MIT and Heather Kosakowski join host Scott Sleek to discuss their groundbreaking findings about the development of the brain’s face-processing network.
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Turning a Hobby Into a Habit
… The human brain—more specifically, the way it’s wired to enjoy jitters—is partly responsible for how well these shows have been received by viewers. “Our body doesn’t always know the difference between a heart-rate increase
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Why You Are Not As Selfish As You Think
Whenever I fly, one line jumps out from the pre-flight safety briefing. Somewhere between “welcome aboard” and “use this whistle for attracting attention”, we’re reminded to “put on your own oxygen mask before helping others”.
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Optimists Are Alike, but Pessimists Are Unique, Brain Scan Study Suggests
… Optimism and pessimism aren’t unchanging traits; they tend to shift with age, although the trajectories vary from culture to culture. Nor is optimism an unquestioned good. “Extreme optimism might not always be a good
