-
Why People See Their Pets as Family Members
Declining fertility rates and our biological drive to nurture may explain the rise of “dog parents.”
-
Over a Dozen APS Fellows Elected to Two Prestigious Scientific Organizations in 2025
A long list of APS Fellows, award winners, and members have been elected to both the Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences in 2025 elections.
-
How Donating Can Help Manage Depression Symptoms
Donating is thought of as a selfless act. But new research suggests people who regularly give away their money might also be cashing in on a reward: earning a more positive outlook.
-
Why Do Emotions Hijack Our Decisions? The Neuroscience of Impulsivity
Podcast: Why do some people struggle to control their actions when emotions run high? What happens in the brain when impulsive decisions take over? Why do some brains lose control under high arousal, while others stay composed? Under the Cortex explores.
-
The End of the ‘Generic’ Grocery-Store Brand
Inflation was high, economic growth was stagnant, and food prices were soaring: It was the 1970s, and everyone needed to eat to stay alive, but no one had any money. So a few enterprising grocery stores had an idea—they began purchasing their own food straight from the manufacturer, putting it in ostentatiously no-frills packaging, and selling it for significantly less than the name-brand stuff. These products were called “generics,” and if out-of-control costs were the problem, they were the solution. Well, sort of. The peas were starchy; the corn was bland. Generics weren’t awful, but they weren’t that good, either.
-
Why We Think We Deserve Good Karma—And Others Don’t
For thousands of years, people have waited on karma to catch up with their good behavior—or promised it would roll around for anyone who crossed them. The lure of karmic thinking is that if you do good things, positive outcomes will rain down on you, while the opposite is true for those who don’t uphold the same standard of morals. In other words: You reap what you sow.
