From Humbug! to Humble: The Power of the Scrooge Effect
A new study finds thoughts of our mortality can make us more generous.
Browsing Tag
Mortality
23 posts
This Last of Meeting Places
Confronting our mortality with vague metaphors, religious glosses, and computer analogies.
The Missing
As a kid, Rachael Maddux thought she could shut herself away from the reality of death. Instead, through Reader’s Digest, she came face to face with the fragility of life.
Think Alcohol’s Good for You? Not So Fast, Researchers Say
It turns out the benefits of light to moderate drinking might have been exaggerated.
The Oddly Reassuring Quality of Surrealistic Art
When people are reminded of their own mortality, surrealist paintings they might otherwise find baffling can become sources of comfort.
These Mental Illnesses and Addictions Are More Dangerous Than Heavy Smoking
Many mental illnesses and addictions are more heavily associated with premature deaths than heavy smoking, yet we tend to be less aware of their risks.
Homophobia Takes Years Off of Your Life
That’s the conclusion of a new study that compares death rates with Americans’ attitudes toward gay rights.
What Are the Chances I Die Today?
Noah Davis calculates the odds of his demise on an ordinary day in New York City.
Yes, You Can Be Fit and Fat
A new meta-study finds higher mortality rates among people who are not physically fit—no matter their weight.
Why Is the Way Physicians Want to Die So Different From the Rest of Us?
Given the opportunity, most doctors would turn down almost every form of intervention available.