Why Is Laughter So Hard to Fake?
A new study finds acoustic differences between genuine and feigned laughter and explains why we're so good at distinguishing the two.
Browsing Tag
Quick Studies
379 posts
To Produce an Obese Adult, Call Them ‘Fat’ While They’re Still a Kid
Scientists discovered that young girls who were labeled as "fat" were more likely to grow into adults that the medical community labels as "obese."
Does a Cold Courtroom Result in Murder Convictions?
The ambient temperature of a courtroom could change the way people perceive crimes—which, in turn, could affect sentencing.
Oysters Might Be Able to Protect Us From Rising Seas
Scientists discovered that oyster reefs grow rapidly enough to match sea level rise. That could mean great news for flood prevention—if we can stop shucking.
Rude Salespeople Make You Buy Fancy Things
Being snubbed by a luxury store only increases your desire for its goods, according to a new study.
How Weak Immune Systems Escort a Deadly Fungus Into the Brain
A pervasive fungus, passed along by pigeon droppings, can kill HIV patients by using a Trojan Horse strategy to invade their brains.
Science: Owning Yachts Much Better Than Merely Chartering Them
When it comes to luxury products, owning them makes you much more satisfied with your life than using them.
How Cattle Could Save the Brazilian Amazon
Boosting cattle density on Brazil's farms means less rainforest needs to be eliminated. Could a tax or a subsidy help achieve that?
Viruses Inspire an Innovative Cloaking Device for Medicine
Viruses are pretty damn good at evading our immune systems, so researchers co-opted their design.
Want to Remember Your Notes? Write Them, Don’t Type Them
Dust off your pens and notebooks. A new study finds laptops make note-taking so easy it's actually ineffective.