Intelligent life might be rare
How hard is it for evolution to produce intelligent life like humans? We don't really know, but some computational modelers tried to answer…
Category: What’s it like to be a human?
What are we like? How do we relate to each other? What is it like to be a person in society? How do our bodies work?
Competent bosses make happier employees
The latest in totally unsurprising results: a study has found that a more competent boss can improve workers' job satisfaction and…
How does testosterone relate to competitiveness?
Sweetening the deal for potential winners seems to strengthen the effects of testosterone in competitions.
Can psilocybin make you more creative?
A double-blind study has shown that psilocybin does not immediately enhance divergent or convergent creativity, but it does enhance…
What happens when astronaut teams don’t get along?
Professor Contractor Noshir knows how to help you get along better with your coworkers. He studies the interpersonal dynamics of crews in…
Does science have anything to say about cancel culture?
Whether it’s cartoons, advertisement strategies, rappers, or even podcasts, in the last few years Americans have been speaking out and…
Oxytocin slows down aging in lonely prairie voles
Loneliness ages you faster. But hormones can help! A recent study shows that oxytocin prevents cellular aging in lonely prairie voles.
Telling people they’re getting a placebo does not stop it from working
Does giving a placebo require lying to a patient? This study concludes...no! Placebos still work even when the patient knows, at least for…
Cortisol, not testosterone, can help you get a date
A new study finds that higher cortisol levels before, but not during, a speed-dating event makes men more popular with women. It depends on…
Do humans need to be altruistic to make it to Mars?
Altruism, in principle, is selfless action for the well-being of others. Altruism may help us achieve our space exploration goals. Space…