PSYCHOLOGY

Most People Consistently Visit 25 Different Places in Their Daily Lives

If you begin frequenting a new place, you probably stop going to another, keeping your total number of haunts constant.

What Color Are These Dots? Your Perception May Be Skewed by Context

If "the dress" taught us anything, it's that how we see color isn't always black and white.

This Mysterious Condition Makes People Think Bugs Are Crawling Under Their Skin

Tens of thousands of Americans might have it.

Do 'Close Door' Buttons in Elevators Actually Do Anything?

Everything you know is a lie.

Yoga and Meditation May Lead to an Inflated Ego

Participants were more likely to say that statements like "I am the most helpful person I know" describe them.

Have You Heard? Trading Gossip Can Be Good for You

TMZ rejoices.

Pucker Up: Tasting Something Sour Is Linked to Taking Risks

Is the key to bravery just eating lemons?

6 Reasons Why Swearing Is Good for You

Read on and curse if you must. Why the hell not?

Having Trouble Dealing With Negative Feedback? Don't Be So Quick to React

Self-awareness is the key to success, experts say.

Researchers May Have Pinpointed the Exact Amount of Money You Need to Be Happy

A new study has figured out the dollar amount of where money stops being a blessing and starts being a curse.

Photo Illustration by Lucy Quintanilla. Image: iStock.

The Quest to Break America’s Most Mysterious Code—And Find $60 Million in Buried Treasure

For the past century, the quest to break the Beale Ciphers has attracted the military, computer scientists, and conspiracy theorists. All have failed.

This Is the Age When Puppies Reach 'Peak Cuteness'

They're at their most adorable when they need us the most.

Why Our Brains Love Plot Twists

There's more to it than the element of surprise.

People Are More Likely to BS When There Are No Consequences

The good news: BS isn't inevitable.

How 'Unconscious Bias' Can Trick Your Brain Into Trusting People (Even if You Shouldn't)

Watch out for confident people—they can fool you.

Why You Shouldn't Trust the New Study That Supports Putting Two Spaces After a Period

The one space-versus-two space debate rages on.

The Fascinating Science Behind Why We See 'Faces' In Objects

No, you're not the only one who has seen the face of Elvis in a potato chip.

The Fascinating Way That Words Can Change How We Perceive Colors

Is it blue, green, or grue? The colors we see in the world aren't only a function of our eyesight. The language we speak can impact the colors we recognize.

How You Act at Starbucks Might Reflect Your Ancestors' Farming Style

A new study on the behavior of Starbucks customers in China finds that differences between wheat- and rice-growing cultures last for generations, long after families have left farming life.

A Breakthrough Global Study of Depression Finds 44 Genetic Variants Linked to the Disease

In the largest study of its kind, researchers offer a major step forward in how we understand depression.

Feeling Anxious? Just a Few Minutes of Meditation Might Help

Mindfulness can help reduce anxiety in just one session, new research suggests.

Reading Aloud to Your Kids Can Promote Good Behavior and Sharpen Their Attention

It's about more than just literacy.

Overcome Your Fear of Embarrassment by Imagining People Reacting to Your Fart

Visualizing yourself as the audience to your own mortifying situation could help you get over it.

How Netflix Taps Into Font Psychology to Tell a Story and Find Its Audience

The streaming giant’s attention to detail goes far beyond the shows themselves.

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