Merv Mandelbaum 
Ever crack open your lighter just as Willie Nelson is getting ready to start crooning a soothing ballad, only to have approximately five billion people around you whip out their smartphones . . . or worse, iPads? Well, now there’s science to back up what every non-annoying person has known … Read More
There’s a reason why we avoid the comments section of sites like Fox News and Reddit’s r/worldnews: rampant conspiracy theorists. Actually, there are a bunch more reasons (rampant racism, rampant dickery, rampant homophobia), but we’re most annoyed by the conspiracy theorists. Fortunately, researchers Michael Wood and Karen Douglas were willing … Read More
Sticking to that New Year’s resolution? Well, you might consider turning down the thermostat. A study (pdf warning) published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism has found that a lower ambient temperature can help spend those daily calories. The authors found that, whilst people can pretty easily adapt to a … Read More
Ever had a girlfriend get mad at your for your selfish, boorish behaviour you exhibited—during her dream last night? Well, settle down, you’re not alone—and you may be guilty of the same thing. A study published in Social Psychological & Personality Science has found that the way people in relationships … Read More
We know this’ll sound odd, but: scientists have found a possible cure for fear, and it involves weird smells, electric shocks, and sleep. A study published in Nature Neuroscience has found that exposure therapy, a proven method of curing fear that involves repeated exposure to the object of your fear, … Read More
