Inside the Mind
What are dreams really made of? Are humans the smartest animal? What causes schizophrenia? Travel inside the mind and find out how the human brain works.
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Aristotle defined hate as a dislike so intense that whoever feels it wants to cause another person real harm. What is going on in our brains when we hate? And can hate ever be a good thing?
There's a connection between our physical bodies and the way it responds to emotion -- but scientists aren't quite sure what it is. Could it be that happiness is little more than a series of neurochemical responses to the world around us?
By Josh Clark
You think you'd know what happiness was -- you've felt it before, right? Not quite. It turns out that the definition of happiness pretty much depends on who's defining it.
By Josh Clark
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Studies seem to indicate that men are more likely to harbor violent tendencies than women. What factors do researchers use to come to these conclusions, and most importantly, is it true that men are more violent?
Why do we help others, even if we know it will hurt us? As it turns out, the concepts of altruism and selfishness may be linked -- much more so than we thought.
By Josh Clark
If you've ever dashed into the grocery store to pick up a tube of toothpaste, you've likely been stopped in your tracks by the sheer number of options available. So why does having more options make it so much harder to make the right choice?
By Tom Scheve
Once scientists discovered that some members of the great ape family could recognize their reflections in mirrors, academics began to wonder whether these animals were actually conscious of themselves. That debate continues today.
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We'd like to think we're pretty clever, but when you correct for body mass, dolphin brains aren't far off from our own. What cognitive skills do dolphins possess, and could they really be our intellectual equals?
Computers can handle far more calculations per second than the human brain, and can store and retrieve information very reliably. Should we be jealous of these hunks of silicon and metal on our desks?
Ignorance is bliss. But what if you're more than just unaware? If you are dumb as a doornail, flat-out foolish or dim-witted, are you happier than the genius next door?
Laughter may be the best medicine, but can it actually cure an illness? Some doctors are prescribing a daily case of the giggles along with conventional treatments.
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The Declaration of Independence is one of the most significant documents in American history. However, the origin of one of its signature phrases -- the pursuit of happiness -- is shrouded in mystery.
By Josh Clark
Marriage entails waking up beside the one you love and sharing cozy, homemade dinners for two. But when the honeymoon haze clears, are married people happier than singles?
How does a laughter milkshake sound? What about a joy cocktail? Though the former may sound like part of a kid's meal and the latter like a happy hour order, they're both related to laughter yoga.
If you want to quantify how happy someone is, do you count the number of smiles he or she cracks in a single day? Some researchers are stumped as to how happiness can be measured.
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The authors of chain emails often tell you to smile more, with the added claim that it takes more muscles to frown. Ever questioned this piece of wisdom? We have an answer for you.
By Tom Scheve
Smiling isn't complicated: your mouth turns up, your cheeks lift and your eyes crinkle. You're happy and it shows. But can every smile -- even a fake one -- spread that cheerful feeling?
By Julia Layton
We love to play with and fuss over our pets, but have you wondered if they were having as much fun as you were? Can animals actually feel happiness?
By Josh Clark
What are your happiest childhood memories? What do you remember most about them -- the things you bought or the gifts you received, or the events themselves?
By Josh Clark
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From giggles to guffaws and chuckles to cackles, humans laugh in a lot of different ways. But what do each of those laughs mean, and are they all related to humor?
From an adult's point of view, kids have it made, spending their days playing and goofing off, with no responsibilities to worry about. But are kids really jumping for joy more often than the rest of us?
By Tom Scheve
Normally, we laugh because something's funny, but sometimes laughter can be something more serious -- a medical symptom. What separates a hearty guffaw from a signal of poor health?
It doesn't exactly seem like something the human body would do, let a large portion of itself go to complete waste. Is it true that most of your brain is on permanent hiatus?
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Three weeks of hard work. Is that all it takes to kick your smoking habit, taste for junk food or serial inability to stop hitting the snooze button? Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn't it?
By Julia Layton
Politicians and celebrities often lie or exaggerate claims that can be easily verified, but why?
By Alia Hoyt