Stories by Cindi May

A new study refutes the idea that there is a critical learning period in childhood

If a diagnosis is not delivered with care, it can form an intense “flashbulb memory”

The answer depends on your personality

Students were given placebos and told they were placebos, yet the intervention helped

The odd connection between a cliff-hanger and a candy bar

Study suggests meaningful work can be something you grow into, not something you discover

There is a way that the dark makes us feel safer—and this has implications for our health

There is little scientific support for this fashionable idea—and stronger evidence for other learning strategies

Study suggests the best strategy depends on gender

A large trial in schools showed no evidence of benefits, and hints it could even cause problems

A large multinational study provides some surprises

What do you think they’ll actually use it for?

A "self-enhancement" effect that can have negative consequences for all of us

The Unusual Box test—and what it means

The surprising power of curiosity

The “entropy” of nonsense words is linked to their funniness, research finds

Scientists study the contagion of obnoxiousness

The longer people know each other, the less physical attractiveness seems to matter

From helpless damsel to powerful heroine, but still hypersexualized

Humor boosts the effectiveness of meetings, a study finds

Researchers identify the personality trait that plays a positive role

A new finding from sports could have implications in business and elsewhere

Students who used longhand remembered more and had a deeper understanding of the material

Humor is tragedy plus time — but how much time?