That Unfinished Task Nagging You at Night? Your Memory Isn’t the Culprit
A 2025 review of nearly a century of studies found no memory boost for unfinished tasks, but a 67% pull to go back. Here’s how to quiet it.
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The Songs From Your Teens Still Hit Hardest. Your Brain Filed Them Somewhere Special
Spotify data puts the age your taste sets at 13 or 14, and your parents’ records may have sneaked into the same file.
That Cringe Memory From Years Ago Isn’t Random. Your Brain Replays It for a Reason
Unbidden memories surface several times a day. The embarrassing ones sting hardest, and a short self-kindness exercise can take the heat out.
Decision Fatigue: The Hungry Judges Study and the Truth About Willpower
Parole judges seemed to grow harsher as lunch approached. The famous study behind decision fatigue looks shakier under cross-examination.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect Is Real, but Not the Way the Internet Draws It
The famous “Mount Stupid” curve isn’t in the original study. Here’s what Kruger and Dunning actually found, and what statisticians did to it.
The Bystander Effect: Why the Famous Story Is Only Half True
The 38 silent witnesses to Kitty Genovese’s murder were largely a myth. The science of bystanders is more hopeful, and more useful, than the legend.
Why the Song You Hated in March Is Your Favourite by June
Repetition quietly rewires taste. Fifty years of mere exposure research explain why songs grow on you, and why some never will.
Why Does Time Speed Up as We Get Older? Five Explanations, Weighed
Everyone over 30 says the years are getting shorter. Psychologists have five explanations, and some hold up far better than others.
The Ben Franklin Effect: Why Asking a Rival for a Favour Can Win Them Over
In 1737 Benjamin Franklin disarmed a hostile politician by borrowing a book. Two centuries of psychology suggest the trick works, with caveats.