That Calm You Feel by the Water Is Real, and a Canal or Fountain Can Do It Too
Poorer city dwellers living within 1 km of the sea had about 40% lower odds of mental distress. Here is what water seems to do to us.
Spilling Your Coffee Could Make People Like You More. There’s One Big Catch
A 1966 experiment found one clumsy blunder lifted a star’s appeal and sank an average performer’s. Here’s what decides which way it goes.
The Thrill of Your New Phone Fades in Weeks. Here’s How to Make Joy Last Longer
In one 1978 study, lottery winners enjoyed breakfast and compliments less than people who never won. The fix is cheaper than you think.
Your Body Clock Isn’t Lazy: 351 Genes Help Decide Whether You’re a Night Owl
In one trial, owls moved their sleep two hours earlier in three weeks without losing any sleep, and felt less stressed.
Reading About a Yawn Can Make You Yawn. Here’s What Scientists Have Found
One study made people yawn with a magazine article. Another made them stop with a cold pack. Here is what the evidence really says.
The 5 Love Languages Sold 20 Million Copies. Here’s What Science Kept
Researchers have tested the book’s three big promises. The part that survives is simpler, warmer and doesn’t need a quiz.
The Spotlight Effect: You Think Everyone Noticed. About Half as Many Did
From a Barry Manilow T-shirt to your face in the corner of a Zoom call, 25 years of research shows how little others clock, and how to dim the glare.
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.
The One-Sentence Plan That More Than Doubled Exercise Rates, and How to Write Yours
A 2025 review of 642 tests says if-then plans still work, just less dramatically than the famous studies suggest. Here’s when they fail.
Monday Feels Like a Clean Slate for a Reason. Here’s How to Use It on Any Day
Gym visits jump 47% when a new term starts. Newer studies show when that reset works, when it fizzles, and how to make your own.