Former Red Sox player Wade Boggs, known as the “chicken man,” famously ate chicken before every one of his games as a good luck charm. Boggs told MLB.com, “In 1983, we ate chicken every day, and I wound up winning a batting title in ’83. So, the chicken worked.” While this pre-game ritual may have […]
The science of superstition Read More »
Taking notes in class. Signing a lease. Making a grocery list. All of these activities used to require a very important tool: our very own handwriting. Nowadays, we tend to rapidly jot down notes during class on our laptops or use autofill to put signatures on important documents. Because the faster we get these things
Nothing beats good old pen & paper Read More »
As the days get shorter and the weather colder, keeping that frown upside down becomes an arduous task. While you might think you have what it takes to bear the elements through sheer willpower, your genetics and neurochemistry disagree. Studies of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in Iceland and in various regions globally show that genetics
Fishing for happiness: Omega-3 and seasonal affective disorder Read More »
Bill Wilson co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s. He had struggled with alcoholism since his early twenties and depression even longer. But while AA helped Wilson recover from alcoholism, he remained frustrated with available mental health treatments. So, in the ‘50s, he began collaborating with psychologist Betty Eisner and discovered the power of LSD. In
Our brains on psychedelics: Getting creative in the treatment of mental illnesses Read More »
Kanye West, Billie Eilish, Lorde, Pharell Williams, and many other talented artists all share a unique characteristic that enhances their abilities: synesthesia. Defined as a perceptual phenomenon where two or more senses are connected that allow the individual to experience their sensations differently than most, synesthesia is an idiosyncratic phenomenon. There have been documented experiences
Chromesthesia: The blending of sounds and color Read More »
Although mice don’t have Instagram likes or followers to keep track of, social status is still a huge part of their societies. There is a clear hierarchy, with the top mice receiving first pick when it comes to food and mates and subordinate mice scrambling for whatever’s left. As shown by a study at Zhejiang
Of mice and mental health: How loss of social status leads to depression Read More »
Forgetting is an inevitable part of the human experience. People forget names, dates, appointments, and even entire events. It is frustrating to have something on the tip of your tongue, only to forget it completely moments later. But why do humans forget things? There are various theories as to why forgetting occurs, including biological, environmental,
You will forget about this article Read More »
The dark ages of the modern era, more commonly known as the COVID-19 lockdown, proved to be a challenging period for many. As inherently social and stimulation-addicted creatures, it is against our nature to stay inside for months at a time. Nonetheless, we emerged to see the light — except the “light” was more like
Emerging from the dark ages: Life after lockdown Read More »
They say first impressions are important. Clothing, hairstyle, posture — all these things affect one’s opinion of others. Admittedly, outward appearances are relatively easy to tailor to one’s environment — it’s about as appropriate to wear a bathing suit to a job interview as a business suit to the beach, after all. Unfortunately, it is
What what you say says about you: How how you speak speaks for you Read More »