Memory – Four Crazy Things We Get Wrong

Memory – Four Crazy Things We Get Wrong: A guest post by John Hawthorne. There are a lot of deep misunderstandings about how memory works. Here we clear up four of the most common. Have you ever been absolutely convinced … Continue reading

Human Nature 2: Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is the topic of today’s blog. This is Part 2 of a blog about Human Nature, meaning behavior shown by today’s humans, whether or not we approve of it. Part 1 discussed some less controversial human behavior, namely … Continue reading

Human Nature 1: Lazy Teens, Wakeful Seniors

Lazy teens who sleep as late as you let them. Wakeful oldsters who have trouble getting a solid night’s sleep. We might be tempted to think that sleepy teenagers are being passively aggressive to protest the rules and schedules of … Continue reading

Ethics Research & Vampire Destroyers

Ethics is the topic of two fascinating recent research studies. One of these studies will protect you from an evil vampire boss! The other will make you hesitate before buying or even getting into a self-driving car But first: Ethics … Continue reading

Immortality, Doggerel & Bill Gould

Immortality – this Part 2 blog addresses practical ways for individuals to achieve immortality without technology, or at least a substantial life-after-death. Many people who search for the meaning of life settle on immortality as one of their personal goals. The immortality … Continue reading

The Meaning of Life and Immortality Through Technology

The Meaning of Life and Immortality are Big Questions. But Big Questions can have simple answers, and one of those answers turns out to be – Doggerel! This blog tells personal stories that for me illuminate these Big Questions and … Continue reading

Brand Charisma: Offers We Can’t Refuse

Brand charisma is the key quality that propels one person or one product ahead of every competitor. And it goes far beyond an inviting ad for a product. Brand charisma is like a perfect soufflé: it depends on every step being … Continue reading

End-of-Life Dreams: A Comforting Gateway

End-of-life dreams and visions can heal the mind even when the body cannot be healed. Hospice care workers as well as researchers have learned that dreams and visions are very important during the last weeks and days of life. Why … Continue reading

Drug Ads & Food Labels: Don’t Be Suckered

The American Medical Association recently targeted drug ads as a health hazard. Food labels push the same emotional buttons to mislead the consumer. This blog helps filter out the spam and learn the facts about what we put into our … Continue reading

Smart Birds Make Vitamins, Sculpt Tools

Smart birds are continuing to surprise both bird-watchers and animal psychologists. The smartest birds are thought to be as intelligent as the smartest of animals, including dolphins, whales, great apes and probably some people as well. And they don’t have … Continue reading

Invisible Body or Out Of Body – You Choose

Science Fact: Who has not wanted to be invisible, at least some time in their life? To be the fly on the wall observing some private moment. Gracefully avoiding an embarrassing situation. To experience the power of seeing without being … Continue reading

“Tells” in the Poker Game of Life

Science Fact: “ Tells ” are the unconscious tics that give away your deepest secrets – not just in a game of poker, but in everyday life. Do you think you can keep a secret? Not from a careful observer! … Continue reading

Suicide, Personal Freedom & Values

Science Fact: Suicide is forbidden by law, forbidden by religious precepts, and is often a forbidden subject for conversation. In the previous post we considered the understandable human desire to prolong and preserve life. This post looks at the opposite: the … Continue reading

Nerds, Empathy and Social Conscience

Science Fact: Nerds have graduated in recent times from being a reviled social group to an exclusive club. Nerds are certainly not “hot” (except perhaps for BBT’s Sheldon). However, their role in creating iPhone apps and their earning potential have enhanced … Continue reading

The Science of Women Scientists, plus Big Bang Theory

Science Fact:  Women scientists are readily found in biology, medicine and the social sciences. However, they are scarce in math, physics and engineering. You don’t have to be a feminist to be troubled by this fact. People’s skills differ, and … Continue reading

Gaze Tracking: Yes, he IS looking at your chest

Science Fact: Gaze tracking reveals exactly what you’re looking at, through the combined magic of video imaging and computer analysis. And researchers have used this very accurate measurement technique to confirm the truth of one of women’s peeves: the man you … Continue reading

Why do we sleep? And what is sleep, anyway?

Science Fact: Why do we sleep? And what is sleep, anyway? In Greek mythology, Hypnos, the god of Sleep, is half-brother to Thanatos, who represents Death. And Shakespeare’s Hamlet fears death as a nightmare from which you cannot escape. Yet sleep … Continue reading