You know that uneasy feeling when someone or something gives you the creeps? Is your brain picking up on a hidden danger, or is something else going on? There’s some fascinating science behind what makes things creepy and why certain people and situations trigger that feeling. ⁠https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/science-creepiness-180957093/⁠ (more…)

Have you ever felt like you don’t really deserve your success? Maybe you got a promotion, landed a great job, or accomplished something impressive, but instead of feeling proud, you worry that you’ve somehow fooled everyone into thinking you’re more capable than you really are. You wonder if it’s only a matter of time before someone figures out you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s often called imposter syndrome, and it can affect even highly successful, accomplished people. (more…)

On a clear night, the sky is filled with stars — far more than most of us can see. But there’s a surprisingly simple trick that can help you spot more of them, even without a telescope. It’s something experienced stargazers routinely do, and it can make a remarkable difference in what you see when you look up. ⁠https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/how-to-find-good-places-to-stargaze/⁠ (more…)

Having friends is great. Paying for friendships? Not so great. Between lunches, dinners, drinks, and other get-togethers, maintaining a social life can get surprisingly expensive. And research suggests the rising cost of friendship is changing how often people see their friends and even which friendships they maintain. Listen as I explain what’s happening and why it matters. ⁠https://www.badcredit.org/studies/friendship-spending-statistics/⁠ (more…)

Everyone knows that practice makes perfect. Or does it? Practicing is certainly important when you’re trying to master something new, but research suggests there’s another ingredient that can make practice far more effective. And the surprising part is that it involves not practicing. It turns out that what you do between practice sessions may be just as important as the practice itself. ⁠https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/take-short-breaks-to-maximize-memory-and-learning⁠ (more…)