We lie for many reasons: Glory. Money. Both. Something else. Is there a science of detecting lies? Does the digital realm make lying More
Lying liars lie!
Social Science
Odder than odd!
Dig the dung beetle. Sample the belly button. Tilt your brain — and see what happens. Watch bees cook their enemies. Drive through the More
Screaming about screen time?
We spend ever-more hours with TV, cellphones, tablets and computers, is it rude or necessary to always answer your phone? Does More
Emotional expressions: The face isn’t the whole story
At the moment of loss or victory, an athlete’s face shows intense … what? Without seeing the body, you can’t tell whether an important More
Making spears
Spears helped our ancestors eat and defend themselves. Spearmaking required ingenuity, experiments and communication. Symmetrical stone More
Losing in politics & sports
What’s the attachment to “my” team? How do we deal with the inevitable disappointment? Are murder and suicide now “part of the game”? More
To play, and therefore to mate
Are we affecting the character of future generations by the way we choose mates? If choosing attractive mates tends to make the More
Finding the killers — in advance
Can we spot young, male, angry, frustrated killers in advance? Will science help us identify them in time? Lessons from the past. More
Farming, Native American style
Native agriculture could be a sophisticated response to a challenging environment. What were the secrets of permaculture, companion More
Know thy genes, know thyself?
Advances in genetics raise the stakes in genetic counseling, but the genetic role in disease can be complicated, elusive. What role do More
Calendars: A fix needed?
A “permanent” calendar could finally answer the annual, “Uh, what day is New Year’s eve this year?” question. This calendar would place More
Garbage, lipstick and flat-screens
Sick of stats on GDP or stocks? Some of the alternative economic indicators are sensible, some are zany, and some are misleading, even More
Bookin’ science: Best of the batch.
If (gasp!) the subject is too big for a Whyfile, hit the books. More
Holiday blue? NOT!
Sick of the scare stories about holiday stress? Over-eating, over-this, over-that? What’s the upside of holidays, in terms of ritual More
The psychological price of job loss
What does long-term job loss do to depression, anxiety, brooding? Could long-term job loss shorten your life? More