Think you’re using your head to make purchases? Think again.
Perception
Need to Undo a Jinx? Knock On Wood
A new study explores why superstitious rituals — or avoidant behaviors, as the scientists call them — can fend off bad luck.
Study Shows Seeing Smiles Can Lower Aggression
A happy face can certainly lift spirits, but can it reduce rage?
Trust: Is It All in the Eyes?
Possibly, but it’s not about shiftiness. How eye color and face shape help us judge trustworthiness
To Really Read Emotions, Look at Body Language, Not Facial Expressions
We think we’re reading facial expressions, but most of us rely on body cues to understand emotion
Is That a Bluff? Looking for Lies in People’s Shifty Eyes
Can you tell when someone is lying by the way they shift their gaze? Many people think so, but researchers say there is no truth to the “lying eyes” theory
Skin-Lightener for Women’s Private Parts Sparks Controversy
A new ad catering to Indian women and their “lady parts” invites backlash over the growing popularity of skin-lightening products.
‘Terminator’-Style Contact Lens Projects Info Before Your Eyes
Those info-streaming retinal displays from the Terminator movies may be closer to fact than fantasy, according to researchers at the University of Washington and Aalto University, in Finland, who are developing a computerized …
Turning Brown Eyes Blue: Why the Idea Feels Off-Color
A California company is touting a new laser procedure that purports to turn brown eyes blue. Even though the technology won’t be available in the U.S. for at least three years, the story is still causing a stir. For many, the …
Why a Bad Reputation Gets You Noticed
Having a bad reputation may not be desirable, but it does make you more likely to be seen — literally. A new study finds that, all other things being equal, people are more likely to pay attention to faces that have been …
The Science of Partying: Why Having Fun Makes You Forgetful
So you’re having fun at a party, and you see a cute possibility across the room. The next day, you remember precisely what that person looks like. But you just can’t remember the name — which is frustrating, since there’s …
Survey: Your Biggest Regrets, and How to Make Them Work for You
Regret is as universal an emotion as love or fear, and it can be nearly as powerful. So, in a new paper, two researchers set about trying to figure out what the typical American regrets most.
Study: American Women Aren’t Sure What Overweight Looks Like
Calling Dr. Obvious! American women are confused about what a healthy body is supposed to look like.