Long before modern brain imaging technologies illuminated the neurophysiological mechanisms that make laughter contagious, William James (1842-1910) observed, "We don't laugh because we're happy, ...

My three young daughters like to watch pets doing silly things. Almost daily, they ask to see animal video clips on my phone and are quickly entertained. But once my 7-year-old lets out a belly laugh, ...

Issue 29 (December 2024) of CURIOUS is out now, bringing you science highlights for the month plus deep dives into intriguing topics, interviews, exclusives, diary dates, and explanations for some of ...

Human laughter is such an intrinsic part of our lives that we don’t tend to give it much thought. But we are one of only a handful of animals that do it, along with apes, dogs, and, quite bizarrely, ...

Colds and viruses aren’t the only things people “catch” from one another. Behavior can be contagious, too. From moods and habits to gestures and social norms, humans are constantly influencing each ...

My three young daughters like to watch pets doing silly things. Almost daily, they ask to see animal video clips on my phone and are quickly entertained. But once my 7-year-old lets out a belly laugh, ...

My three young daughters like to watch pets doing silly things. Almost daily, they ask to see animal video clips on my phone and are quickly entertained. But once my 7-year-old lets out a belly laugh, ...