Mind & Body
The latest
How do painkillers work? Pain scientists explain, from ibuprofen to fentanyl
Not every painkiller works for every type of pain.
Is vegan cheese good for you? A nutritionist reveals one type may be better than others
Opinion: Not all vegan cheeses are the same nutritionally. Here’s what you need to know.
This everyday behavior is essential to preventing heart disease
Don’t feel guilty about sleeping in, because it’s good for your health.
Do you need 8 glasses of water a day? Hydration scientists demystify the number
“Hydration is the most essential nutrient needed to sustain life”
This everyday behavior is essential to preventing heart disease
Don’t feel guilty about sleeping in, because it’s good for your health.
Stop wasting money on this ineffective daily regimen
Just get gummy worms if that’s what you really want.
These 90-plus-year-old women reveal the secret to living a long, happy life
Looking on the bright side of life is backed by science.
This coffee hack could improve your gut health and make you live longer
Here’s what science can glean from your daily coffee order.
Researchers: Pump iron for 30 minutes a week to ward off early death
A little goes a long way.
Study reveals a surprising link between sleep and appetite
How much sleep do you need to lose weight? It's less than you think.
Vitamin D supplements may have a protective effect on the immune system
To take or not to take, that is the question.
You need to watch the most heroic swordfighting movie on Amazon Prime ASAP
Maybe you haven't seen this cult classic, but you'll definitely recognize its most famous line.
How does air quality affect longevity? Brain study reveals a beneficial link
Wearing a mask could have hidden benefits.
Scientists unravel an intriguing link between meditation and immunity
Far less exercise than you think could cut your chances of a deadly brain condition
Just 18 minutes a day. Sounds doable.
Going to bed after this specific time damages metabolic health — study
In a study published last week in Diabetologia, both disturbed sleep patterns and going to sleep after midnight were correlated to a less-than-optimal postprandial response.
Evolutionary biologists reveal how exercise unlocks human longevity
On the flip side, there are biological penalties for not working out.
Scientists find the best bedtime for heart health
Stop draggin’ your heart around, past 10 p.m.
Good fat vs bad fat: Study links one type of fat to a higher risk of stroke
However, scientists have long struggled to prove which kind of fat matters.
Why one type of massage can help muscles heal faster — study
There’s a curious link between mechanical stimulation, skeletal muscle repair, and immune function.
Detox
Do you need 8 glasses of water a day? Hydration scientists demystify the number
“Hydration is the most essential nutrient needed to sustain life”
What’s the best way to wash your face? Dermatologists explain the science of clean skin
Rinsing with water is likely not enough.
You are probably applying sunscreen wrong. Skincare experts explain how to best use it.
You're also likely not using enough.
How does social media affect body image in men? The dangers of Instagram, explained
Facebook has admitted to making body image issues worse for one in three teen girls, and boys are suffering as well.
Weight training: What is the ideal rep range for your goals?
Rep ranges, like most topics in lifting, can be explained by progressive overload.
Why “micro workouts” can have significant mental and physical benefits
There are advantages to fitting short bursts of exercise into your day.
Mindfulness plays a crucial role in lifting — here’s how to do it right
Research shows that mental training can increase gains at the gym.
Is creatine necessary? A shortage of the cult-like supplement forces lifters to question its importance
While creatine has a long history as a strength and performance supplement, there’s still a bit of confusion around it.
Do three-second lifts work? A sports science breaks down how much time you should actually spend lifting weights
A few seconds of lifting a day can lead to strength, but there’s a catch.
How to start lifting at any age
Does strength fade as we age — or can we maintain it?
Why is it nearly impossible to master the squat?
The exercise may take a lifetime to master.
Is lifting weights good for runners? Yes, if you do it right
Strength training can help runners achieve faster times and prevent common injuries.
How to set weight lifting goals and succeed: 3 expert tips to hit your benchmarks
Finding balance is key to following through on your goals.
What are good weight lifting benchmarks? The science of milestones, explained
We all train to get somewhere, even if we don’t know where to.
What time should you eat to gain muscle? The complex science, explained
Does meal timing affect muscle growth? Here’s what you need to know.
Is coffee before workouts good or bad? The benefits of caffeine, explained
How to get good at exercise: The secret is right in front of you
Here are the exercises to try again.
Upper body strength: The exercises and stretches you need to try
Too many “leg days”? Here’s how to catch up your upper body.
Does sprint training increase strength? What weight lifters need to know
Sprint training should be viewed as a type of strength training.
Exercises for better posture: 2 hacks lifters should try now
Here's how weight lifters can improve one critical feature, their posture, and why that's critical for strength.
Psychology
Are self-driving cars safe? The tipping point rests on a psychological illusion
Opinion: Adopting autonomous vehicles is a question of psychology as much as of technology.
How to spot a liar using a classic mathematical trick
Opinion: Can mathematics distinguish lying from a genuine misunderstanding?
How music makes you feel may depend less on your brain than scientists once thought — study
Western concepts of how music should make you feel can obscure fundamental truths about human perception.
7 trippy optical illusions that reveal how your brain perceives reality
Things aren’t always how they appear.
Research on a deadly bacteria might be a Covid-19 vaccine gamechanger
Opinion: This promising science presents an opportunity to make a lasting and wider impact beyond Covid-19.
Paxlovid and rebound Covid-19 infections: What you need to know
Researchers are still not sure what causes this form of rebound Covid-19.
Monkeypox is spreading around the world — here's why you shouldn't panic
An unusually high number of cases have been found in places where the virus isn't endemic.
Nasal vaccines could be key to finally defeating Covid-19 — here’s why
A doctor answers five crucial questions about the vaccine technology.
Omicron subvariants: An epidemiologist answers 5 essential questions
Here’s a rundown.
More than half of Americans have had Covid-19 — here's how to tell if you are one of them
The CDC says 60 percent of people in the U.S. have contracted Covid-19 since the pandemic began.
Mask recommendations are constantly in flux — here's the last mask guide you'll ever need
Few mitigation measures have inflamed tensions more than masks and mask mandates.
Overconfidence kills: The CDC and WHO still haven’t learned how to effectively communicate uncertainty
If there's one communications lesson from the pandemic, it's the importance of navigating uncertainty.
The Bubble review: Judd Apatow’s new Netflix comedy is the worst movie of 2022
Pandemic humor that’s so bad, it’s upsetting.
Covid-19 demonstrates a flaw of human psychology we’ve known about for centuries
We can and should do better.
Child Covid-19 vaccines: What the U.K.'s confusing rollout reveals
The aim is not to tackle omicron, but to future-proof childhood immunity against the next generation of variants.
You don’t need an Omicron-specific Covid-19 booster — here’s why
Get your booster.
The secret to treating Long Covid may lie in the gut microbiome
Bacterial populations may predict who gets Long Covid.
Why Covid-19 could give Conservative politics a huge boost in 2022
It’s set to be an intense year.
Covid-19 could become the next cholera if we ignore this one deadly lesson
The cholera of today can teach us about the Covid-19 of tomorrow.
Weed won't prevent Covid-19, but scientists are finding surprising cannabis connections
Cannabis compounds could help treat Covid-19, but it's still too early to tell.
Sunday Scaries
Why one unappealing emotion can make you happier in the long run
Here’s why you should treat anger like thirst.
Why scientists think these dietary supplements may help treat depression
While probiotics alone aren’t the cure, they could help as an add-on to other treatments.
This overlooked mental-health "hack" increases your chance of living longer
This intervention could support healthy aging across diverse groups.
People isolated from society have divergent levels of certain blood molecules
Hikikomori was first thought to be a Japanese-specific sociocultural effect, but experts now say it is a worldwide phenomenon.
How pumpkin spice flavor was created in a lab
How to make scientifically perfect ice cream
It's all about balancing the equation.
How yeast makes bread bubbly and delicious
How to make fluffy, delectable meringue using science
A scientific look at the power of eggs.
The Science Behind Crunchy Fried Chicken
How flavor chemists designed the controversial pumpkin spice
A little nutmeg has caused so much drama.
How to create the perfect scoop of ice cream — with science
When one element goes up, the other must come down.
Mastering sourdough with the science of yeast
How to use the magic microorganisms that make bread rise to create a golden brown loaf.
Why science is so important for the decadent pavlova
Pavlovas are a decidedly retro dessert named after a Russian ballerina.
How to get the crunchiest, juiciest fried chicken using science
A food scientist lays out the process of “flash evaporation” to achieve a crispy, dry exterior with a satisfying bite.
Beer + Chicken = Slammable Chicken
Cooking with beer can be easy — if you follow a few basic scientific laws.
How to turn the volume way up on a classic ceviche using science
A culinary scientist talks about the power of cooking with acid in the kitchen.
The science of grilling with smoke
A renowned molecular gastronomy chef shows you how. 🔥
2 beers and a little science can make a slammable chicken
Beer can enhance food in two ways: The alcohol's chemical abilities and the flavor — pilsner, in my case — can elevate your dish.
Eat Better
Is vegan cheese good for you? A nutritionist reveals one type may be better than others
Opinion: Not all vegan cheeses are the same nutritionally. Here’s what you need to know.
Why does spicy food make you sweat? A neuroscientist breaks it down
The body isn’t in actual harm, but it responds as if it is.
10 video game characters with Big Cheez-It energy
But is it extra-toasty?
What makes eggs organic? A USDA expert cracks open the complicated answer
Egg-cellent.
Why scientists think these dietary supplements may help treat depression
While probiotics alone aren’t the cure, they could help as an add-on to other treatments.
Beer might actually improve gut health, study finds
Beer belly, but make it biodiverse.
Does coffee make you poop? A gastroenterologist gets to the bottom of it
The connection is more complicated than you might think.
The baby poop of hunter-gatherers could unlock better gut health
The Hadza are known for their exceptional microbiomes.
Can ginger cure nausea? A gastroenterologist reveals the spicy truth
It certainly doesn’t hurt.
Antibiotics can hurt your gut microbiome, leading to a deadly fungal infection — study
One of the risk factors for getting invasive candidiasis is antibiotics.
A brief history of video game poop
A trail of turds from Earthbound to Death Stranding.
Axiom Mission 1 splashdown and more: Understand the world through 8 images
Here are the biggest science stories of the week.
Here's what drinking aloe vera juice really does to your body
A nutritionist explains the dangers of this new TikTok trend.
Poop transplants could be used to treat peanut allergies — study
Fecal microbiota therapy shows early promise as a treatment for the potentially life-threatening allergy.
This elusive toxin in the gut reawakens "zombie" viruses
Colibactin has been confounding scientists for almost two decades. New research uncovers one piece of the puzzle.
Study: Multiple sclerosis patients have a different gut microbiome
The condition has confounded scientists. Do bacteria in the gut hold any answers?
A pair of gut enzymes could be key to universal organ donation — a holy grail of medicine
Scientists successfully changed the blood type of human lungs in the lab.
The secret to treating Long Covid may lie in the gut microbiome
Bacterial populations may predict who gets Long Covid.
Gut microbiome study reveals the depths of racial health disparities
Time for a gut check.
Gut study reveals why pandas get huge despite their terrible diet
Trust the gut.
Sex and relationships
Why is my cat scratching furniture? The answer might surprise you
Scientists identify a surprising link between this feline behavior and emotional closeness.
Male celibacy has evolutionary benefits — but not for the reasons you think
Opinion: We studied lifelong religious celibacy in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries to understand why some people choose not to have sex.
Male birth control is at our fingertips. Will we ever grasp it?
A safe and effective topical gel has come the closest to commercial sale of any hormonal candidates so far. If it doesn’t get picked up, that’s everyone’s loss.
Harley Quinn Season 3 could fix a major Batman controversy, trailer hints
Remember when DC said Batman didn’t reciprocate in bed? Harley Quinn will finally tell us if he does.
How do painkillers work? Pain scientists explain, from ibuprofen to fentanyl
Not every painkiller works for every type of pain.
Is vegan cheese good for you? A nutritionist reveals one type may be better than others
Opinion: Not all vegan cheeses are the same nutritionally. Here’s what you need to know.
This everyday behavior is essential to preventing heart disease
Don’t feel guilty about sleeping in, because it’s good for your health.
Do you need 8 glasses of water a day? Hydration scientists demystify the number
“Hydration is the most essential nutrient needed to sustain life”
A devastating disease is showing up in London’s sewers — should you be worried?
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a disease that can cause paralysis and death.
Monkeypox: 4 charts predict how the outbreak will end
Opinion: What we know about the history of other infectious diseases makes it possible to analyze likely future scenarios.
Why one unappealing emotion can make you happier in the long run
Here’s why you should treat anger like thirst.
Why does spicy food make you sweat? A neuroscientist breaks it down
The body isn’t in actual harm, but it responds as if it is.
Weight training: What is the ideal rep range for your goals?
Rep ranges, like most topics in lifting, can be explained by progressive overload.
How to spot a liar using a classic mathematical trick
Opinion: Can mathematics distinguish lying from a genuine misunderstanding?
Male birth control is at our fingertips. Will we ever grasp it?
A safe and effective topical gel has come the closest to commercial sale of any hormonal candidates so far. If it doesn’t get picked up, that’s everyone’s loss.
How music makes you feel may depend less on your brain than scientists once thought — study
Western concepts of how music should make you feel can obscure fundamental truths about human perception.
What’s the best way to wash your face? Dermatologists explain the science of clean skin
Rinsing with water is likely not enough.
Why scientists think these dietary supplements may help treat depression
While probiotics alone aren’t the cure, they could help as an add-on to other treatments.
What makes eggs organic? A USDA expert cracks open the complicated answer
Egg-cellent.
Why “micro workouts” can have significant mental and physical benefits
There are advantages to fitting short bursts of exercise into your day.
