The Human Brain

What are dreams really made of? Are humans the smartest animal? What causes schizophrenia? Travel inside the mind and find out how the human brain works.

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The Big, Bad Brain Quiz

For what looks like a big old lump of putty, the human brain is a truly incredible thing. Think of it as the body's Mission Control Center. Find out how much of a brainiac you are with our quiz.

6 Common Hallucinations and What They Tell Us

People who hallucinate typically see, hear, feel, smell or otherwise experience things that simply aren't real. Often, these sensory fake-outs indicate a serious medical condition.

Freud and Oedipus: Does Either Still Matter?

Many of Sigmund Freud's well-known theories have been discredited by modern psychiatry. Does that include the Oedipus complex?

Study Solves Why Drinking Gives You the Munchies

Researchers from Penn State University College of Medicine suggest that a shared circuit in the brain could be one reason why heavy drinking and high-fat 'junk food' cravings go hand in hand.

The Mandela Effect: Why So Many Recall Events That Never Occurred

Do you have copy of that '90s family movie "Shazaam" at your parents' house? Actually, you don't because it doesn't exist. But you may think you do. Here's why.


ASMR has become a pop phenomenon and scientists are trying to figure out why some people love those tingling-inducing videos and others can't stand them.

Try These 5 Daily Habits to Improve Your Life This Year

A new year is always a good time to set new goals. We've come up with five healthy changes that have been scientifically shown to improve your well-being.

How Dopamine Works

You could call dopamine the most misunderstood neurochemical in the brain. It's allegedly the cause of people getting addicted to drugs, chocolate or video games. But what does really dopamine do?


The noises that others make — be it walking, chewing or breathing heavily — are very noticeable to us. Yet we seldom hear it in ourselves. Why is that?

Can You Be Addicted to Endorphins?

Roller coaster junkies rejoice: Riding these coasters could be a safe way to deal with your addiction to endorphins.

Your First Memory Is Probably Fiction

Is your first memory of lying in a crib? You may want to revisit that. A new large study found that nearly 40 percent of participants had a first memory that was improbably early.

Why Walking Through Doorways Makes Us Forget


Research Confirms It: We Really Are Getting Dumber

A new study shows that IQ levels have been falling since 1975, reversing a 20th-century trend.

Are Men or Women Better Navigators?

Researchers at the University of California finally have a scientific answer to this ages-old battle.

No More Sweet Tooth? Science Turns Off Sugar Cravings in Mice


10 Child Prodigies

Some kids have a lot of talent in music, art or math. Then there are those who are gifted beyond belief.

Medieval Coffin Yields Fascinating Skeleton

A woman who gave birth posthumously also had a hole in her skull from a procedure to treat a pregnancy-related complication.

Understand? Your Brain Signals Will Tell

And that might make it kind of tricky to pretend you're paying attention.

Science Moves Closer to Explaining the 'Angry Drunk'

Why do some people become more aggressive, even violent, after they've had a few drinks?

Can You Hear Something That Doesn’t Make a Sound?


Did Religions Arise From Our Misunderstanding of Human Consciousness?

Stuff To Blow Your Mind's Joe McCormick joins Stuff They Don't Want You To Know to talk the controversial theory of the bicameral mind.

Why It's Human Nature to Ignore Our Instincts

Our instincts often tell us to do certain things — or avoid others — but we don't listen. Is this wise? How do we know when to obey our instincts?

Yes, Conspiracy Theorists’ Brains Really Are Different

A new study shows that belief in perceiving patterns correlated strongly with belief in conspiracy theories and the supernatural.

Where's the Line Between Fandom and Obsession?

Rabid fans may seem crazy, but there can be good reasons why they go all out for their favorite celebrity, sport or TV show.

Pretending to Be Batman Helps Kids Focus on Boring Tasks, Study Shows

The Batman Effect, as researchers have dubbed it, allows little ones to separate themselves from temptation and stay on task.