The study of humans, past and present.
We’ve all heard learning a second (or third) language is good for you. And research has shown bilingual brains are different to the brains of people who speak only a single language. But what exactly are the advantages of being bilingual?
Ever wondered why some people are more ticklish than others? And why are some parts of our bodies more vulnerable to tickling? There have been a number of theories proposed over the years as to why we are ticklish, and why most of us can’t tickle ourselves.
Hi I’m Jen and I’m not a big fan of spiders. Research shows I’m not alone: fear of spiders is one of the most common phobias in the world. But why are so many of us scared of spiders when hardly any spiders are actually dangerous? And what can we do about our arachnophobia?
Whether he’s playing God, the American President or Vitruvius, Morgan Freeman has one of the greatest voices of all time. It’s deep, soothing and powerful. But what makes a voice so authoritative?
I’m sure you know the idea: everyone on Earth is connected to every other person by six or fewer links. The idea was first proposed in 1929, but is six still the correct number of links in today’s connected world?
Have you got a big birthday coming up, one that ends in a zero? And have you made any major life decisions recently? Although we measure time using a continuous scale, research has shown that in the year before a milestone birthday, people are more likely to reflect on their lives and make significant changes.
Most animals do it. You’ve been doing it since before you were even born. And it’s quite likely looking at these photos has made you do it now. Yawning. But why do we yawn and why is yawning so contagious?
As a woman, it pains me to admins this: there’s good evidence that, in tests of spatial awareness, men typically outperform women. Yes, men really do tend be better navigators. But why?
A 3,300 year old person? Yep, it’s true. Sure, he might have stopped breathing a long time ago, but he’s looking remarkably good for his age. And whilst he no longer has the power of speech, there’s still an awful lot he can tell us about his life all those years ago. Meet Ötzi, the 3,300-year-old iceman.
Why call a valued assistant a ‘right-hand man’? Why does an awkward dancer have ‘two left feet’? And why, in times gone by, were left-handers thought to be possessed by the devil? Throughout the ages left-handers have been stigmatised and persecuted. But it turns out ‘handedness’ is determined before you even leave the womb.
Dr Jen Martin 