What makes someone—or something—attractive? It may have less to do with beauty and more to do with how easily your brain can process what you’re seeing. There’s a hidden pattern behind what we find appealing, and it shows up in more places than you might expect. ⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3130383/?utm⁠ (more…)

Being a little skeptical can feel smart. After all, cynics pride themselves on “seeing things as they really are”—not getting fooled, not trusting too easily. But is that actually true? Or does cynicism quietly distort the way you see other people and the world? (more…)

What if you followed people for 80 years—tracking their health, happiness, and relationships over a lifetime? That’s exactly what one of the longest-running studies ever has done, and what it reveals about how to live a good life may not be what you expect. ⁠https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/⁠ (more…)

When you buy fruits and vegetables, how much pesticide residue is actually on them? Is it something you should worry about—or not? And does buying organic really make a meaningful difference? Recent findings offer some answers that may surprise you. ⁠https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/produce-without-pesticides-a5260230325/⁠ (more…)

Cravings can feel almost impossible to resist—whether it’s something sweet, salty, or just tempting in the moment. Yet, there is a simple and somehow satisfying way to stop yourself or at least eat less of what you are craving than you might otherwise. ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habituation⁠ (more…)