How LSD helped us probe what the 'sense of self' looks like in the brain

Apr 14, 2016 01:57 am UTC| Health

Every single person is different. We all have different backgrounds, views, values and interests. And yet there is one universal feeling that we all experience at every single moment. Call it an ego, a self or just an I ...

The evolutionary origins of laughter are rooted more in survival than enjoyment

Apr 14, 2016 01:36 am UTC| Health

Laughter plays a crucial role in every culture across the world. But its not clear why laughter exists. While it is evidently an inherently social phenomenon people are up to 30 times more likely to laugh in a group than...

Australian sugary drinks tax could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes and save 1,600 lives

Apr 14, 2016 00:52 am UTC| Health

Last month the United Kingdom announced a sugar tax on soft drinks. The tax will come into effect in 2018, with the funds to be used to address childhood obesity. The move has been applauded by public health groups...

You really can die of a broken heart – here's the science

Apr 12, 2016 13:15 pm UTC| Health Life

When you think of a broken heart, you probably picture something out of a romantic movie or a cartoon heart, cracked like a fragile piece of china. Indeed, so-called broken heart syndrome has a certified place in popular...

The science of hugs and why they (mostly) feel so good

Apr 12, 2016 13:03 pm UTC| Health

Hugging it out is often touted as a good way to solve a problem. Now a group of Europeans have decided that thats all Britons need to convince them to stay in the EU. Their #hugabrit campaign, in which people send in...

Handle with care – the world's five deadliest poisons

Apr 12, 2016 12:24 pm UTC| Health

When asked to name a poison, people may well think of cyanide, arsenic or strychnine. But these are not the most toxic substances known. More poisonous than these, but still not near the top of the tree, is tetrodotoxin,...

What's the most hygienic way to dry your hands?

Apr 12, 2016 12:18 pm UTC| Health

We are always told how important it is to wash our hands to stop the spread of infections. What many people dont realise, however, is that the way we dry our hands after washing them could have just as big an effect on our...