Society

A photo of albert einstein and a photo of his desk.
Psychology
An enormous study links intelligence and personality in surprising ways
A database containing over 1,300 studies from across the world establishes reliable relationships between personality traits and cognitive abilities.
Elizabeth Gilbert
Colorful smiley face stickers for iPhone 11 to capture attention.
Psychology
An ancient technique can improve your attention span
According to neuroscientist Amishi Jha, 12 minutes of mindfulness training a day strengthens your attentional systems.
Kevin Dickinson
A man and a woman walking down a cobblestone street.
Aging
Life’s stages are changing – we need new terms and new ideas to describe them
The arc of adult development has changed over the past several decades, in ways that our psychological theories are still catching up with.
Jeffrey Arnett
Psychology
What lies beneath our irrational decisions
Peter Dizikes | MIT News Office
Three moss-covered skulls evoke a strong fear of death against a somber black backdrop.
Death
Almost everyone fears death — but not in the same ways
Ross Pomeroy
A person demonstrating how to tie shoes.
DIY
The mathematically correct way to tie your shoes
Ethan Siegel
a small cabin in the woods with a blue roof.
Urban Living
How building more backyard homes, granny flats, and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis
Murali Paranandi and Jeff Kruth
a black and white photo of a dead tree.
Death
Sooner or later we all face death. Will a sense of meaning help us?
Warren Ward
Neuroscience
Eastern philosophy says there is no “self.” Science agrees
Chris Niebauer
Art
Viewing abstract art causes notable cognitive changes
Scotty Hendricks
Psychology
Generate brilliant ideas by relaxing your cognitive filters
Kevin Dickinson
Archaeology
Ancient technology that was centuries ahead of its time
Tim Brinkhof
Building Community
More Americans than ever have no friends. Here are 5 steps to make more friends.
Elizabeth Gilbert