A smile is just a smile

Same expression, two stories. He sees flirtation; she sees politeness. A look at how evolution, emotion, and culture tangled the meaning of a smile.

Beyond the Binary: Sexual Overperception in LGBTQ+ Communities

Flirty or friendly? Decades of research says men often misread signals, but nearly all these studies were conducted with heterosexual participants. We dive into the overlooked LGBTQ+ side of sexual overperception

How to make big decisions

In Spring 2020, amidst personal and global chaos, I faced a life-changing decision: accept a faculty job offer or stay in an uncertain postdoc. Here, I share practical tools, from mapping pros and cons to weighing values to help navigate tough career choices with clarity and confidence.

What to do about mental health? How bridging disciplines can help

Mental health is often defined by the absence of mental illness: you are either healthy or not. The reality is more nuanced. Here we discuss how integrating scientific disciplines can help us understand the complexities of mental health and improve mental health.

Experiencing Hypnosis: A First-Hand Experience of ‘Pseudoscience’

A man sustained severe burns. A bystander offered hypnosis. The man was told his skin felt cool and was healing, and felt no pain until the ambulance arrived. Hypnosis, like CBT and meditation, can induce calm. But why is it viewed as ‘pseudoscience’? My hypnosis experience provided an answer.

Framing Autism; the Power of Language

The sensitivity of gaze

Looking someone straight in the eye is often associated with honesty and attention. But not in Japan, as Mariska Kret found out.

What to expect when a doctor’s visit might be painful?

At the doctor’s you sometimes have to undergo a painful procedure. The expectations you have affect how you will experience this. How can you manage your pain expectations given the uncertainty of how intense the pain will be? What should the doctor say?

Rapid advancements in AI: How to stay ahead of the game?

AI advancements are rapid. The question is not if, but rather how and when AI will be adopted in education and research. We have to stay ahead of the game by promoting critical thinking in our students, before the dead internet theory becomes a reality.