BRAIN

This Unsettling Optical Illusion Will Convince You You're Falling Into a Black Hole

The black hole in this optical illusion isn't really expanding, but your brain might assume otherwise.

Why Does Your Nose Run When You Cry?

What causes a runny nose? Spicy foods, cold weather, and—strangely—crying. Here’s why.

Mike had a bit more head than these sorry creatures.

Mike the Headless Chicken: How a Botched Beheading Birthed a Sideshow Celebrity

Mike was supposed to be dinner. Instead, he became a national treasure.

Russia's Alina Zagitova, gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Why Don’t Figure Skaters Get Dizzy?

Figure skaters have the same neurological processes that cause dizziness in the rest of us. Here’s how they counteract them.

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Scientists Aren't Sure Why Our Eyes Move Rapidly During Sleep. A New Study Offers a Novel Theory

Scientists aren't sure why our eyes move so much during REM sleep, but it may have something to do with an animal's ability to defend itself against predators.

Can You Spot the Ghost Lurking in These Hidden Image Puzzles?

Are ghosts real? The friendly little guy in this hidden image puzzle is, and he wants to wave hello.

Rimma_Bondarenko/iStock via Getty Images

The Science Behind Our Pumpkin Spice Obsession

The scent of a pumpkin spice latte is the smell of autumn to many people, thanks to how the brain perceives odor.