Even if we could speak to animals, should we?
AI could satisfy our deeply held desire to talk to other creatures. But the potential for harm might outweigh the benefits
by Virginie Simoneau-Gilbert & Leonie Bossert
Communication and language
Mind the accent
When I spoke like someone I wasn’t, people listened more closely. What did that say about them – and me?
by Erica Mayor
For young people, AI is now a second brain – should we worry?
As a resident tutor, I’ve seen how students are using AI as more than a tool. It’s a psychological shift we’ll soon all make
by Rhea Tibrewala
The words that make an apology convincing
Research on the psychology of apologising finds that certain word choices are more convincing because of their mental cost
by Alice Gregory
How to check if an argument is valid
In logic, validity is prime. If you want to make valid arguments, or sniff out invalid ones, here’s what you need to do
by Robert Trueman
From cave art to subatomic sketches – how drawing has accelerated human progress
Video by MIT Quest for Intelligence
Whispers in the wind
How I learned to hear the voice of my ancestors and speak Lenape, a language silenced for generations
Krista Nelson, as told to Dawn Fallik
Why the mental health awareness movement needs more precision and fewer vibes
Video by the Royal Institution
A detour home, through Portuguese
Losing my mother tongue was painful and humiliating. Could learning a new language help me heal?
by Frances Nguyen
Are you saying ‘thank you’ too effusively?
Research suggests that people who express their gratitude more effusively are judged as lower status and less influential
by Christian Jarrett
A little Japanese trick for saying ‘no’
If an outright refusal feels rude but you don’t want to have to explain, here’s how to say ‘no’ the Japanese way
by Richard Fisher
What to do when someone goes on the defensive
Our natural impulses often make matters worse. Here’s an approach that works, grounded in conflict resolution and psychology
by Adar Cohen & Nick Wignall
When talking brings you relief, brain syncing may be at work
Something curious happens in two people’s brains during supportive interactions. It could help explain their emotional power
by Yarden Avnor & Simone Shamay-Tsoory
How to chat with almost anyone
It can be awkward at first, but people are more open to conversation than you think – and it could lead to deeper connection
by Michael Yeomans
True contact is found in silence
For Emil Cioran, ‘true contact’ with another is the deep intimacy that emerges through mute togetherness
by Sam Dresser
Are people less talkative these days?
A study explores how many words people use a day, whether women really speak more than men, and whether we’re talking less
by Matt Huston