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Study finds a disputed Shakespeare play bears the master’s mark
Los Angeles Times: Chalk up another one for The Bard. "Double Falsehood," a play said to have been written by William Shakespeare but whose authorship has been disputed for close to three centuries, is almost certainly the work of the 16th century poet and playwright, new research finds. Shakespeare appears to have had some assistance in the project from John Fletcher, a contemporary who is thought to have co-written three plays with the Bard -- including one on a theme similar to that of "Double Falsehood" -- near the end of Shakespeare's life. ... Under the supervision of University of Texas psychology professors Ryan L. Boyd and James W.
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It’s Healthy to Put a Good Spin on Your Life
The Wall Street Journal: Bill Baker spent a weekend last May running 22 miles and biking 52 while training for a triathlon—his 107th. Hours later he was in the hospital with a heart attack. Doctors told him not to drive for six months, much less do any endurance training. His first reaction was despair and to tell his wife and friends that one of the most important aspects of his life had been ripped away. Conversations with a relative and a world-champion triathlete who had both had heart surgeries helped. Mr. Baker recast his story. The New Milford, Conn., 50-year-old began focusing more on unexpected positives: the ability to jog without worrying about his pace and free time with family.
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Memories Weaken Without Reinforcement, Study Finds
The New York Times: What happens to forgotten memories — old computer passwords, friends’ previous phone numbers? Scientists have long held two different theories. One is that memories do not diminish but simply get overshadowed by new memories. The other is that older memories become weaker, that pulling to mind new passwords or phone numbers degrades old recollections so they do not interfere. The difference could be significant. If old memories stay strong and are merely papered over by new ones, they may be easier to recover. That could be positive for someone trying to remember an acquaintance’s name, but difficult for someone trying to lessen memories of abuse.
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Your Friends Are More Extroverted Than You Are
New York Magazine: Maybe you've heard of the friendship paradox, the somewhat mind-bending idea that most of your friends probably have more friends than you do. A new study inPsychological Science builds on that concept, adding a psychological dimension to the paradox — not only are your friends likely to be more popular than you are, they're probably more extroverted, too, argue Daniel C. Feiler and Adam M. Kleinbaum, both of Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business. Read the whole story: New York Magazine
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The Ethical Calculus of the Tax Cheat
Researchers propose that people behave immorally only to a certain extent so that they can profit from their misconduct but still feel moral.
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Art for the Knowing Nose
The New York Times: Peter De Cupere’s “Tree Virus” sculpture wasn’t much to look at: a dead, black tree rooted in a craggy white ball suspended over a dirt pit, all of it covered by a plastic igloo. Built on a college campus in the Netherlands in 2008, the whole thing might have been leftover scenery from a Tim Burton film if it weren’t for the outrageous smell. Inside the igloo, a heady mix of peppermint and black pepper saturated the air. It flooded the nose and stung the eyes. Most visitors cried; many ran away. Others seemed to enjoy it, laughing through the tears. ... Smell has an unfair advantage over the other senses when it comes to eliciting a response, researchers say.
