Mind & Character
Where did Chinese checkers come from?
Chinese checkers didn't start in China. See how a Boston surgeon's Halma became a German star board, then an American toy named 'Chinese' in 1928.
Mind & Character
9 articles
Mind & Character
Nobody Was Burned at Salem. Here's How the "Witches" Actually Died
Discover what really happened to the accused witches in Salem. The 1692 trials ended in 20 executions—but not by fire.
Mind & Character
The Fear of Clowns: What Research Has Measured
Learn what research actually measures about fear of clowns, from the largest survey to national polls, plus when it becomes a clinical phobia.
Mind & Character
Why Some People Love Being Scared: The Science of Haunted Houses and Horror Movies
What haunted house and horror movie studies found about why fear feels fun, the fear sweet spot, and the three kinds of horror fans.
Mind & Character
Short Sleepers: People Who Need Only 4 to 6 Hours
A rare few people wake up fully rested after 4 to 6 hours, every night, for life. Scientists have found the genes behind it. Here's what they found, and why the rest…
Mind & Character
Super-Recognizers: People Who Never Forget a Face
Super-recognizers can pick a face out of a crowd years after a glance. The term dates to a 2009 study, and London police built a unit around them. How rare it is,…
Mind & Character
Aphantasia: People Who Can't Picture Things in Their Mind
Close your eyes and picture an apple. Some people see nothing at all. Aphantasia was only named in 2015, and many people don't know they have it. What it is, how common…
Mind & Character
Hyperthymesia: People Who Remember Every Day of Their Lives
Name any date and they can tell you what day of the week it was, what they did and what was in the news. Highly superior autobiographical memory is real and very…
Mind & Character
Synesthesia: People Who Taste Words and See Sounds
For some people, the letter A is always red and a C chord looks blue. Synesthesia is real, more common than people think, and runs in families. The types, how it works,…