Human behavior

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Have you ever wondered why we behave the way we do? From the evolution of human aggression to why humans are so curious, Live Science takes you inside our minds to explain the science behind the things we do, why we do them and what is going on in our brain when it happens. 

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—Are humans inherently violent?

—Are some people actually tone deaf?

Whether it's pondering the weird things humans do every day or why we believe in conspiracy theories, our expert writers and editors track down the biggest stories in psychology, sociology and neuroscience, bringing you the latest news, features and articles about human behavior.  

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A calendar showing the date February 29
Why do we have leap years? And how did they come about? We have just entered a leap year, meaning we will get an extra day this year. But why do we need these extended years and how did they come about?
Here, a real image of Buzz Aldrin saluting the U.S. flag on the surface of the moon.
20 of the best conspiracy theories From a faked moon landing to wild ideas about JFK's assassination, conspiracy theories and believers abound.
'The Fram in the Ice', 1895, (1897). Fram (Forward) was a ship used in northern and southern polar expeditions by the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen. It was launched in 1892 and used until 1912. Currently it is preserved at the Fram Museum, Oslo. From Farthest North, Vol. 2 by Fridtjof Nansen. [Archibald Constable and Company, London, 1897]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images)
The Fram: A Victorian expedition to the North Pole that was as brilliant as it was bonkers British physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski explains how Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen's expedition to the North Pole was 'one of the most bonkers and brilliant experiments ever devised'.

Latest about Human Behavior

A man looks at his phone when he should be working.

Why do we procrastinate?

By Sascha Pare published

Here's what you need to know about procrastination if your New Year's resolution is to stop dragging your feet.

Human Behavior
A calendar showing the date February 29

Why do we have leap years? And how did they come about?

By Harry Baker published

We have just entered a leap year, meaning we will get an extra day this year. But why do we need these extended years and how did they come about?

Human Behavior
A man standing in front of a projection of the ozone hole

10 controversies that 'broke' science in 2023

By Sascha Pare published

Get the popcorn ready as we wrap up this year's most hotly debated science stories.

Human Behavior
LEGO Ideas The insect Collection

Save over 40% on this amazing LEGO Ideas set

By Lloyd Coombes published

Deal Save almost $100 on the LEGO Ideas Insect Collection at Amazon.

Deal

'Yeti hair' found in Himalayas is actually from a horse, BBC series reveals

By Patrick Pester published

DNA from a supposed Abominable Snowman actually came from a horse, but that doesn't mean stories of the Yeti passed on by local people aren't important.

Conspiracies & Paranormal
The mummified remains of what appears to be a small mermaid

Haunting 'mermaid' mummy from Japan is a gruesome monkey-fish hybrid with 'dragon claws,' new scans reveal

By Harry Baker published

Scientists have scanned the mummified remains of a supposed "mermaid" from Japan. The initial results suggest it is a horrifying mix of fish, monkey and lizard parts.

Conspiracies & Paranormal
Black and white photo of an empty wooden attic with a metal folding chair in the center.

Are ghosts real?

By Benjamin Radford last updated

One difficulty in scientifically evaluating is ghost are real is the surprisingly wide variety of phenomena attributed to ghosts.

Conspiracies & Paranormal
Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, David Grusch, former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force at the U.S. Department of Defense, and Retired Navy Commander David Fravor take their seats as they arrive for a House Oversight Committee hearing titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency" on Capitol Hill 26, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Several witnesses are testifying about their experience with possible UFO encounters and discussion about a potential covert government program concerning debris from crashed, non-human origin spacecraft.

How wealthy UFO fans helped fuel fringe beliefs

By Keith Kloor published

There is a long U.S. legacy of plutocrat-funded pseudoscience. Congress just embraced it.

Human Behavior
A rock from Mars which looks like a face taken by the Viking 1 spacecraft

What is pareidolia?

By Tia Ghose last updated

Pareidolia is the phenomenon in which people see faces or other patterns in ambiguous images, such as Jesus on toast or the man in the moon.

Human Behavior
Stressed teen suffering heat stroke on the beach.

Hot weather could boost aggression — but only in certain conditions

By Stephanie Pappas published

Under some circumstances, people may become more aggressive when they're overheated. But other decision-making doesn't seem to be affected.

Human Behavior
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