Stories by Tia Ghose

Just a three-second distraction, such as glancing at your phone, can divert your attention and double the number of mistakes you make

Societal norms often dictate the products people use even if they don’t need them

An almost 5,000-year-old collection of precious stones may be the earliest evidence of shamanic rituals in Central America

Rising sea levels caused by global warming could fuel more volcanic eruptions, possibly resulting in mass extinctions

People who were driven by their own interest improved their math skills the most. IQ or external factors such as parental pressure or grades didn't create a lasting boost

A clenched fist locks the index finger and middle finger into place, an opportune configuration for dealing deadly blows

Unlike the case in human brains, neural connectivity does not rapidly augment in chimpanzee brains during the first two years of life, which may explain our unique intelligence

Thousands of jumbo squid have beached themselves along the coast of Monterey Bay, Calif., and some scientists have blamed the behavior on lethal toxins produced by this year's red tides

Italian scientists sentenced to prison time for failure to predict an earthquake have researchers worldwide concerned about the way they assess and convey risk

A medication currently used to treat drug overdoses appears to help patients regulate brain chemicals linked to hypersomnia

A new genetic analysis reveals that Ötzi the Iceman is most closely related to modern-day Sardinian

The superstorm could boost President Obama's numbers in this year's election

Rather than chowing down on bison meat, Stone Age people likely ate a more balanced meal—study

A nearly frost-free winter followed by the summer's drought has worsened the epidemic

As more Americans sign up for health care, they'll be more likely to see nurses and physician assistants instead of doctors. That's a good thing