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Scientific American Logo
Mind & BrainJuly 25, 2014

Lucy Film Hinges on Brain Capacity Myth

On July 25, French film writer/director Luc Besson's action thriller Lucy opens in theaters nationwide. The premise is that the title character, played by Scarlett Johansson, is exposed to a drug that unlocks her mind, giving her superhuman powers of cognition.

Kate Wong

Scientific American Logo
Mind & BrainJuly 15, 2014

Practice Alone Does Not Make Perfect, Studies Find

When I was a little kid, my mom and grandmom were having a heated argument in the front of the car. At one point I interrupted them, and with exasperation said: “You know, Mom, Grandmom is really right.” Then I turned to my grandmom and said, “I think my Mom is right too.” They were shocked, because [...]

Scott Barry Kaufman