perception
The Majority of People Might Just Genuinely Prefer Cheap Coffee
A full 67 percent of testers liked the cheap stuff better. When Rossen blind-tested three of his coworkers, all three of them preferred the cheap coffee.
How Scientists Can Fool You into Enjoying Healthy Food by Using Your Sense of Smell
Researchers at the Center for Taste and Feeding Behavior have created a machine that can identify aromatic molecules and then amplify the smell of the ones that may be lacking on the taster’s tastebuds.
Inside Robert Irwin’s Dazzling New Monument to Light and Space
Take a walk through Robert Irwin’s first free-standing installation in the art Mecca of Marfa, Texas.
Spiders Seem Much Bigger to Arachnophobes
Arachnophobes don't see the same spiders that the rest of us do, research suggests.
Nonotak's Infinite Sound and Vision Experience
We get a glimpse of what it's like to be inside Nonotak Studio's 'Hoshi' installation.
The Bigger the Wine Glass, the More You Drink
A team at the University of Cambridge played some very subtle tricks on pub patrons—and found that drinking out of large receptacles leads to a significant increase in alcohol sales.
Neuroscientists Hunt the Line Where Consciousness Begins—and Ends
Brain scan-based experiments mapping metabolism in the brain offer a new level of resolution.
Sculptures Explore How Digital Culture Impacts Human Perception
James Clar’s works utilize sophisticated digital systems that aim to understand digital culture’s effect on our perception of the physical world.
The Aspirational Science of Predictive Dreaming
Some scientists say psychic dreams are real. Explaining how they happen is another issue altogether.
Having a Few Drinks Makes You More Attractive to Others
According to a recent study by the University of Houston, it would appear that at least one instance of alcohol-induced hubris is accurate.