David Robson

London

Award-winning science writer and author of The Intelligence Trap, The Expectation Effect, and The Laws of Connection (Canongate/Pegasus). Agent: @Plittyc

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Articles

Four science-based rules that will make your conversations flow

2 weeks ago | newscientist.com | David Robson

Conversation lies at the heart of our relationships â€“ yet many of us find it surprisingly hard to talk to others. We may feel anxious at the thought of making small talk with strangers and struggle to connect with the people who are closest to us. If that sounds familiar, Alison Wood Brooks hopes to help.
How to use psychology to feel better about how you look in a swimsuit

2 weeks ago | newscientist.com | David Robson

It feels like we have barely left winter in the northern hemisphere, yet here we are nearing midsummer day. The sight of the sun blazing in the sky can mean only one thing: a slew of lifestyle articles and social media posts advising us how to get “beach-body ready”. A friend recently mentioned that he dreads the summer for this very reason. “I’ve given up even trying to get a six-pack,” he told me.
How school became more sedentary - and why it matters

2 weeks ago | tes.com | David Robson

Imagine there is an intervention that has the potential to raise the attainment of every child in your school. This approach costs relatively little, but has the power to instantly enhance pupils’ focus, memory and problem-solving skills. As an added bonus, it will boost their emotional regulation and may relieve feelings of anxiety and depression in those suffering from poor mental health. Oh, and it will also help children to live longer.
How visualisation sets you up for success by changing your cognition

1 month ago | newscientist.com | David Robson

This article is part of a special series exploring the radical potential of the human imagination. Read more here. Feeling stressed about an upcoming event? Imagine, for a moment, that you have a magic anti-anxiety pill in front of you that will take away your nerves. Picture its packaging, and feel yourself popping the pill from its foil. Now, visualise bringing it to your mouth, dropping it in, and conjure up the sensation of swallowing it.
Hoe beïnvloedt je huid je gezondheid?

1 month ago | newscientist.nl | David Robson

Steeds meer onderzoek wijst uit dat er een sterk verband bestaat tussen een ongezonde huid en ouderdomsziekten zoals diabetes, hartaandoeningen en dementie. De huid is verreweg ons grootste orgaan. Afhankelijk van je gewicht en je massa beslaat hij zo’n 1,5 tot 2 vierkante meter en weegt hij tussen de 3,5 en 10 kilo: zo’n 15 procent van je totale lichaamsmassa. Dit is een premium-artikelLees direct verder, al vanaf €1,99 per maand. Al abonnee? Log in om direct verder te kunnen lezen.
Why honing your sense of smell could keep you sharp as you age

1 month ago | newscientist.com | David Robson

I am not normally a fan of lotions and potions, but right now, four small vials sit on my bedside table. Every morning and every night, I open and sniff each one in turn, savouring the scents as they hit my nostrils. First, the sharp tang of lemon, followed by the abrasive chill of eucalyptus, the sweetness of rose and the metallic warmth of clove.
Scientists are starting to understand the power of rage

1 month ago | observer.co.uk | David Robson

Even Mahatma Gandhi himself saw the benefit of seeing red. Now scientists are beginning to study – and measure – the value of anger Mahatma Gandhi was not known for his hot head, yet he fully recognised the power of rage. “Anger to people is like gas to the automobile – it fuels you to move forward and get to a better place,” his grandson Arun Ghandi recalled him saying.
Can we get better at spotting when someone is lying?

1 month ago | newscientist.com | David Robson

Distinguishing fact from fiction is one of the great tests of human communication. Little wonder that some people agonise over their capacity to sniff out a fishy story. “My friends say I’m a real mug,” one reader tells me. “What can I do to be less gullible?”I can’t help but wonder if our reader’s friends are being a little too harsh. Countless studies have shown that most of us are pretty abysmal at lie detection. When asked to discern whether people are telling truths or falsehoods, the …
Emotional control: how to harness your feelings for a happier, calmer life

1 month ago | newscientist.com | David Robson

Ethan Kross always shared a special bond with his grandmother, Dora, whom he considered a “second mom”. She lived just a few blocks away from his childhood home, and when he came by each day after school, she would shower him with kisses and lavish him with food – matzo balls, chicken broth and noodle pudding.
Neurowissenschaft: Das Mikrobiom des Gehirns

2 months ago | spektrum.de | David Robson

Hintergrund Lesedauer ca. 10 Minuten DruckenTeilenNeurowissenschaft: Das Mikrobiom des GehirnsUnzählige Mikroorganismen leben in und auf unserem Körper – sogar im Gehirn. Womöglich unterstützt uns dieses spezielle Mikrobiom beim Denken; es könnte aber auch neurodegenerative Krankheiten wie Alzheimer verursachen. 2015 war Nikki Schultek in Topform. Die junge Mutter von zwei kleinen Jungen hatte gerade erst einen Halbmarathon absolviert. Doch kurze Zeit später befiel sie eine mysteriöse Krankheit.