See my conversation with Dan Ariely, about behavioral economics, the limits of free markets, the desire to become Homer Simpson, and the joys of family arguments. The conversation takes place on his very entertaining website: Predictably Irrational.
A song comes through your earbuds: good rhythm, clever lyrics, pleasing melody. You know whether you like the song, right? Maybe not. A series of studies using brain imaging raise the possibility that sometimes we think we like or dislike things, but our brains know better. I will explain what I mean, by describing one of…
A recent story on the Atlantic website described a clever way to demonstrate the benefits of bicycling in congested cities. It involves an app that quickly shows people how long it will take to get somewhere by bicycle versus car. And with the crowded cities, bicycles more than hold their own, as this picture shows: And…
In 1991, I remember where I was walking when I learned that Magic Johnson was HIV positive. I shuffled along in a daze, distraught at the thought of such a young and magnificent man facing imminent death. Back then, you see, an HIV diagnosis was practically a death sentence. Of course, Magic Johnson is still alive….
Sarah Kliff, one of my favorite journalists, had a really nice write up on the burrito study recently published by a wonderful student at Duke, Peggy Liu. Here is an excerpt from her write up, and a link to the full article: For anyone counting calories, the Chipotle menu may be among the world’s least helpful…
More than two-thirds of employers in the US are paying their obese employees in some form or another to lose weight. Some give health insurance discounts to employees based on target BMIs. Others literally dole out cold hard cash to overweight employees who meet weight loss targets. Employers are adopting these strategies because they work. At…
I must not be the only person to wonder how pharmaceutical companies succeed with direct to consumer advertisements when, stuck in the middle of all their TV ads, are those long lists of side effects. You know what I mean. After watching a smiling and attractive person running through a field after receiving some wonder…