Peanut Butter and Jelly, Long-Dead Warlords, and Procrastination
Let's have a moment's appreciation for the humble peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That most American of lunch bag staples, this classic...
Lance Armstrong, and The Biology of Cheating Your Body
Lance Armstrong is a cheater. For some, it was a shocking revelation. For the French cycling world, it was a classic I-told-you-so...
The mouth: the brain's indispensable third hand
One day, back when my son was in the crawling phase, he honed in my wife's grandmother's antique comb and brush set. I found him...
Why Cinnabon is smarter than you and me combined
So somehow you find yourself stuck in the Mall of America, mannequins staring vacantly at you from all sides, dressed in the latest...
This is Your Brain On Piano Lessons
From the time of your birth, your parents were bombarding you with messaging. Everything from "Eat your peas" to "Listen up, young lady,...
Of Christmas decorations and electroshock therapy
When this holiday season is over and you've exhausted your patience, credit card, and yule spirit, here's something to ponder while you...
Starbucks and Stephen Hawking
It's settled: the very best hot chocolate in the world comes from the Starbucks just outside of Xian, China. A bold statement? Yes, but I...
Neural Chemistry, Immortality and the Stuff of Flower Pots
In 1974, local farmers in Xian, China, set out to dig a well. Instead, they discovered what many consider to be the eighth wonder of the...
General Custer, Bath Mats, and Moths
When General George Armstrong Custer made the ill-fated decision to charge his 700 troops into the heart of the Lakota Nation on June...
Is Thanksgiving Doomed?
How do I know Thanksgiving is over? I simply look out the back window of my home to witness the brilliant array of Christmas lights. To...
