This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Here are my Science Seeker Editor's Selections for the past two weeks:
"Can You Learn To Be Synaesthetic?" asks the Neuroskeptic. Errr, maybe? In a way.
All scientific fields rest upon a set of more-or-less mutually agreed-upon assumptions. Sometimes, those assumptions can be wrong, though. Musing about his own field, Micah Allen at Neuroconscience wonders, What are the critical assumptions of neuroscience?
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
"Marriage is like a sweater. A yellow sweater you bought, and couldn’t return." This, according to Dan Gilbert, via Thomas Hayden, at the excellent group blog Last Word on Nothing: You’re Not as Happy as You Think You Are, Behavioral Scientists Report.
At Psych Your Mind, blogger Maya notes that "we may have ideas of what typical French or German or British people are like relative to typical Americans." She asks, "are these ideas just oversimplified stereotypes, or are they rooted in actual country-level differences in personality characteristics?" As you might expect, opinions are varied. National Personality Types: Fact or Figment?