The Genetic Roots of Being a Natural Optimist (or Pessimist)
Some people wake up expecting the day to go reasonably well, and when something goes wrong, they treat it as a temporary bump rather than a sign of things to …
Why Some People Sneeze When They Look at the Sun (Photic Sneeze Reflex)
You step outside on a bright day, look up for a second, and before you know it, you’ve sneezed, sometimes twice in a row, for no obvious reason. No dust, …
The Genetics of Novelty-Seeking: Why Some People Crave New Experiences
Some people can’t walk past a new restaurant without wanting to try it, book a trip somewhere they’ve never been just because they haven’t been there, or say yes to …
The Genetic Link Between Sleep Talking and Family History
Somebody in your life has probably told you that you said something completely bizarre in your sleep, or maybe you’re the one who’s caught a family member holding a full …
The Genetic Reason Some People Wake Up at the Same Time Every Day, No Alarm Needed
You’ve probably met someone who insists they haven’t used an alarm clock in years. Every morning, like clockwork, their eyes open at almost exactly the same time, whether it’s a …
The Genetic Reason Some People Need Total Darkness to Sleep
Some people can fall asleep in front of a TV that’s still playing, lights on, no problem at all. Others need blackout curtains, the alarm clock display taped over, and …
The Genetics of “Short Sleepers” Who Thrive on 5 Hours a Night
You probably know someone who claims they only need five hours of sleep, bounces out of bed energized, and somehow never seems to crash by mid-afternoon. Most of the time, …
The Genetics of Being Easily Startled
A door slams, a car backfires, or someone sneaks up behind you in the kitchen, and while one person barely flinches, another practically launches out of their chair, heart pounding …
The Genetics of Sleepwalking
Somewhere in most extended families, there’s a sleepwalking story. A cousin who was found rearranging the kitchen at 2 a.m., a sibling who once tried to leave the house in …
Why Naps Work Great for Some People and Ruin the Rest of the Day for Others
For some people, a twenty-minute nap is basically a reset button. They lie down, close their eyes, and wake up sharper, calmer, and ready to keep going. For others, that …