Human behavior
![A diagram of a brain surrounded by a maze with people walking toward the brain](jpg/afva6qv8iqgrzrbxhsqkps-320-80.jpg)
Have you ever wondered why we behave the way we do? From the evolution of human aggression to why humans are so curious, Live Science takes you inside our minds to explain the science behind the things we do, why we do them and what is going on in our brain when it happens.
Whether it's pondering the weird things humans do every day or why we believe in conspiracy theories, our expert writers and editors track down the biggest stories in psychology, sociology and neuroscience, bringing you the latest news, features and articles about human behavior.
Explore Human Behavior
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Latest about Human Behavior
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LpuP9mueKjRj9WykpnzPCi-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
'Yeti hair' found in Himalayas is actually from a horse, BBC series reveals
By Patrick Pester published
DNA from a supposed Abominable Snowman actually came from a horse, but that doesn't mean stories of the Yeti passed on by local people aren't important.
![The mummified remains of what appears to be a small mermaid](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xFh3G54khzRFaazbxGc5LN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Haunting 'mermaid' mummy from Japan is a gruesome monkey-fish hybrid with 'dragon claws,' new scans reveal
By Harry Baker published
Scientists have scanned the mummified remains of a supposed "mermaid" from Japan. The initial results suggest it is a horrifying mix of fish, monkey and lizard parts.
![Black and white photo of an empty wooden attic with a metal folding chair in the center.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSdfFXM4tsSrsVXEBb6itm-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Are ghosts real?
By Benjamin Radford last updated
One difficulty in scientifically evaluating is ghost are real is the surprisingly wide variety of phenomena attributed to ghosts.
![Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, David Grusch, former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force at the U.S. Department of Defense, and Retired Navy Commander David Fravor take their seats as they arrive for a House Oversight Committee hearing titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency" on Capitol Hill 26, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Several witnesses are testifying about their experience with possible UFO encounters and discussion about a potential covert government program concerning debris from crashed, non-human origin spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lr9tADVxZPdU5RWoDLCnE3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How wealthy UFO fans helped fuel fringe beliefs
By Keith Kloor published
There is a long U.S. legacy of plutocrat-funded pseudoscience. Congress just embraced it.
![A rock from Mars which looks like a face taken by the Viking 1 spacecraft](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XCeaXPfQKsjpZtJRTfjZ6f-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What is pareidolia?
By Tia Ghose last updated
Pareidolia is the phenomenon in which people see faces or other patterns in ambiguous images, such as Jesus on toast or the man in the moon.
![Stressed teen suffering heat stroke on the beach.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLKGVsQAAEAtBJpTumyXRP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Hot weather could boost aggression — but only in certain conditions
By Stephanie Pappas published
Under some circumstances, people may become more aggressive when they're overheated. But other decision-making doesn't seem to be affected.
![A modern reconstruction of the famous Loch Ness Monster hoax photo from 1934.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3iJuQcMEx4AwBAEkmNc2U-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
The biggest hunt for the Loch Ness Monster in 50 years is about to begin
By Patrick Pester published
A visitor attraction in Scotland is enlisting the help of volunteers to search for Nessie, but it's unlikely to yield a monster discovery.
![A tall ship sailing on water](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxFFNdas7mjrFFEVUVmGx5-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
190 years after Darwin, 2-year expedition launches to retrace his voyage around the world
By Harry Baker published
The team of researchers and conservationists will collect scientific data, while also training the next generation of environmentalists.
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