BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Did I inherit my laugh? Can a laugh be passed down between generations? Caroline Steel has a giggle finding out.

Link to the show: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

Is laughter heritable? On the evolution of laughter, why Darwin tickled chimpanzees, giggling twins, and what might be the only trait that is completely heritable (a bit gross). You can't go wrong with Nancy Segal and Sophie Scott on the show. @aberuni.bsky.social @charliemuss.bsky.social

Wit Happens: A Light-hearted Dive into the Science of Humour. A free public lecture on the psychology of humour at the start of Aberystwyth Comedy Festival. Friday, October 3. Tickets at abercomedyfest.co.uk/show/2025/dr... (via @machcomedyfest) @charliemuss.bsky.social @prifaber.bsky.social

Is Humor in Our Genes? A recent twin study suggests that a certain type of humor might not be inherited genetically.

A blog post describing my study, written by Nancy Segal, the top twin researcher in the world and a collaborator on the study. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/twof...

Our new study on the heritablity of humor ability. Surprising result, no heritablity for humor production, only for self-assessed humor. Possible null effect due to low power, skewed sample, artificial tasks, and other factors. First study on the topic. See: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Dr Gil Greengross from our Psychology Department has spoken to the Daily Mail to discuss his research about whether being able to crack a good joke runs in the family.

🖱️ tinyurl.com/ycy6xzez

Sex on the Brain: In Memory of Don Symons Don Symons's book "On the Evolution of Human Sexuality" has had a lasting impact on evolutionary psychology.

Laura Betzig writes a wonderful tribute to the late Don Symons who died recently. His 1979 book, The Evolution of Human Sexuality, is perhaps the first true evolutionary psychology book and is still a great read today.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...

Another treasure is this doodling by Darwin inside the Atlas of Ancient Geography. Maybe he could have been an artist if this evoution thing didn't work out.

Had the pleasure to visit Shrewsbury School and get a wonderful tour at their ancient libary. Charles Darwin attended this boarding school as a kid at the ages of 9-15. Among the amazing books in the library there is this original copy of the first edition of The Origin of Species.

A skeptical look at the health benefits of humor and laughter. My article in @psychmag.bsky.social
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

Cracking the joke…
Dr @giligg.bsky.social rethinks the health benefits of humour and laughter.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

Biology is not bigotry - Freethought Now Disclaimer: FFRF Honorary Board Member Jerry A. Coyne requested that this column be written as a guest blog. The views in this column are of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Free...

Also, changes in attitudes or language will not affect that definition as implied. It will always be clear how the two terms differ. Otherwise, thoroughly enjoyed the visit!
For a good discussion on the issue see web.archive.org/web/20241227...

I was surprised to see an incorrect definition of sex in the
@sciencemuseumldn.bsky.social in London. Sex is defined by gamete size—not physical appearances, chromosomes, or hormones, which are derivatives of the definition.

The evolutionary origin of human kissing A kiss has been a signal of special affection across continents and cultures for millennia. Between times and peoples, social norms invariably prescribe kissing to specific affiliations and contexts,...

Cool article on the evolution of kissing: "evidence supports that kissing isn't a derived signal of affection in humans, it instead represents a surviving devolved, vestigial form of primate grooming that conserved its ancestral form, context, and function."

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

BBC Radio Wales - Science Cafe, Humour and Laughter Adam Walton looks at the science behind humour and laughter.

For those interested in humor research, a nice interview with me and other humor researchers for science cafe Wales: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...