Laughter

sign for the University of Alberta on the university's campus

Why are some sounds funny?

To English speakers, the word, “peanut” isn’t especially funny. But “peanut” in Serbian, “kikiriki” is widely considered by Serbs to be the funniest word in their language. This raises the question of why people laugh at some words (“poop”) but not at others (“treadmill”). Does it come down to their meanings? Or are people responding to their sounds? Psycholinguist Chris Westbury set out to discover the answer.

Why are some sounds funny?
Why we laugh

Why we: a) laugh b) love TV c) have nightmares

Why we: a) laugh b) love TV c) have nightmares

NOVA Science Show Considers What Makes Us Human

NOVA Science Show Considers What Makes Us Human

Humor in Dark Places: A Listener Jumps on His Father's Grave

Humor in Dark Places: A Listener Jumps on His Father's Grave

LOL, London

LOL, London

Laughter Yoga Becomes the Latest Secret to Bust Stress

The World's Rahul Joglekar stopped by at a Laughter Yoga session in central London.

Laughter Yoga Becomes the Latest Secret to Bust Stress

Greek Humor in Times of Crisis

Amid all the economic doom and gloom coming from Greece these days, you'd think the Greeks don't have much to laugh about. But actually, humor is alive and well in Greece, and it's helping many cope with some dark times.

Greek Humor in Times of Crisis

Laughter is the Best Medicine

A new study indicates that laughter helps people cope with pain.

Laughter is the Best Medicine
The World

How 9/11 changed comedy

Life changed for most Americans after 9/11, but comedians faced a very specific dilemma: when and how to make people laugh again. WNYC's Jim O'Grady spoke with several comedians, including Gottfried, about how being funny changed after 9/11.

How 9/11 changed comedy

'Lip Service': A Simple Smile's Dramatic Consequences

'Lip Service': A Simple Smile's Dramatic Consequences

Why do we smile?

Scientists work toward a grand, unifying theory of why humans smile.

Why do we smile?
The World

Scientists crack a smile

Why do we smile? Not only do scientists believe they may have discovered the answer to that question, but also to how we perceive the smile. Carl Zimmer, science writer for The New York Times, has the details of this new study.

Scientists crack a smile

Clowns bring laughter to Haiti

Clowns Without Borders is trying to spread laughter among the tent cities and makeshift hospitals of post-earthquake Haiti.

Clowns bring laughter to Haiti
The World

Note on Emerging Science

Researchers find naturally occurring laughing gas in clam bellies; but the impact on the climate isn't so funny.

Note on Emerging Science
The World

Note on Emerging Science

Research finds clams are burping out a powerful greenhouse gas, N2O.

Note on Emerging Science