Sharon Begley

From growing support for mindfulness-based therapies to a new science-writing scholarship, here’s the latest news from the mindfulness community. Read more

In a final note to our readers, Sharon Begley, our longtime science columnist, told us to “never stop wondering.” Read more

DNA determines much of who we are, but it’s not fixed for life. Our behavior and environment can effect alterations to genes for good or ill. Can meditating affect us at a genetic level? Read more

IQ points keep rising with each generation, but the tests are leaving out emotional intelligence, creativity, and wisdom—the very traits we need to solve our most pressing problems. Read more

What we humans believe has always been shaped by the group we identify with. In the age of filter bubbles, the habit of looking to our tribe for all the answers may be escalating. Read more

We still call them “phones,” but they are seldom used for talking. They have become like a substitute for memory—and other brain functions. Is that good for us in the long run? Read more

Though we often equate compulsions and addictions, researchers are now drawing a sharp distinction between these two behaviors—one is about avoiding and the other about seeking. Read more

Curiosity killed the cat. Or did it? Research suggests it keeps us—and other animals—sharp. Read more