Sharon Begley, our longtime science columnist, died of cancer on January 16, 2021, at age 64. Our thoughts and good wishes go out to her family and her wide circle of colleagues, for whom she was an exemplar of the highest standards of the journalistic profession. Sharon was a senior science writer with The Boston Globe Media Group, author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, and coauthor with Richard Davidson of The Emotional Life of Your Brain.
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Learn
The Beautiful and the Good 

What are our brains doing when we assume that someone who’s beautiful on the outside must be beautiful on the inside? Sharon Begley investigates. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • June 24, 2016
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Focus & Attention
Why So Curious? 

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

  • Sharon Begley
  • April 28, 2016
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Learn
Feeling Moody? Here’s Why. 

Moods are fleeting, volatile. They come and go at the drop of a hat. But beneath the surface, research suggests, they serve a deeper purpose. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • March 1, 2016
Learn
Pink Brains, Blue Brains 

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, right? Maybe not. Research suggests these differences are overstated. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • December 29, 2015
Brain Freeze
Focus & Attention
Brain Freeze! 

Choking during pressure-packed performances is the worst. Sharon Begley tells us why we do it, and how to avoid it. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • April 21, 2015
Silhouettes of several soldiers standing on grass, with the sun behind them creating a halo effect. Some soldiers are grouped together, while others are scattered in the background under a clear sky.
Focus & Attention
When Memory is Under Attack 

A study suggests mindfulness improves working memory and reduces negative emotions in Marines before they deploy.  Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • June 13, 2014
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