Superman returns to a theatre near you this summer, and to keep up with the hype National Geographic has printed an article on a light-hearted scientific evaluation of the superhero’s abilities.

Literally. According to a neuroscientist, our brain is biochemically rewarded when we comprehend something or enjoy art. This, apparently, is not much unlike drug dependency, and if true, would have had obvious evolutionary consequences.

Sending in the clowns can significantly increase the chances that fertility treatment will be a success, Israeli researchers have found. (Source: BBC News)

And I am not referring to their controversial foreign policy here. Instead, a study reported at EurekAlert! notes that an average American has a smaller circle of friends than a comparable individual did in 1985. Moreover, social ties are more family-centered than before, especially when it comes to people one trusts.

I personally find this somewhat surprising, considering that one would imagine the Internet to have contributed against these findings.

A new study reported at EurekAlert has found that the decision whether your bargaining offer has been a good one or not is largely based on how long the seller hesitates before responding to the offer. Consequently, to make someone believe that they have got a good bargain, make sure to look like you would be agonising over the decision.

According to a study reported in New Scientist, gigantic superheated gas bubbles from outer space continually hit the Earth’s magnetic field.