Why do people generally consider flying more dangerous than driving, when far more people are killed in car crashes than airline disasters? An Australian analysis of summertime fears helps you understand your own worries.
Category Archives: Facing Fear
Lightning
Author Randall Munroe answers readers’ questions about lightning—not necessarily in ways that calm their fears.
Facebook Catches Two Chatbots Speaking Their Own Language
Technology companies have been experimenting with using artificial intelligence to communicate with users. Should we be worried?
What Fear Can Teach Us
A bestselling author makes the connection between fear and storytelling.
B.C. cliff jumpers warned after 5 rescues in a day
Jumping into a ravine can demonstrate someone’s lack of fear, but it can also send them straight to the hospital, or worse.
What if you were on an elevator and the cable broke?
Elevators make some people nervous—probably because they’ve seen movies that feature dramatic elevator plunges. But is there really anything to be afraid of?
Fear prompts teens to act impulsively
People react to threats and fear in different ways. Self-control can help avoid a dangerous confrontation. However, a new study suggests that teens’ brains are not wired to back down in the face of a threat.
Why We’re Afraid of Heights
It makes sense to feel nervous when standing on a cliff, but why do we fear heights even when there’s no chance of falling?
When fear is a weapon: How terror attacks influence mental health
A psychiatrist analyzes the long-term effects of terrorist attacks.
Your Worst Nightmares: 10 Spine-Tingling Phobias
Watch these short videos that explore common fears, if you dare.
Phobia Makes Spiders Appear Larger Than They Are
Believe it or not, fear actually alters the way we perceive things!
What is the Science Behind Fear?
Some people react to frightening situations like horror movies and roller coasters with enjoyment, while others experience stress. Learn about why our brains process fear in different ways.
Tarantula and Bug Petting Zoos Help People Conquer Fears
One way to move past fear of something is to have a positive experience with it. People who fear insects and spiders have an option that sounds strange at first.
One day, you might be able to banish your biggest fears with a pill
Exposure therapy requires a lot of time and achieves mixed results in overcoming phobias. Now, researchers have discovered an astonishingly quick and effective method.
The Primitive, Complicated, Essential Emotion Called Fear
You and a mouse aren’t all that different when it comes to the way our brains experience fear.
The Benefits of Fear
We expend a lot of effort trying to get over our fears, but some fears are healthy.
You Can’t Sleep While Traveling Because Your Brain Acts Like a Dolphin’s
Sleep researchers found that when you try to sleep in a new place, half of your brain stays alert to danger. Find out why poor sleep in strange surroundings is due to fear.
Migraines
How do you know whether or not your headache is serious? Learn about symptoms and causes of severe headaches called migraines.
5 Fears Mentally Strong People Face Head-On
You can’t please everyone. Is that one of your fears? Read about how to face that fear and four others.
Infographic: Curiosity Rover’s “Seven Minutes of Terror”
You don’t have to be in a space shuttle to feel fear during a landing. NASA scientists felt terror as the Laboratory rover “Curiosity” attempted its landing on Mars.