Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Sorry, Toastmasters. When people clap at a performance, they’re ...

In my family, changing the lyrics to “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands” is essential to the song. Whiny, grumpy, snotty, and even verklempt substitute quite nicely for “happy.” Making ...

Researchers deserve a round of applause for uncovering the science behind the acoustics produced from hand clapping that had not been clearly understood until recently. The daily gesture that people ...

What makes us clap more for some performances than others? You'd think it's obvious: The better the show, the more applause. Think again. Guest host Linda Wertheimer explores how and why applause ...

Hand clapping is ubiquitous behavior for humans across time and cultures, serving many different purposes: to signify approval with applause, for instance, or to keep time to music. Acousticians often ...

I started frequenting a trendy poetry cafe in New York my freshman year of college. On the cusp of adulthood, poetry had been a safe haven for me, a place where I could escape when the noise in my ...