Scientists may have made consciousness more mysterious than necessary

The Real Problem
It looks like scientists and philosophers might have made consciousness far more mysterious than it needs to be. Anil Seth for Aeon

The Medieval Mind
Scholars are finding that medieval science – in various fields – is more sophisticated than previously thought. Over at The Psychologist, Corinne Saunders and Charles Fernyhough show that psychology is no exception.

Why Pride is Good
Try to forget about the idea of pride as a deadly sin. The latest research shows that pride can be a powerful motivational force. Christian Jarrett for 99U

Psychologists Argue About Whether Smiling Makes Cartoons Funnier
Multi-lab experiment fails to validate decades-old report that facial expressions can affect emotional state, reports Ramin Skibba for Nature (and check out our earlier coverage).

The Myth of Self-control
Psychologists say using willpower to achieve goals is overhyped. Here's what actually works. Brian Resnick for Vox

A Small But Deeply Sad Detail in That New Study on Facebook and Friendship
At New York's Science of Us, Melissa Dahl looks behind the sunny headlines that linked Facebook use with greater longevity.

The Top Three Scientific Explanations For Ghost Sightings
Neil Dagnall and Ken Drinkwater for The Conversation

Everything We've Ever Known About Sleep 
At BBC Radio 4, Jake Yapp condenses the history of everything we ever thought we knew about sleep into four minutes.

Your Name Reveals More Than You Think
The handful of words on your ID card can hint at your class, education, even your physical stature. By Jessica Brown for BBC Future

Memory Lane Has a Three-Way Fork
Three different parts of the brain control how successfully, accurately, and vividly we remember past events. Ed Yong for The Atlantic