Chuckle, Snigger and LOL
Why do we giggle, snort, and bust a gut laughing? Is it just humans being weird, does it serve some higher function or do other animals crack up too? And, okay, Dara is a comedian, but has he ever really made anyone laugh, like properly?
With help from Professor Greg Bryant and Professor Sophie Scott, they dive into the science of LOLs, exploring how laughter bonds us, eases stress, and even spices up flirting. They uncover the difference between genuine belly laughs and those polite chuckles that pepper everyday interactions.
Contributors:
Sophie Scott - Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCLGreg Bryant - Professor of Communication at UCLA Betty La France - Professor or Communication, Northern Illinois University
Producer: Ilan GoodmanExecutive Producer: Alexandra FeachemA BBC Studios Audio Production
Curious Cases
Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science!
- No. of episodes: 153
- Latest episode: 2025-06-06
- Science Technology
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