logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
49m 4s

The Mystery of Beauty

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode

Think about the last time you were struck by a gorgeous painting in a museum, or heard a song that brought you to tears. All of us know what it’s like to be stopped in our tracks by a beautiful sight. But scientists are still puzzling over why this is the case. What’s the point of beauty? Why is it seemingly so important to us? This week on the show, neuroscientist Anjan Chatterjee explains the function of beauty in our daily lives. Then, Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek describes how beauty served a purpose in some of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of our time.

In case you missed it, make sure to listen to the last installment of our Healing 2.0 series, The Power of Apologies. Plus, if you're looking for a holiday gift for the Hidden Brain fan in your life, be sure to check out our online shop for mugs, t-shirts, and more!

 

Up next
Jul 7
You 2.0: The Passion Pill
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The idea is that pursuing your passion will feel invigorating — almost magical. But passions can easily wane over time. This week, behavioral scientist Jon Jachimowicz looks at how to ... Show More
49m 25s
Jun 30
You 2.0: What Is Your Life For?
What should you do with your life? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. But there are scientifically-tested methods that can help you to feel more in harmony with yourself and the world. This week, and in a companion conversation for Hidden Brain+, researcher Vic ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 23
Win Hearts, Then Minds + Your Questions Answered on Identity and "Covering"
There’s a saying that’s attributed to the Dalai Lama: in the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher. It’s a nice idea. But when people don’t share our values, it’s hard for us to tolerate theirs. This week, we bring you a favorite episode with sociologist Robb Wil ... Show More
1h 25m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2020
#19 Beauty
In this episode of The Official Teachify Podcast, English Teacher Mickey & English Teacher Lewis introduce a new topic about Beauty by discussing the most beautiful places they've visited, their celebrity crushes and they try to define the word beauty.  Put me on the spot - ... Show More
16m 44s
Dec 2022
This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher Keltner
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Our guest today is one of the most prominent happiness researchers in the world, and he has come to the conclusion that living the good life boils down to on ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 2022
The Price of Beauty
We’re constantly surrounded by false standards of beauty on social media that can trick us into believing that external beauty is more important than what’s on the inside. When we don’t know where the fake narrative ends and the truth begins, we leave the odor open for demons to ... Show More
31m 28s
Apr 2023
EP158. Why the beauty industry needs more indie formulators
Big beauty has spent well over a century using fear-mongering to marketing its products to us. Even if today it is more sophisticated in its methods and use of media, the mainstream industry is still telling us we are not good enough or beautiful enough. In effect, it is telling ... Show More
7m 52s
Jan 2021
Your Brain Treats Human Beauty Differently from Artistic Beauty
Learn about how your brain treats beautiful faces differently from beautiful objects; why the town of Baarle sits on one of the world’s most complex international borders; and what might happen if you’re eating during a car accident.Your brain treats beautiful faces differently f ... Show More
11m 29s
Jun 2018
How to Be Beautiful and Why it Matters & Small Inventions that Rocked Your World
When you search for something in Google does it matter what order you put the words in? What about punctuation – does that matter? We start this episode with the best ways to optimize Google searches to get the best results. (https://edu.google.com/coursebuilder/courses/pswg/1.2/ ... Show More
48m 25s
May 2023
Ep 186: How We Got Into The Beauty Industry
Gum Health 101 We talk to dentist Dr Madeleine Duff around gum health and ways to ensure healthy gums. She tells us if water flossers are worth it, the different types of gum issues that can arise and how to reverse gum damage. Dr Madeleine Duff is a dentist at The Smile Designer ... Show More
38m 15s
Jan 2021
Frank Wilczek — Beauty as a Compass for Truth
“Having tasted beauty at the heart of the world, we hunger for more.” These are words from Nobel physicist Frank Wilczek in his book, A Beautiful Question. It’s a winsome, joyful meditation on the question: Do cosmic realities embody beautiful ideas? — probing the world, by way o ... Show More
50m 35s
Nov 2022
EP133. Beauty in the metaverse
If you are a gamer, then the metaverse will be a familiar space. But, if you are a natural cosmetics’ formulator helping friends, family and customers with real-world skincare and haircare issues, a hyper-virtual reality metaverse of avatars, immersive digital experiences and the ... Show More
34m 50s