Yes, scientists really built a "tickle robot." Plus other weird things we learned this week. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. The origins of why we are ticklish remain a mystery, but we're starting to figure it out. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week.

When's the best time to drink coffee? It's not one cup fits all. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. We all know coffee right before bed is a bed idea, but when is the right time to enjoy a cup of joe? Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

Dogs have developed the ability to parse human speech in ways that mirror our own. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. No, that's not why dogs tilt their heads. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . "Do you want a, Milton?" "Do you want to go for a, Bernie?" Annnnd, cue the head tilt from your dog. Many dogs turn their heads, perk their ears, and stand at attention when their humans say certain words. There's some serious science and fascinating theories about dogs' ability to understand language.

Image caption, As beautiful as it is complex - a male fly's brain Scientists have managed to compare the fine detail of the brains of male and female flies for the first time, identifying differences they say explain male aggression, courtship and their singing of love songs. The scientists in Cambridge mapped all 124m connections of nerve cells in a male fly's brain, having done the same for a female fly two years ago. The team are clear that the research won't explain differences between men and women because our behaviour is far more complex. But the research could help scientists better understand human behaviour and conditions in which genetic differences affect brain wiring, such as autism and schizophrenia. Prof Gregory Jefferis, of the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology and University of Cambridge, who co-led the research, told BBC News that the breakthrough was a really important new avenue in neuroscience, likening it to the invention of a powerful new telescope in increasing our understanding of the Universe.

People become more suspicious of a humanoid robot that makes errors, especially when the robot is an expressive conversation partner. In our new study published in the journal Science Robotics, we had 50 people hold conversations and make joint decisions with the commercial humanoid robot Pepper, which is designed to be expressive and recognize emotions. Sometimes we had the robot give sound advice. Sometimes we had it make conversational mistakes, interrupting people or pushing illogical suggestions. For some participants, the robot was animated, using gestures, eye contact and nods.

A new study on donated brain tissue from former football players found troubling signs of CTE, a degenerative brain disease.

You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. Terrified electrician trapped for hours inside 130-foot high gas station sign recorded goodbye message to wife and kids: 'It was my final words' Was Meghan's supposed role in Guy Ritchie Netflix series leaked as a PR tactic? Watch: Trump's brutal killing of two suspected drug smugglers as chilling details of their US'INVASION' are exposed Lindsay Clancy's supporters are all suddenly acting strange. I'm afraid of what they might do next... something very sick is going on: KENNEDY Husband of slain therapist finally breaks silence on killing that rocked their ritzy horse country town... as fear and rumors run wild over mystery of powerful pharma exec's daughter who was knifed to death Trump's Treasury chief to launch massive financial warfare against Iran as US seeks to cripple'tyrannical' regime Sandra Bullock's devastating SIX YEARS in hiding: Insiders reveal actress was so'lonely and scared' that her'personality changed'... and how ALS death of partner Bryan at 57 nearly ruined her Horrified tourist finds note on her restaurant receipt saying'burn the eggs and spit on them' after she asked for them not to be runny Why a nose job isn't guaranteed to fix your face: From Wayne Rooney to Bella Hadid, a plastic surgeon reveals the celebrities who look better after the procedure - and who shouldn't have gone under the knife Kate shows off new lighter locks and sun-kissed glow after summer holidays - as she enjoys Balmoral break ahead of Harry and Meghan's return Dr. Oz addresses concerns about MMR vaccine after Trump calls shot'lethal' Tom Cruise's sex life crisis: Insiders reveal actor's secret'frustration' at 64... real reason Ana de Armas fling collapsed... lover's name he can't bear to hear... and Victoria Beckham's failed interventions Meghan is being cruelly used: LIZ JONES's warning to the Duchess as her film offer is abruptly'withdrawn' Two police officers fired and arrested for'egregious criminal conduct' during violent car stop in Arizona Shelley Fabares dead at 82: The Donna Reed Show actress who starred alongside Elvis Presley remembered by'heartbroken' family I've watched the full Perez Hilton knife video. The truth about this tragedy is beyond horrific but somehow it's just got worse: ROB SHUTER Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan hit with shock lawsuit claiming he STOLE idea for show starring Kevin Costner... days after highly anticipated spin-off was scrapped The Hollywood face never changes!

You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. William and Kate attend King's'Sussex summit' at Balmoral: Waleses'have no interest in engaging' with Harry and Meghan after they announced return to UK What Kate told my close source makes me deeply worried as Meghan and Harry return to the UK... William now faces the biggest decision of his life: ROBERT JOBSON Martha's Vineyard toddler'died calling out dad's name' after being left in COLD car by babysitter now charged with his murder New York Times must pay college basketball star $9.25m as it loses defamation case for first time in 50 years over false report West Wing chaos as Susie Wiles'little pet' protege's dirty secret is exposed... leaving Trump insiders aghast Rob Reiner children's clever revenge scheme as brother Nick tries to drain their MASSIVE inheritance The humiliating reason Pete Hegseth's wife never leaves his side - and it's rattling the Pentagon Crying girl, 12, came running out from remote woods after being'kidnapped' from sleepover... as hero details rescue I know the exact moment Meghan Markle was finished in America. Trump's desperate move to stop looming midterm bloodbath as economic downturn tears through American households I thought becoming an escort at 22 would give me a life of glamour and financial freedom. This is an epic humiliation for Harry and Meghan. But these two are dangerous... we should fear a twisted real strategy behind their UK return: MAUREEN CALLAHAN Some in royal circles who have dealt with the Sussexes tell me they fear'there is more to this than we know', writes REBECCA ENGLISH Imposing waterspout looms over New York as storm, tornado and flood chaos cripples three of America's biggest airports Sarah Jessica Parker's nepo baby James Wilkie Broderick, 23, shows off bulging biceps at gym before making shock statement about his'modeling career' US woman falls to her death from hotel's 18th floor in Mexico: Husband quizzed by cops after telling staff his wife had'done something outrageous' 'Gwyneth is glad Meghan is moving out of Montecito': The Sussexes' neighbors deliver brutal verdict on move back to UK... as insiders reveal'Hollywood chatter' and one local says, 'We don't really give a cr**' The idea that his little brother is going to swan back in to steal William's thunder must be enraging: SARAH VINE'I saw everything': California dad's horror at finding teen best friends killed in fiery crash after their car was split in half What colours do you see? Mind-boggling optical illusion tricks your brain into seeing red and blue in a black and white spinning wheel The phenomenon, which has baffled scientists for hundreds of years, fools viewers into thinking they can see colours such as red and blue when they are not present.

Why Is Everyone in Silicon Valley Talking Like That? Did you mix something up? Silicon Valley has long had its own dialect. Venture capitalists are always talking about the value of being "high agency" and making "orthogonal bets." But lately, tech vernacular has taken a peculiar turn--people have started describing themselves as if they were chatbots.

Follow this author to personalize your feed and get instant alerts. Follow Go to your personalized feed WHY FOLLOW? Smart Alerts: Get notified about major news as it happens. It seems odd that your body's internal age may differ from your chronological one. But Tony Wyss-Coray, a Swiss professor of neurology and director of the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at Stanford University, has pioneered ways to measure a person's "biological age," which scientists say more accurately reflects how a body is aging than does chronological age.