Science & technology | Hormones and behaviour

Testosterone makes men more impulsive

At least, when they are trying to answer mathematical questions

TESTOSTERONE is a hormone with a reputation. Though both sexes generate the stuff, that reputation is macho. Numerous experiments on non-human animals show that boosting testosterone levels boosts levels of aggression. And in most species—humans included—males are the more aggressive sex.

This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Impulse power”

Donald Trump has no grasp of what it means to be president

From the August 19th 2017 edition

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Dr Dorothy Bishop.

Elon Musk is causing problems for the Royal Society

His continued membership has led to a high-profile resignation

Legal Amazon preservation area borders the field for soybean planting.

Deforestation is costing Brazilian farmers millions

Without trees to circulate moisture, the land is getting hotter and drier


Robot mixing at Toyota Research Institute.

Robots can learn new actions faster thanks to AI techniques

They could soon show their moves in settings from car factories to care homes


Scientists are learning why ultra-processed foods are bad for you

A mystery is finally being solved

Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever

Concerns about some of their business models are building

The two types of human laugh

One is caused by tickling; the other by everything else