Hidden Brain

The Mystery of Beauty

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 <a href="https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p15498">Anjan Chatterjee</a> explains the function of beauty in our daily lives. Then, Nobel laureate <a href="https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/frank-wilczek/">Frank Wilczek</a> 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, <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-power-of-apologies/" target="_blank">The Power of Apologies</a>. Plus, if you're looking for a holiday gift for the Hidden Brain fan in your life, be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.podswag.com/collections/hidden-brain">online shop</a> for mugs, t-shirts, and more!

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.