Priya Chandrasekaran
Behavioral Science WriterTrained in cognitive psychology, obsessed with the gap between what people think they do and what they actually do. Her work will make you question your own brain.
Articles by Priya Chandrasekaran
The Great Longevity Plateau: Why No Generation Born After 1939 Will Reach 100
Medical progress isn't translating to longer lifespans anymore. Mortality improvements have slowed to a crawl, and longevity gains peaked a century ago.
The Statistical Trap That Makes Bad Medicine Look Good
A treatment can harm every single group of patients it's tested on, yet still appear beneficial overall. Welcome to Simpson's Paradox, the statistical illusion that exposes why raw numbers lie.
Chimps Are Better at Changing Their Minds Than You'd Think
Experiments reveal that chimpanzees don't just follow instinct—they actually revise their beliefs when the evidence demands it, in ways that look disturbingly similar to human reasoning.
Your Paycheck Is Literally Called 'Salt Money'—And You Never Noticed
The word 'salary' comes from Roman soldiers being paid in salt or salt-money. Every time you cash a check, you're speaking an ancient economy into existence.
The Lifespan Plateau: Why Nobody Born After 1939 Will Ever See 100
Medical progress promised endless life extension, but a hard biological ceiling and the end of easy gains means future generations will live longer than their parents—but never reach the mythical 100-year average.
Expert Taste Buds Lie: How Wine Experts Get Fooled by Food Coloring
A classic study shows wine experts confidently misdescribe red wine dyed white, proving even trained professionals trust their eyes over their taste buds.
We May Have Already Reached the Limit of How Long Humans Can Live
After a century of steady gains, life expectancy has stalled in wealthy nations. Scientists suspect we've hit a biological ceiling that medicine alone can't break through.
Why People Turn Down Better Jobs Just to Avoid Admitting They Were Wrong
Behavioral economics reveals a stubborn truth: we often sabotage our own careers rather than face the psychological sting of admitting a previous choice was a mistake.
Chewing Wood Actually Rewires Your Brain—Here's Why
A South Korean study found that mastication of wooden sticks triggers glutathione release in the brain, protecting neurons from oxidative damage. Your ancestors might have been onto something.
Baby Birds Have a Critical Weather Window—And Climate Change Is Narrowing It
A 60-year study reveals that extreme weather doesn't hit all young birds equally: cold kills chicks in their first week, but rain becomes deadlier as they grow. The real killer? When both strike together.