Sharon Begley, our longtime science columnist, died of cancer on January 16, 2021, at age 64. Our thoughts and good wishes go out to her family and her wide circle of colleagues, for whom she was an exemplar of the highest standards of the journalistic profession. Sharon was a senior science writer with The Boston Globe Media Group, author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, and coauthor with Richard Davidson of The Emotional Life of Your Brain.
weighing heart and brain on scale. smart fools
Calm
Are We Becoming Smart Fools? 

IQ points keep rising with each generation, but the tests are leaving out emotional intelligence, creativity, and wisdom—the very traits we need to solve our most pressing problems. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • December 4, 2017
houses talking to each other, with speech bubbles overhead. belonging Is believing
Compassion
Belonging Is Believing 

What we humans believe has always been shaped by the group we identify with. In the age of filter bubbles, the habit of looking to our tribe for all the answers may be escalating. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • October 2, 2017
illustration man with search bar over his head
Anxiety
Smart Phone, Lazy Brain 

We still call them “phones,” but they are seldom used for talking. They have become like a substitute for memory—and other brain functions. Is that good for us in the long run? Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • July 19, 2017
three stacks of paper-common pop psychology myths
Calm
7 Common Pop Psychology Myths, Debunked 

The latest findings in psychology—about our deep-seated thoughts, emotions, and behaviors—get a lot of media attention. Unfortunately, they often turn out to be flawed or false. Here's the evidence that contradicts 7 of the most common pop psychology myths. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • May 15, 2017
illustration person standing under wave
Anxiety
When Avoidance Rules Your Life 

Though we often equate compulsions and addictions, researchers are now drawing a sharp distinction between these two behaviors—one is about avoiding and the other about seeking. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • March 22, 2017
illustration of brain with file folders in it with question marks on them
Anxiety
Forget Me, Forget Me Not… 

We tend to think of memory as a one-shot deal. We experience something and we either store it in memory or let it go. New research suggests otherwise: Fresh data can draw out latent memories. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • January 18, 2017
illustration of stick figure in an hour glass eating colored dots that falll
Anxiety
The Now Addiction 

Proponents of mindfulness meditation repeatedly celebrate living in the now, but being able to forestall gratification to a future time can also be a key element of mindfulness. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • November 8, 2016
lineup of individuals of all different walks of life with caution tape over their faces. biased brain
Careers
Beware Your Biased Brain 

Our brain can move very fast, and that can be a real problem. The tendency to make split-second assessments of people can lead to disastrous outcomes. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • September 7, 2016
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