Sharon Begley

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The Crying Song
A new study finds the roots of language in newborns' first sounds
November 5, 2009

"Crying baby" and "music" don't usually go together, but, hey, interesting science starts with questions no one else thought to ask—in this case, what are the musical contours of a newborn's cry? There had already been provocative research on what sounds a fetus can hear in the womb and what effect that has right after birth, with several research teams finding that newborns prefer their mothers' voices over those of other people, as in studies such as this and this. That makes sense, since Mom's voice is what a baby heard most for nine months. Newborns also prefer their native tongue to other languages for the same reason. (Click here to follow Sharon Begley)

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The Upside of Feeling Down
Depression might be evolution's way of fixing what ails us
November 2, 2009
Survival of the Weakest
Why Neanderthals went extinct.
October 29, 2009
It May Not Save Your Life
Why there's more reason than ever to be skeptical about cancer screening.
October 21, 2009
Wired for Hypocrisy
Why it's so easy to justify our bad behavior.
October 20, 2009
What You Don’t Know Might Kill You
The right doctors can make all the difference when it comes to treating cancer. So why don't we know who they are?
October 17, 2009
Black CEOs and the Teddy Bear Effect
If you're black and want to lead a Fortune 500 company, look cuddly.
October 15, 2009
Some Treatments Just Don’t Work
But doctors use them anyway. The case for evidence-based medicine.
October 8, 2009


Cover Stories (16)
Cover Story
The Evolution Of An Eco-Prophet
Al Gore's views on climate change are advancing as rapidly as the phenomenon itself.
October 31, 2009
Cover Story
The Truth About Denial
August 13, 2007
Cover Story
Beyond Stones & Bones
NEWSWEEK's Sharon Begley, on why the story of our origins isn't as clear-cut as we had thought.
March 19, 2007
Cover Story
The Schizophrenic Mind
A Popular Movie And A Murder Trial Bring This Tragic Disease To Light. How Can The Voices Sound So Real?
March 11, 2002