The Serious Science of Humor
16:54 minutes
You might know why the chicken crossed the road, but do you know the answer to why it makes you chuckle? Scott Weems, author of Ha!: The Science of When We Laugh and Why, tells us how our brain reacts to humor and let’s us in on the scientifically proven funniest joke in the world. (Read an excerpt from the book here.)
Segment Guests
Scott Weems
Scott Weems is a research scientist at the University of Maryland and author of Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why (Basic Books, 2014) in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Heard on the Air
Related Links
Meet the Producer
About Alexa Lim
@AlexaLim22Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.