Maggie Penman

The adage "be kind to others" is simple enough that even young children can understand it. But that doesn't mean adults always remember the importance of being kind or understand how compassion might affect them. This week, we look at the science of compassion, and why doing good things for others can make a big difference in your own life.

Arguments and bickering can sour family gatherings during the holiday season. This week, we share tips on how to avoid miscommunication from our January 2018 conversation with actor Alan Alda. You might know him from his roles on television shows like M*A*S*H, The West Wing and 30 Rock, but in recent years Alda has also focused on helping scientists, and the rest of us, communicate better. His book is If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating.

We all know the downsides of being poor. But what about the downsides of being rich? This week, we explore the psychology of scarcity...and excess.

Dozens of houses have exploded into flames, and a hospital says it is treating victims. People are being told to evacuate, which has led to gridlock and traffic jams.

This week on the Hidden Brain radio show, we explore why people often avoid telling the truth — to others, and to themselves.

Faneuil Hall is visited by millions of tourists every year. But few know its ties to the slave trade. Boston is trying to figure out how to reckon with that history.

Decades ago, a group of women accused a prominent playwright of sexual misconduct. For the most part, the complaints went nowhere. In 2017, more women came forward. This time, people listened.

On the city's South Side, residents and activists converged to protest the deadly shooting of a man Saturday. On Sunday police released a 30-second clip of the incident that set off the protests.

The Serbian tennis player won his fourth Wimbledon and his 13th major title with his victory over Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

The giant mountain of ice towers is threatening a tiny village, causing authorities to evacuate residents.