Humans’ first experience with yawning happens in utero, says Matthew D. Epstein, M.D., associate medical director of the Atlantic Health Sleep Centers in New Jersey. Yet, Earth-side, the ...

Yawning seems like such a simple act, yet it holds surprising power over us. Just watching someone yawn — even a stranger — can suddenly trigger the irresistible urge to yawn yourself. Why does this ...

Seeing or hearing someone yawn can make you yawn. This phenomenon is not limited to humans; some animals experience contagious yawning, too. But why is yawning contagious? Brain cells called mirror ...

Humans aren't alone when it comes to yawning — all vertebrates do it too, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. But why? The "evolutionarily ancient" act of yawning likely serves a ...

No one is entirely sure why we yawn — it’s one of the questions that still remains a mystery. But that hasn’t stopped scientists from having a few different theories regarding the human urge to yawn.

There are certain things our bodies do so often and so automatically that we barely notice them. Yawning, growling stomachs, and runny noses are good examples. Each is a universal part of our daily ...

Teachers might have told you off for doing it, and your parents used it to try to get you to go to bed earlier. It’s rude to do it in a meeting, and seeing someone else doing it (even if they cover ...

Yawning is something everyone does, but have you ever wondered why? It’s one of those everyday actions that seem simple but has a deeper meaning. Scientists have spent years studying yawning, and ...

Many of the videos suggest social mirroring, which happens when individuals unintentionally imitate the actions of others, along with empathy, may be why some people yawn when they see others do it ...

Open your mouth wide, stretch the muscles of your jaw and upper body, take a slow breath in, and then exhale quickly. What have you done? You have yawned. Many animals, including humans, yawn. They do ...