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

Read an excerpt from Ha!

Meet the Producer

About Alexa Lim

@AlexaLim22

Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.

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Segment Guests

Heard on the Air

Related Links

Meet the Producer

About Alexa Lim

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Why Do We Find Things Funny?