play

Latest in play

A Minecraft castle.

What I wish I knew before playing Minecraft with my kids

By Jean Levasseur

A child wearing a dark t-shirt and striped leggings climbs a playground structure. The child and structure are greyscale against a yellow, beige, black, pink, and green abstract background.

The elements that make a perfect playground

By Lauren Leffer

A tangle of macaque monkeys.

Laughter is a key part of play for many animals

dancing illustration

Why some people are bad at dancing

By Rachel Nuwer

sports bra illustration

The best sports bra uses non-Newtonian fluid

By Claire Maldarelli

A row of Barbie dolls with fake blood

Playing bad can shape behavior, but not in the way you think

By Erin Blakemore

Nuria Tamarit illustration

Five dolls that changed the world

By Erin Blakemore

Home team advantage explained in three charts

sports illustration

We combined the most dangerous parts of every sport—this is the result

By Eleanor Cummins

Screenshots of puzzles graphics cropped

Can you crack the world’s first crossword?

By Sara Kiley Watson and Corinne Iozzio

Muti illustration

How Disney fools your brain to make lines feel magically short

By Sara Kiley Watson

bowling ball interior

The insides of pro bowling balls will make your head spin

By Stan Horaczek

Paralympic wheelchair

How different wheelchair designs can help Paralympians excel

By Ace Tilton Ratcliff

baseball pitcher

It’s time to explain some game theory

A toddler dressed as Wonder Woman

Eight summer activity ideas that will boost kids’ brains

By Pexman, Reggin & Madigan/The Conversation

Astronauts having fun

For astronauts in space, play is a way to stay safe

By Amy Schellenbaum

winter ultramarathon

Fitness & Exercise

These ultramarathoners say life is easier after running 40 miles on frozen backwoods trails

Settlers of Catan game pieces.

How to destroy your friends and family in 4 popular board games

Surfers are riding a wave of new technologies to their Olympic debut

anatomy of a laugh

Why does laughing feel so stinkin’ good?

By Sara Chodosh