Science Confirms the Obvious: Ten Studies That Make You Say “Duh”

It might seem silly to investigate whether people are happier on the weekend, but behind such truisms are revelations about our brains, our behavior and our environment. Here we round up the year's most outwardly obvious scientific studies

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Sometimes it takes long, hard study to pin down what we thought we knew all along—and to reveal surprising findings beneath the surface of common sense. People drive poorly when talking on their cellphone? The elderly prefer happy memories over sad ones? Shocking!

Thus, with great pleasure, we round up ten of the past year’s best hard science studies that answer some of the world’s least pressing questions.

Click to launch the photo gallery to see this year’s most obvious science

Blowing Up Mountain
Old people Prefer Happy Memories
A Mean Gym Teacher
Most People Drive Poorly while Talking on the Phone
Siblings Who Fight Don’t Get Along
Young People Want Big Money, Big Vacations
Environmentalists Can Be Smug Jerks
Self-Control Makes Students More Manageable
People Are Happier on the Weekend
Hard-Drinking Adrenaline Freaks Are Prone to Injury
 
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