The Science Behind Music-Induced Skin Orgasms

Not much is known about frisson—a physical reaction to an emotional stimuli that sometimes feels like a “skin orgasm”—or its physiological origins or even why it only affects two-thirds of the population. Frisson occurs when a song (perhaps just a few notes), painting or any sort of sensory stimulation strikes an emotional chord. But then the emotion turns into a skin-stretching physical sensation. According to …

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Medical marijuana for pets, designing utopia, using VR to solve crime and more in this week's look at the web

1. The Origins of Monopoly’s Iconic Playing Pieces Ever wonder how such random items as a shoe, thimble, wheelbarrow and battleship became the playing pieces of possibly the most iconic board game in history? According to Cool Material, their origins date back to the 1930s, when Monopoly inventor (and probable idea thief) Charles Darrow developed the idea to use small items from around the house …

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A kaleidoscopic church installation, edible beer packaging, and how Venmo is making you stingy in this week's look at the web

1. The Most Important Era of Innovation A recent article in The New York Times asks, “What Was the Greatest Era for Innovation?” It’s a difficult question to answer—if there even is an answer—as everything from plumbing to airplanes, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and smartphones have shaped the evolution of American life. Instead, The Times surfaces some of the most notable inventions and ground-breaking ideas of …