Why do we yawn? Yawning is a universal gesture. Everyone yawns, from babies still in their mother's womb to the elderly. However, the exact reasons for this reflex are not well understood. Is it just ...

Yawning spreads from person to person because our brains are wired for social mirroring. Mirror neurons, empathy and emotional bonding all make contagious yawning more likely, especially among friends ...

Atlas Thébault Guiochon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations ...

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 ...

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 ...

Let's start at the beginning. Who yawns? Everybody. Not just people, but cats, dogs and fish do, too! What is a yawn? It is an involuntary action during which you open your mouth and breathe deeply ...