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Or why although previous research has shown that surgery which merely imitates the operation – "placebo surgery" – can be as effective as the real thing, many clinicians still criticise it. 

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frank60/Shutterstock

Human culture is changing too fast for evolution to catch up – here’s how it may affect you

Jose Yong, Northumbria University, Newcastle

Human culture has changed too fast for evolution to keep up.

Agencja Fotograficzna Caro/Alamy Stock Photo

‘Placebo’ or ‘sham’ surgery is not a cruel trick – it can be very effective

Jeremy Howick, University of Leicester

So-called ‘sham’ or ‘placebo’ surgery can be more effective than more invasive surgery. So why aren’t we using it more often?

PA/Alamy/Aaron Chown/Stefan Rousseau/Shutterstock/Dedraw Studio

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer should emulate Boris Johnson’s distinctive smile – here’s the research that shows why

Carl Senior, Aston University; Erik P. Bucy, Texas Tech University; Patrick Stewart, University of Arkansas

Study shows that even people who didn’t vote for Boris Johnson in 2019 were swayed by his grin.

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