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Most of us are familiar with that tingling sensation caused by tiny bumps rising across the skin in a phenomenon we call “goosebumps,” inspired by the texture of a plucked goose. You may also call those bumps gooseflesh, goose pimples, or chill bumps, and they usually appear as a built-in physical response to temperature change when the air turns cold or a sudden draft brushes the skin.

But cold isn’t the only thing that can make your skin prickle. Goosebumps can rise when you’re overwhelmed by emotion, regardless of the temperature. So why do we get goosebumps? The answer reveals a fascinating connection between our physical and emotional selves.

What Causes Goosebumps?

When you get goosebumps, what’s happening on a biological level is something called piloerection. Tiny muscles called arrector pili contract at the base of each hair follicle, making the hair stand up and the skin appear bumpy. In mammals with fur, raising the hair traps air and adds insulation. We humans, who lack a natural thick fur coat, still experience the effect even though it no longer provides much functional benefit.

When goosebumps occur in response to something other than cold — such as sudden fear, surprise, or awe — they reflect activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the same system that triggers the fight-or-flight response. The hypothalamus can signal this system when strong emotions arise, prompting the arrector pili muscles to contract even without a change in temperature.

Evolutionary psychologists suggest this reaction may be left over from a time when raising body hair helped our ancestors appear larger to predators or stay warmer in cold environments. Recent research also shows that the nerves involved connect to hair follicle stem cells, suggesting the reflex may still play subtle roles in hair growth and skin repair.

And goosebumps don’t just appear in moments of fear or awe, either. Some people get them during moments of intense concentration, pride, sudden nostalgia, or even sexual or spiritual experiences. 

Music Can Cause Your Brain To “Shiver”

One of the most studied triggers of goosebumps beyond cold is music and other forms of fine arts. This phenomenon is known as frisson, a French word meaning “shiver.” Also called aesthetic chills or psychogenic shivers, frisson occurs when sound or emotion, rather than temperature, produces a sudden wave of shivering or goosebumps. During those moments, the brain engages a network connecting emotion, reward, and anticipation.

Brain imaging studies show that frisson involves areas linked to pleasure, motivation, and expectation. Dopamine — the neurotransmitter associated with reward and euphoria — is released during intensely pleasurable moments. In some studies, this surge occurs just before the emotional “peak” in a song, suggesting anticipation itself contributes to the thrill.

Emotion and Memory Are a Powerful Combo

 The auditory cortex — the brain region responsible for processing sound — is functionally connected with emotional and memory-related regions, such as the amygdala and the hippocampus. That helps explain why frisson often feels both physical and nostalgic — it connects what we hear with memories and emotions we’ve experienced. 

Research suggests that certain musical features are especially apt to trigger that response, including sudden changes in loudness, unexpected harmonies or key shifts, the entrance of a solo voice or instrument, or the gradual build-and-release of emotional tension as a song reaches its climax.

Demonstrating the range of music that can cause frisson, neuroscientists have curated a 715-song playlist of music reported to trigger the reaction. It includes classical works by Beethoven and Mozart alongside contemporary songs including Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” and Sia’s “Chandelier.” 

The experience isn’t limited to recorded music, either. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a reading of Mary Oliver’s poetry, and iconic scenes from Star Wars have all been reported to inspire that wave of chills, as have emotionally charged live performances in symphony halls and packed arenas.

Not Everyone Feels Frisson 

 Studies estimate that between 50% and 66% of people experience chills or goosebumps from music. People who show stronger connections between the auditory cortex and the emotional centers of the brain tend to be more open to experience — a personality trait linked to imagination, curiosity, and emotional sensitivity.

People who don’t get chills aren’t less empathetic or less capable of being moved; their brains may simply process auditory and emotional input differently. Some researchers even speculate that frisson relates to predictive coding — the brain’s ability to anticipate what comes next — and the pleasure that comes when those expectations are subverted in a satisfying way.

How Frisson Is Related to ASMR

Some scientists have compared frisson to a related phenomenon known as autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR. Both involve tingling sensations that spread across the scalp or down the spine, and both can cause goosebumps in some people. However, they arise from different triggers and emotions. 

ASMR is usually brought on by soft, subtle sounds such as whispering or tapping, and tends to feel calming and relaxing. Frisson, on the other hand, is sparked by emotionally powerful stimuli — think a musical crescendo or a moving scene — and feels thrilling or awe-inspiring. Some people experience both sensations, while others feel only one or neither.

Ultimately, goosebumps are a small but fascinating glimpse into how emotion and biology intertwine. They remind us that we’re wired to feel as deeply as we think about the world around us, and those fleeting shivers are one of the simplest and most mysterious ways the human brain responds to anticipation and wonder.

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Inventions such as the lightbulb and telephone are so commonplace today it’s hard to imagine what life was like without them, and there are some recent innovations that future generations may think about the same way. Look no further than TIME magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2025,” which gives a glimpse into the future with entries such as a household robot that can do laundry and autonomous big rigs. 

The list also includes plenty of more compact and affordable concepts that would make excellent gifts this holiday season. Here’s a look at eight of the most giftable inventions of 2025.

Lotus Ring

The Lotus ring is an ingenious product intended to make life easier for people with accessibility concerns. Designed by former Apple engineer Dhaval Patel, it allows users to toggle power switches on and off from up to 30 feet away. You don’t even need to stand up; all you have to do is point in the direction of the switch and press a button.

Lotus rings slide onto your pointer finger just like any typical ring, and they don’t require Wi-Fi or any complicated technical setup. The only additional step is to place specially designed magnetized covers onto any standard wall switch — the ones that control overhead lighting, power up fans, etc. Once those covers are in place, point your finger toward the switch and press the small button on the ring, which emits an infrared signal to flip the switch. 

Imagine lying in bed and darkening the room without getting up or turning the lights off for movie night while sitting on the couch. If you know someone who would love that idea, order here to try out a Lotus ring for 45 days with a money-back guarantee.

Shark CryoGlow Face Mask

Skincare can require a lot of trial and error to figure out which products work best for you. But SharkNinja’s new CryoGlow LED face mask is among the most innovative skincare products worth considering, thanks to a new cooling feature that reduces puffiness. 

Developed under the guidance of dermatologists, these masks use high-energy LEDs and infrared lighting to stimulate collagen production and kill bacteria. While that feature is common in other face masks, it’s the cooling plates that distinguishes this mask from others on the market. These cold metallic plates gently rest against your face to reduce redness and puffiness. 

You can select from a variety of treatments such as a 6-minute red light treatment meant to firm sagging skin, an 8-minute blue light program that targets acne, or a 15-minute treatment that cools and soothes the areas under your eyes. Purchase a CryoGlow face mask here to treat your loved ones to the gift of high-tech skincare.

Crowd Compass

While our cellphones have location features that can be shared with others, it can be difficult to find people in large crowds when the cell service gets throttled. That’s precisely what happened to inventor Chris Dimoff when attending a musical festival, inspiring him to invent the first battery-powered, water-resistant, GPS device that uses radio waves to connect with your crew.

Know as the Crowd Compass, this handheld device doesn’t require any network to use, and pairs with an unlimited number of devices. Its built-in screen allows users to see exactly where others are in relation to them, and allows for direct messaging over radio networks. The device is water-resistant, battery-powered, and holds a charge for up to 24 hours.

Not only is the Crowd Compass ideal for attending major events or busy places with friends and family, but it’s also useful for first responders such as EMTs who need to maintain communication with or without cell service in emergency situations. Get the Crowd Compass here and never worry about being separated from your friends or family again.

Camp Snap

Cellphones can be a major distraction, which is why parents often limit their children’s usage and many schools have banned the devices altogether. But in taking away a kid’s phone, you’re also hindering their ability to capture photographic memories. Enter the Camp Snap, a clever solution that looks like an old-school disposable camera.

But what makes Camp Snap so ingenious is that it’s actually a digital camera without any screen, so you can give it to your children without worrying about their screen time. It’s the first product of its kind capable of holding hundreds of photos (up to 500 images can be taken with each charge) that can be easily downloaded to any device afterward.

It’s perfect for sending with your kid to school or summer camp (hence the name), so they can capture memories while staying off their phone. You can order one here, and explore Camp Snap’s other options such as a screen-free digital video camera.

VASA Waterwheel Pet Fountain

A common problem with pet fountains is they’re hard to clean and are often full of stagnant water that becomes a breeding ground for germs. VASA Pet set out to solve this problem with a drinking fountain featuring an innovative waterwheel instead of a pump to keep water moving, which helps prevent bacteria from forming.

The rotating wheel is  dishwasher safe and designed to be easy to clean. And this fountain doesn’t have any complex parts or motors, so you can break it down and reassemble it in seconds. 

The company claims the machine’s wheel sanitizes the water so it’s 99.999% germ free, which makes the fountain especially suitable for senior animals, diabetic pets, or any other furry friends who may be more at risk by drinking contaminated water. Grab a VASA waterwheel fountain here as a gift for the pet lover in your life — their fur babies will undoubtedly thank you.

Manta Sound Sleep Mask

Manta Sleep has always been at the forefront of designing products to help you achieve the shuteye you deserve, but its new eyemask might be its best invention yet. Much like other high-quality sleep masks, the product is designed to fully black out light and is also side-sleeper friendly so you won’t feel any discomfort. But what makes this product extra special are the two Bluetooth speakers built into the ears, which lull the user to sleep with music, white noise, podcasts, or whatever they choose to listen to.

According to Manta co-founder and head of design Ben Schwarz, you won’t feel any discomfort when wearing the mask, as “it’s a very thin speaker component embedded in a foam sandwich.” So block out the bright lights and obscure any loud noises that may be keeping you awake at night, and purchase a Manta Sound Sleep Mask for a friend or loved one here.

Aura Aspen Digital Photo Frame

How do you pick just one memory to print out and frame at home? With so many photos in your phone’s camera roll, it seems impossible to choose. But thanks to Aura Frames’ new edition of the Aspen digital frame, you can have them all in the same resolution as seen on your cell phone and minus any glare. The unique frame features a slim design (just 1.1-inch wide), an anti-glare matte screen, and the ability to display in either portrait or landscape mode.

Aura Frames, which was founded by former Twitter chief scientist Abdur Chowdhury, unveiled its first digital picture frames back in 2012. This new model is designed to have the exact same aspect ratio as smartphone cameras, making it the perfect way to display any of your photos in their original form.

This 12-inch frame comes with a high-definition, anti-glare display and takes just a minute to set up and pair with your device. The frame cycles through any photos you choose to add and can even play up to 30 seconds of video with sound as well as live photos from any Apple iOS device. 

Additional features include adding captions for context, scanning old printed photos of loved ones from pre-smartphone times, and adjusting the brightness so the photos come through as vividly as you’d like. For the photo-lovers in your life, grab an Aspen digital frame from Aura here.

Aurzen Ultra Portable Projector

Portability is a must-have in the modern world. Thanks to Aurzen, we now have a patented Z-shaped projector that folds down to half the size of a cellphone with a unique design that enables it to broadcast both horizontal and vertical video. Despite its small size, it still blasts images in 720p resolution, meaning the picture comes through in crystal-clear HD quality.

When you think of projectors, you probably think of those bulky machines used in school classrooms with a mess of tangled wires. But Aurzen’s ZIP Tri-Fold Portable Mini Projector is just an inch high when folded, making it smaller than the average wallet. There are also no wires or any complicated setup, meaning the projector is ready to use in seconds.

Set it upright to broadcast movies horizontally or turn the device onto its side to watch any vertical social media-style videos. You don’t even need Wi-Fi, allowing you to set it up even if you’re on a camping trip in the middle of the woods. Aurzen claims it to be the smallest foldable mini projector ever and the world’s first with a tri-fold design, and it can be yours by clicking here.

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Our bodies never stop evolving. From peak growth in young adulthood to subtle cellular shifts later in life, each decade brings its own physical, hormonal, and cognitive changes. While we may typically focus on major milestones such as puberty or menopause, the more subtle transformations over the years are just as interesting — and often far less obvious. 

For instance, did you know that the average person shrinks a few inches throughout their life? Or that emotional well-being tends to increase with age? Here’s a look at what changes to expect in each decade of adulthood.

20s

Our 20s are often considered our physical prime: Muscle tone builds easily, recovery is quick, and there’s still usually plenty of resilience in both body and mind. The brain continues maturing throughout this decade — especially the prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making, impulse control, and planning — while bone density reaches its lifetime peak, providing the foundation for long-term strength and mobility.

Collagen production, which helps skin appear plump and smooth, begins a gradual decline of around 1% per year starting in the mid-20s. Metabolism is generally strong and stable through our 20s and up to our 50s, but the habits we form in this decade, including how we eat, move, and rest, play an important role in our future health and long-term well-being.   

30s

This decade often brings the first noticeable slowdown in physical resilience. Muscle mass and strength begin to decline after age 30 at a rate of about 3% to 5% per decade. For women, fat also redistributes more easily toward the abdomen due to hormonal shifts. 

Skin begins to show early signs of aging as cell turnover slows and collagen production continues to gradually decrease. And reproductive and hormonal changes become more pronounced. For women, fertility begins a gradual decline and egg quality decreases. Meanwhile, shifting estrogen levels can ease menstrual symptoms and, for some, lead to more stable moods and emotional balance.

40s

The transition into middle age begins in the 40s, when many of the body’s major systems start to change in ways that are harder to ignore. For women, perimenopause may begin, triggering fluctuations in estrogen that affect everything from mood to metabolism. 

Men experience a gradual decline in testosterone, leading to changes in energy, libido, and muscle retention. Research suggests men’s testosterone levels generally fall about 1% per year beginning around age 40.

Heart health becomes more important as blood pressure and cholesterol levels start to rise. Arteries stiffen and plaque accumulates starting around the mid-40s, increasing cardiovascular risk in both men and women, but regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices can significantly preserve heart function.

Vision changes such as presbyopia usually become noticeable in our 40s, often making reading glasses necessary. Weight can creep up more quickly, particularly around the midsection, and digestive changes can make certain foods less tolerable.

Recovery time after exercise, illness, or injury also lengthens noticeably. After age 40, height loss begins and can amount to a decrease of about half an inch per decade, depending on factors including posture, bone health, and spinal compression. However, regular physical activity and mindful posture habits can help many people maintain strength and mobility for years to come.

50s

Aging becomes more visible and physiologically significant in the 50s. For women, menopause marks a major hormonal transition, with declining estrogen levels influencing bone density, cardiovascular health, and sometimes libido. Both men and women face a more pronounced decline in muscle mass and physical strength — for instance, daily tasks such as lifting or climbing stairs may start to require more effort.

Skin becomes drier, thinner, and more sensitive, and sun damage from previous decades may make itself known in the form of age spots. Changes in hearing may become noticeable, and dental concerns such as receding gums become more common. 

Along with those physical changes, many people in their 50s report greater confidence and emotional stability than they experienced in previous decades. Regular exercise can also help strengthen the heart, preserve muscle and bone, and improve endurance and balance. 

A slower metabolism means the body requires fewer calories for daily function, though it can also make weight maintenance more challenging. Bones that were strengthened through earlier decades of weight-bearing activity tend to lose density more slowly than others, preserving better structural integrity. And lifelong physical activity can help muscle fibers adapt, allowing active people to sustain better mobility and stamina than their sedentary peers.

60s

Mobility, cognition, and independence take center stage in the 60s. Balance can become less steady as changes in the vestibular system — the inner-ear network that helps with spatial orientation — increase the risk of falls. 

Sleep patterns also shift, with earlier wake times and less time spent in deep, restorative stages. Taste and smell sensitivity may decrease after 60, sometimes reducing appetite or altering food preferences. Skin bruises more easily as blood vessels thin, and enamel erosion can make teeth more sensitive.

Reflexes and coordination slow, influencing reaction time during activities such as driving. Mild memory lapses and slower word recall may occur, but those are typical signs of normal aging, and many people in this decade report increased wisdom, perspective, and emotional resilience.

Many adults in their 60s experience lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress than in previous decades, reflecting an increasing emotional resilience and stability.

70s

In our 70s, the impacts of our lifestyle choices become more pronounced. Sarcopenia — the gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function — becomes more dramatic, influencing walking speed and overall independence.

The immune system weakens, making infections more dangerous and recovery slower. Chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease may require increased medical attention.

Vision concerns including cataracts and macular degeneration are more common, and digestion slows, sometimes leading to reduced nutrient absorption. Bone density continues to drop, raising the risk of fracture with even minor falls. Skin becomes more fragile and prone to bruising and tears.

Height loss continues at a more rapid rate than in previous decades — over the course of our lifetime, we can lose up to 3 inches in height.

The 70s can also bring welcome relief for migraine sufferers — studies show migraine prevalence drops in later life, affecting only 5% of men and 10% of women over 70.

Many adults in their 70s also report higher life satisfaction and greater emotional contentment. Compared to 21% of people 60 to 69 and 18% of people 50 to 59, 27% of people 70 to 79 say they are “very happy.”

80s and Beyond

In our 80s and beyond, the body’s resilience and adaptability are rigorously tested as age-related changes become more pronounced, and the contrast between those who’ve maintained lifelong healthy habits and those who haven’t is often evident.

Frailty, which impacts up to 17% of older adults, is associated with a higher risk of falls and hip fractures, which are often life-altering events in this stage. Cognitive changes also become more common with age.

Lung function, which steadily declines beginning around age 25, is typically about 40% lower by age 80 compared to peak function in youth. That loss results from reduced elasticity in lung tissue and weakening of the chest wall and breathing muscles, which combine to limit breathing capacity and stamina. Meanwhile, digestion and nutrient absorption slow with age and appetite frequently decreases, making adequate intake of protein and calories essential. 

Despite those challenges, many people in their 80s and beyond continue to retain cardiovascular efficiency, benefit from adaptive muscle responses, and preserve some endurance when physically active. And happiness may increase in this decade too — 34% of adults over 80 report feeling very happy with their lives.

Strong social connections, movement adapted to our ability levels, and safe environments further support health and quality of life, demonstrating that the body can continue to function effectively and maintain vitality even in our twilight years.

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The polygraph — often misleadingly called a “lie detector” — has been around for more than a century. It was invented in 1921 by John Augustus Larson, a police officer with the Berkeley Police Department in California.

Since then, the polygraph has taken on an almost iconic, semi-mystical status as a device capable of piercing through deception to reveal absolute truth. This idea of the “lie detector” has been reinforced in countless movies, from Basic Instinct to Meet the Parents. 

But even back in the 1920s, the polygraph had its doubters — including Larson himself, who found an alarming error rate that made him increasingly concerned about its official use in law enforcement. To this day, the scientific community has many queries as to whether polygraphs actually work, and whether they can be relied on as accurate indicators of truth and lies. 

How Do Polygraph Tests Work?

Polygraph machines don’t detect lies directly. Instead, they record several physiological indicators simultaneously, including blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, perspiration, and skin conductivity — physiological responses that are typically involuntary. 

During the test, the examiner asks a series of questions, usually a combination of control questions designed to establish baseline responses and questions directly relevant to the issue being investigated. The subject is fitted with a number of sensors to measure their bodily responses, which are then recorded on graph paper, providing a visual representation of the subject’s physiological state. 

The basic theory behind the polygraph is quite straightforward: When people lie, they experience psychological stresses that manifest in measurable physiological changes. For example, a person may breathe more rapidly, sweat more profusely, or experience an elevated heart rate when lying about potentially incriminating details. Those are measured and compared against a subject’s truthful baseline responses, and the examiner then analyzes the responses to tell — in theory, at least — when the subject has been truthful or dishonest.

How Accurate Are the Tests?

One of the fundamental issues with polygraph tests is the lack of any unique physiological signature for lying. According to the American Psychological Association, “There is no evidence that any pattern of physiological reactions is unique to deception. An honest person may be nervous when answering truthfully and a dishonest person may be non-anxious.” 

Our bodies can respond to stress, anxiety, fear, and even cognitive effort in similar ways regardless of whether or not we’re being deceptive — for instance, an innocent person terrified of being falsely accused could display the same physiological responses as a guilty person attempting to conceal the truth.

Proponents of polygraph testing often cite studies that suggest polygraphs are accurate between 80% and 90% of the time. Many of those studies, however, have involved people lying about clearly defined events in controlled experiments. 

A 2008 study by the University of Utah’s Department of Educational Psychology, for example, recruited 120 people from the general community to take part in a mock crime experiment in which they took polygraph tests – with 86% of the innocent participants and 93% of the guilty participants correctly classified. But in real-life circumstances, it’s likely that polygraphs are significantly less accurate, particularly when taking false positives into account. 

Researchers have found that polygraph tests produce more false positives (innocent people who wrongly fail) than false negatives (guilty people who wrongly pass). One collation of field studies suggested the false positive rate of innocent people identified as deceptive through polygraph testing was as high as 19%. 

Other factors are also in play when it comes to the validity of polygraph results. Certain techniques — ranging from controlled breathing to deliberately making yourself feel upset and confused — may help people pass tests even when they’re lying. 

And an examiner’s own ability can influence the efficacy and validity of polygraph results: An experienced examiner may spot attempts to beat the test that a novice could potentially miss. It’s because of these various limitations that the American Psychological Association states,  “Most psychologists and other scientists agree that there is little basis for the validity of polygraph tests.” 

When and Where Are Polygraphs Used?

Given the limitations of polygraph tests and the widespread concerns regarding their reliability, polygraph results are often inadmissible as evidence in criminal trials. In the United States, polygraph admissibility varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, with some states banning it completely while others allow results by stipulation (often under specific circumstances when both parties agree). 

However, polygraphs remain widely used in pre-employment screening for law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and other sensitive government positions, typically to assess a person’s trustworthiness and to identify potential threats. Recently, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense have turned to polygraphs to help root out potential intelligence leakers — although not without complaint and controversy. 

Outside of government, things are different. In the U.S., the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) prohibits most private employers from using lie detector tests, either for pre-employment screening or throughout the course of employment. So while polygraphs can be useful in certain limited circumstances, the notion of the infallible “lie detector” of pop culture fame is largely the stuff of fiction.