Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Sorry, Toastmasters. When people clap at a performance, they’re ...

Spence and Van de Ven declined to take part in football's post-match applause ritual. It is a breach of an unwritten rule but also... fine ...

Hand clapping is ubiquitous behavior for humans across time and cultures, serving many different purposes: to signify approval with applause, for instance, or to keep time to music. Acousticians often ...

Not everyone is jazzed about this new rule at the University of Manchester. The British school’s student union has banned clapping, whooping and cheering at their events — suggesting the use of “jazz ...

A round of applause, please: Scientists have finally figured out what’s behind the sound of clapping. The research pinpoints a mechanism called a Helmholtz resonator — the same acoustic concept that ...

In my family, changing the lyrics to “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands” is essential to the song. Whiny, grumpy, snotty, and even verklempt substitute quite nicely for “happy.” Making ...

A flight attendant has warned why aircraft passengers should not clap immediately after the plane lands — as they might be celebrating too soon. An Argentinian airline crew member and TikTok creator ...

Whales serenade each other across thousands of miles, while dolphins call out other's "names" using signature whistles. Now, scientists have spotted gray seals using yet another form of underwater ...

The curtain closes, and everyone around you starts clapping. You’re clapping too, and as you do, you realize that you’re not really sure why. The show wasn’t that good. You’re probably going to ...