On the Thursday, November 13, 2025 episode of The Excerpt podcast: In honor of World Kindness Day — we’ve partnered with the Humankind team at USA TODAY for a deeper exploration on the topic of ...

I am so intrigued by people who are altruistic, people who are so selfless that they help generously without any expectations. Pessimistically, we assume that people like this are rare to come by.

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center, in North Carolina, have found a link between altruistic behavior and activity in an area of the brain associated with the perception of meaning, a ...

Gill Hicks underwent a shift in purpose after a terrorist attack. Source: TEDxSydney/Flickr A sense of purpose means having a central, overarching goal (or goals) that provides a sense of motivation, ...

The stress hormone cortisol reduces altruistic behavior and alters activity in brain regions linked to social decision making - but only in people who are better at imagining others' mental states, ...

Looking for something to binge-watch while you’re hunkering down at home? Consider checking out the popular TV show “The Good Place.” Over four recently concluded seasons, the series follows the ...

As a firefighter in Pierce County, Washington, it is Jo Kummerle’s job to save lives. But, going above and beyond the call of duty, she has saved lives off-duty as well. Three years ago, Kummerle’s ...