In this segment Jad says that he never laughs when he is alone.
I laugh when I am alone all the time, I get amused by little things. Like if I see my cat do something funny, or I do something that would be funny in any other circumstance.
Does anyone else do this?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/8960687/Laughing-tube-passengers-in-Germany-go-viral.html

remember the scene on the train. well here is some contagious laughter from germany

This is quite relevant to the laughter epidemic mentioned in the show : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeauvE1M7qc&feature=g-all-bul&context=G29da183FAAAAAAAACAA

Listen and try not to laugh: http://new.music.yahoo.com/moe/tracks/edison-laugh-record--2043066

I thought it was interesting that they Nanny show hired people to laugh when many simply used laugh tracks.

Overall interesting topic

In the season 7 episode "Limits", in the segment about Ironman triathalete Julia Moss, her friend Wendy Ingraham is in the interview, and sometimes laughs at things Julia says. Her laugh sounds exactly like a sound chimps often make, but it's not the "panting" laugh.

They never seem to take their speculation far enough for me; it is kind of amazing to think that apes 'laugh' as a signal for safety, good-will, a lack of fear and agression. It occures to me we laugh for exactly the same reason, we've just made it more complex and sophisticated. What is the most funny? Bad things are funny. From discomfort, awkwardness, all the way to pain and horror-- when one plays with these things, shows their absurdity, stupidity, irony-- somehow we can disarm them by laughing. It feeds us emotionally, by laughing we combat the terrors of the universe with this noise, it makes us feel safe in our ape heart.

Where did the sounds at approx: 21:50 come from? I love those noises.

hey how is this radio station and what else do you tlk about

Perhaps you were laughing with your reflection - whenever I laugh alone I always seem to be imagining some unnamed person observing me o.O

Why do I laugh when it's inappropriate. I was hoping that the podcast would cover that, but sadly, it didn't.
Although, the laughing chimp may mean that when I'm inappropriately laughing at a funeral, the animal in me is telling others "I'm safe"

If you're interested in a gaining a new appreciation for this incredible behavior, you might check out my new book Why We Laugh: A New Understanding. It introduces the first and only comprehensive theory to explain the human laugh response—for every individual, every laugh, and every context. This new conceptual model reveals the essential qualities that make some thing or event appear amusing. It explains why we spend so much time and energy soliciting the laughter of others; why we are attracted to those who inspire our own; and why the laugh response varies among individuals and cultures, as well as over the course of an individual’s lifetime. The theory offers new insights into laughter’s most probable evolutionary origin. And it answers difficult questions pertaining to the ridiculing humor of bullies, laughter’s contagious quality, our sense of humor, and what laughter says about us—both as individuals and as a species.

If you have questions, this book has the answers. Learn more at http://www.whywelaughbook.com

You guys might enjoy this (it's a guy who leaves a message to his boss to let him know he's going to be late, and while leaving the message, a hilarious situation ensues): http://berto-meister.blogspot.com/2007/01/when-being-late-to-work-rocks.html

Yes, I find myself on public transport, or just walking down the road, occasionally trying not to giggle if an amusing thought has snuck in. It's not that socially acceptable to walk around London with a big grin on your face so the effort of trying to look normal probably makes me giggle more :)

I laugh out loud at the television if something amusing is on - and I'm by myself there too.

I definitely laugh when I'm alone from time to time. But there's always that moment of pure self-awareness in the middle of the laugh when I've just realized that I'm completely alone. My laughter abruptly stops and I can feel my cheeks turning bright red. Where did I get the idea that laughing alone is such bad thing!?

I do that and much more. I laugh, talk, argue, etc. It's fun and concerning :-)

Absolutely. It certainly easier to laugh with others but when something is truly funny I laugh out loud. Doing this while listening to a podcast and walking down the hall or the street does however receive some strange looks because they aren't in on the joke.

The whole rats laughing thing was a bit ridiculous. The behavior described by the rats seemed a lot more like the behavior of cats when they want to be stroked. Since when is laughing the same as purring? There wasn't a lot of evidence either way, but based on the explanations in the show, these rats were far more likely "purring." I think it's pretty irresponsible of a science show to not mention this possibility.

I really enjoyed the show, but I have to disagree with one part. When you talk about the chimps, you assert that no one ever laughs by themselves. Well that's simply not true. Haven't you ever just had a funny thought that made you laugh as you're walking down the street? Every written something down that made you laugh? Maybe I'm just some wacky loner, but I feel like I laugh on my own fairly regularly.

Thanks for such a great show. I'm thrilled to be getting full episodes again.

Listened to the show today while taking a sunset walk through the dunes of The Hague and along the beach and found myself laughing a lot. Must have looked weird to the assorted cyclists, runners or dogwalkers. But you must know this: laughing is therapeutic and there are even laughter guru's and laughter workshops, courses and what have you.
I work with little kids (6-7 yrs old) and am planning to have them listen to some of the laughter on the show. Let's see what happens.

The African laughing attacks were absolutely fascinating. I have to say though, your final explanation is as irrational as the caterpillar explanation.

THANK YOU!

It's so glad to have you back.

As Robert said, DELIGHTFUL.

For Robert, I hope he finds it delightful:

http://data.tumblr.com/qBtqirZ2i5nnakm3Mwc244xf_500.jpg

I love every episode of the show and especially one about laughter. This one hits close to home. I have laughing attacks multiple times a day for no reason. Even in sad situations they come upon me. I have learned to semi control them into an odd smirk but if I let them go I can laugh uncontrollably for a minute or two as well as feeling a sort of state of euphoria. It is really weird but cool and have never come across anyone else who deals with this before. So yeah thought I would add that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOCYhMh490

Oops - first link missing last digit.

Hi Guys, I listen to your podcast on my 50 minutes bike ride to my work. I have to say: I just beamed all through the podcast. There are some folks in Amsterdam that are probably wondering what that smiling guy on the bike was laughing about ...
Any ways, grrrrreat show, love the content and L.O.V.E. the sound (being a sound'o phile myself) and the neat tricks with music and minimal music ... I have to say: AWESOME (sorry robbert). Keep them coming!

"Is there something that makes sense about young girls breaking into uncontrollable giggles and laughter fits?"

As a school teacher, my response is a resounding "Well, DUH!!!"

Try teaching a room full of adolescents when one starts to laugh OR cry. For the girls, I've witnessed it brought on by any extreme show of emotion. For the boys, all it takes is an occurrence of any natural bodily function.

Listening to the program on laughter, I was reminded of the time that I,as Mayor of Montrose, Colorado, began laughing as I read the agenda. There was nothing funny about the agenda, but for some reason I was compelled to laugh. Once I began, the laughter fed on itself and soon tears were running down my face. My whole City Council was looking at me in astonishment, but the audience was soon caught up and began laughing too. I finally had to hand the agenda to the Mayor Pro Tem and excuse myself. To this day I can't remember what struck me as funny, but I can remember not being able to catch my breath

Hey there! Listening to the episode on laughter, I noticed that the African laughing 'disease' happened at about the same time that Beatlemania erupted elsewhere in the world, and there were all of these girls screaming uncontrollably where before they were expected to remain quiet and composed. Perhaps this is a connection worth exploring? It seems like there was some pent-up energy out there in the world that burst forth all at once at about that time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAkrLfO5Y9

That is all.

I love, love, love Radiolab. It's great to have you back. I've listened to the first three seasons several times to tide me over until this season started. I have one comment on the laughter episode however: Chimpanzees are not our ancestors, they are our "cousins." We did not get any traits from chimpanzees, but rather from our common ancestor. It's an important distinction to make, as creationists love to seize on the idea that we could not possible be descended from monkeys. Thanks and keep up the great work.

You helped brighten an otherwise dreary day here in Virginia when I opened my iTunes this morning and a new, full episode of Radiolab began to download. It will help me get through the day at work. I've missed you guys. Glad to have some new shows on the way. Keep up the great work.

I believe Aristotle might not have been too far off on the 40 days theory. He was not aware, though, of evolution (or human devolvement).

Recently, NPR's Morning Edition featured a story in which it was discovered that kids can no longer stand still (like they could 60 years ago). I propose that infants have devolved to not have an understanding of humor until about their 90th day of existence.

The human species is getting dumber as machines do more and attention spans grow shorter.

everything's ok scotty! check your podcast, it should be up now.

I've been checking your section at the iTunes store for days now...any plans to put the latest podcast there? To download the MP3 from this site takes AGES, even with a cable modem.

I'm so glad you're new programs are here and can't wait 'til I can hear them!

The last two MP3s don't exist, or perhaps I can't hear something, or something is wrong.

Everything okay Radiolab?

My wife Sherred and I have listeded to the show for some time now...I think that we started listening sometime during the season two run.

I have to say that I, rather we are completely enchanted by the show. It is something that we look forward to.

The Lab is truly one of the best programs out there. Now that that part is out of the way... Because you know you have to address that first and foremost,

HURRY GUYS! The world is waiting Season 4.

The "IF" segment made my day. Thanks again.

Alfred (Fort Worth, Texas)