Where exactly did the tradition of clapping to express pleasure come from? In the course of researching this, I was surprised to find how many people want to argue about whether it is appropriate to ...

Clapping is both a scientific event and a social gesture. A study explores the complex physics behind the sound of clapping. The noise originates from compressed air, not just hand collisions.

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 ...

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 ...

The clapping hands emoji: When used repetitively in a row, it signifies applause, but as any social media user by now understands, that is not the emoji's primary placement in the world of Twitter.

WE’RE A nation with a happiness fetish. A new book on happiness seems to roll off the presses every day. Millions of Americans are training for happiness by wearing “A Complaint Free World” bracelet ...

It might be hard to imagine yourself in ancient Rome, but if you were dropped into the audience of a play 2000 years ago, you’d probably know what to do when it finished – start clapping. Making a ...

WE’RE A nation with a happiness fetish. A new book on happiness seems to roll off the presses every day. Millions of Americans are training for happiness by wearing “A Complaint Free World” bracelet ...