ITHACA, N.Y. — Every time you applaud at a concert or celebrate a touchdown, your hands are performing a feat of physics that scientists have puzzled over for decades. Cornell University researchers ...

This post is co-authored by Ron Riggio and nonverbal communication expert Alan Crawley. When and why do we clap? We get startled, and we clap. We try to get our dog’s (or our child’s) attention, and ...

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 ...

Clock it vs finger clap has sparked a viral debate online, with many confusing a call-out gesture for praise. Here’s what Gen ...

The agenda is a one-second global clap celebrating humanity and unity across the world. World Clap Day has announced a worldwide synchronized clap scheduled for 16 August 2026 at 10:00 PM New York ...

What does a pilot really think when you applaud after a plane touches down? While flight passengers might attempt to show gratitude for a safe landing, some say this act could offend or come across as ...