Why Do We Laugh?

Educating Emer

Sep 13 2021 • 31 mins

Is laughter really the best medicine? Could laughing make us smarter? Do other animals laugh? Join Emer Maguire for the first ever episode of Educating Emer where she explores the phenomenon of laughter. Emer is a comedian and science communicator who is studying laughter, and for today's episode she talks to laughter legends. First up is Professor Sophie Scott, who's TED talk on laughter has been viewed millions of times. She then heads to the lab at Queen's University in Belfast to see how laughter is provoked in the name in science. Emer also talks to local comedy legend Tim McGarry about his approach to humour, and finally heads to Sensum to undergo experiments to see how laughter impacts her body.