Researchers believe the yawning robot may have triggered some biological mechanism in the chimps that they associated with sleep. Image: Popular Science composite, Getty Images/ RMJM, Aline ...

Humans aren't alone when it comes to yawning — all vertebrates do it too, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. But why? The "evolutionarily ancient" act of yawning likely serves a ...

There is no specific condition that causes pain in the throat while yawning. However, yawning may exacerbate existing pain in the throat due to an underlying condition, such as an infection or an ...

Seeing or hearing someone yawn can make you yawn. This phenomenon is not limited to humans; some animals experience contagious yawning, too. But why is yawning contagious? Brain cells called mirror ...

Humans’ first experience with yawning happens in utero, says Matthew D. Epstein, M.D., associate medical director of the Atlantic Health Sleep Centers in New Jersey. Yet, Earth-side, the ...

Why do we yawn? Yawning is a universal gesture. Everyone yawns, from babies still in their mother's womb to the elderly. However, the exact reasons for this reflex are not well understood. Is it just ...

Is it true that human yawns are contagious to dogs? Some dog owners swear that when they yawn, their dog does, too. And they may be right. Contagious yawning is a well-known phenomenon among humans — ...