THERE is nothing more fascinating to most of us than ourselves. So it’s hardly surprising that we have expended huge amounts of effort trying to get to the bottom of what it means to be human. What is surprising is that there are still so many traits that remain enigmatic. These range from the sublime, such as art, dreaming and altruism, to the ridiculous – think pubic hair, blushing and nose-picking. They may seem quirky, but the best explanations for them often have profound implications (see “10 Mysteries of you”).
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