A US neuroscientist says in-person chats flood the brain with serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine in ways online contact just can't match.
Group chats and comment sections can't compete with the real thing. US neuroscientist Ben Rein has found that our brains respond very differently depending on how we connect, and in-person contact comes out on top.
According to Rein's work, face-to-face conversations bring a dramatic rise in serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine, the "feelgood" hormones that lift mood and build bonds. Online interactions don't produce the same effect. The finding came up amid fresh debate over protesters taking direct action against AI firms, and it is a timely reminder that technology can't replace the buzz of being in the room.
One reader took the science to heart and has been encouraged to strike up conversations with strangers at bus stops. It is a small, free habit, and the research suggests the payoff could be bigger than you'd expect. Think of the energy of a packed stand or a crowded fan zone: much of that lift comes from simply being around people.
Another reader raised a more practical gripe about winter energy bills. Daily standing charges, they argue, are outrageous, and in some months they make up half or more of what a household pays for the energy it actually uses. Their proposal is to cut the charges or put them on a sliding scale tied to usage, so that costs track what people consume. They doubt they are the only one in that position.
