New Scientist's weekly questions column this week turns to two everyday experiences that remain surprisingly hard to explain. The first asks why music evokes emotion, and whether that response is shared by people from other cultures. The second asks why we scrunch our faces when tasting something sour. Both questions are posed without answers, reflecting that they are still open research problems.
Music and emotion is a long-standing puzzle. The source notes that it is unclear whether the emotional response is universal or culturally learned. Similarly, the sour-face reaction is a common physical response, but its origin and purpose are not fully understood. The column does not offer explanations, so the questions stand as prompts for further inquiry.
Because there is only one source, there are no differing views to compare. The article simply highlights these mysteries, leaving the science to be explored.