Contagious yawning isn’t a myth. It’s a real, scientifically demonstrable phenomenon. We yawn when we see someone else yawn. The sound of yawning makes us yawn. The yawning contagion can even spread ...

How come yawns are so contagious? asks Danielle Sinacori, a student from Wantagh. Monkey see, monkey do? Just watch as someone's head tilts back, mouth drops open, eyes squint, and forehead furrows.

People do it. So do chimpanzees, bonobos and baboons. Even dogs do it: They yawn when someone near them yawns. But why? Scientists believe it’s a sign that these animals are capable of feeling empathy ...