https://www.npr.org/2025/04/16/1263527098/its-been-a-minute-phrenology-social-media-physiognomy Accessibility links * Skip to main content * Keyboard shortcuts for audio player * Open Navigation Menu * NPR logo * * Newsletters * * NPR Shop * Close Navigation Menu * Home * News Expand/collapse submenu for News + National + World + Politics + Business + Health + Science + Climate + Race * Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture + Books + Movies + Television + Pop Culture + Food + Art & Design + Performing Arts + Life Kit + Gaming * Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music + All Songs Considered + Tiny Desk + New Music Friday + Music Features + Live Sessions * Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily + [morning-ed] Morning Edition + [we_otheren] Weekend Edition Saturday + [we_otheren] Weekend Edition Sunday + [all-things] All Things Considered + [fresh-air] Fresh Air + [up-first] Up First Featured + [embedded_p] Embedded + [podcast-po] The NPR Politics Podcast + [throughlin] Throughline + [trumps-ter] Trump's Terms + More Podcasts & Shows * Search * Newsletters * * NPR Shop * NPR Music NPR Music * All Songs Considered * Tiny Desk * New Music Friday * Music Features * Live Sessions * About NPR * Diversity * Support * Careers * Press * Ethics Why is phrenology popular on social media? : It's Been a Minute Can the shape of your skull or the look of your face say something deeper about you? Like - if you're a good parent? Or if you're smart? Or if you're more likely to be a criminal? Well - the answer is no, absolutely not. But in the past, some scientists used the pseudosciences of phrenology, which studied the skull, and physiognomy, which studied the face, to try to prove that how you look says something about who you are on the inside. Again, it's junk science. But something peculiar is happening: it seems like there's been more interest lately in some of the ideas behind phrenology and physiognomy. From "witch skulls and angel skulls," to the skull geometry of transvestigations, to the question of whether AI can detect gay faces - it seems like more and more, people want to categorize each other with just a look at their heads. Brittany is joined by Yale professor of philosophy Lily Hu and Rolling Stone culture writer Miles Klee to understand the appeal and the consequences of fake skull and face science coming back around in the culture. Support public media and receive ad-free listening & bonus content. Join NPR+ today. Analysis It's Been a Minute It's Been a Minute NPR * Analysis It's Been a Minute * LISTEN & FOLLOW * + NPR App + Apple Podcasts + Spotify + Amazon Music + iHeart Radio + YouTube Music + RSS link Fake skull science is back - and it's still racist April 16, 20253:00 AM ET By new photo Brittany Luse , Liam McBain headshot Liam McBain , Barton Girdwood at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 21, 2019. (photo by Allison Shelley) Barton Girdwood , Neena Pathak , Veralyn Williams headshot Veralyn Williams Fake skull science is back - and it's still racist Listen * 18:10 18:10 Transcript Toggle more options * Download * Embed Embed [