Research shows that lucky charms have real, positive effects. But unlucky things have their own kind of power.

The story behind a physical item we own matters. From living spaces to engagement rings to clothing, we tend to take hold of the stories behind the item as if we will follow a similar outcome.

According to research, secondhand engagement rings are much less likely to sell if the listing indicated that the previous owner had been through a divorce or a broken engagement. One explanation is that we believe that various properties can be transmitted through contact.

Sometimes, you ...