Sometimes, someone yawns, speaks, gestures, or laughs — and it's infectious! Be it a soft chuckle or a burst of laughter that's on the brink of hyperventilation: the effect is often the same. We copy each other's language patterns and gestures and infect other people with them. The question is, why yawning is so contagious? Is it empathy? Is our need to mirror kicking in? What is the purpose behind the infectious yawn? Research among primates has brought us new insights: for example, orangutans also yawn when they see monkeys yawning. Now go on: try to suppress that yawn in your throat...