The “5-second rule” has survived for generations like a kitchen commandment: if you grab dropped food fast enough, it’s supposedly safe. But scientists have been quietly side-eyeing that logic for ...

Many people follow the “five-second rule,” but science shows the truth is more about safety than timing. Studies have found that food picks up germs as soon as it hits the floor, regardless of how ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Travers writes about the world of psychology. Research reveals that an intervention of a mere five seconds is all it takes to ...