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ArchiveLesson #83Science

Humans Prefer Walking Anticlockwise

Research shows that people naturally tend to walk anticlockwise. The reasons for this behavior remain unclear.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

A recent study revealed that humans have a natural to walk . Researchers observed this behavior during experiments conducted in various settings, such as museums and supermarkets. The findings were consistent across different cultures, including Spain and Japan. Despite this interesting discovery, the exact reasons behind this left-turn remain unclear, prompting further investigation into human movement patterns.

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Narration includes the headline and summary.

Adapted from The Guardian, 10 June 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • tendency

    an inclination or natural disposition to behave in a certain way

    People have a tendency to follow the crowd.

  • anticlockwise

    in the direction opposite to the movement of the hands of a clock

    The dancers moved anticlockwise around the stage.

  • bias

    a preference or inclination, especially one that prevents impartial judgment

    The study showed a bias towards walking in one direction.

  • mechanic

    the underlying process or system that explains how something works

    The exact mechanic of this behavior is still unknown.

  • serendipity

    the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

    The discovery was a result of serendipity during the experiments.

Quick quiz

01What direction do humans prefer to walk?

02Where were the experiments conducted?

03What remains unclear about the walking behavior?

04Which countries were mentioned in the study?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

Why do you think humans might prefer to walk anticlockwise?