New research published in Nature in November 2025 explores why suppressing laughter is difficult, especially in social settings. Scientists found that while people can outwardly control laughter through expressive suppression, their internal amusement remains strong. This method reduces facial muscle activity but doesn't lessen the perception of humor, often leading to suppressed laughter leaking out. The study suggests this difficulty is a result of how the brain regulates emotion in social contexts, highlighting laughter's role as a social behavior.