Why some people are wired to help strangers, and what their brains reveal; The Washington Post, January 8, 2026

Cristina Quinn, The Washington Post; Why some people are wired to help strangers, and what their brains reveal

"Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University, studies extraordinary altruism — people who jump in to rescue strangers in emergencies or donate a kidney to someone they don’t know. Marsh spoke with Cristina Quinn, host of The Washington Post’s podcast “Try This,” about what her work has uncovered, and what brain science reveals about people who habitually engage in selfless acts. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity...

The group you’ve studied most closely is people who donate a kidney to a stranger. What makes them different?

Genuinely altruistic people are very humble and less selfish than other people. And it turns out that humility and being unselfish go hand-in-hand because if you think that you’re the most special person around, why would you want to help less-special people? And so truly altruistic people do not think of themselves as special.

And when we bring them to our lab, we find differences in their MRI scans. One of the most striking is that altruistic kidney donors tend to have a larger amygdala, a part of the brain critical to processing emotions, particularly fear in others. They are especially sensitive to others’ distress and responding empathically.

In your earlier research, you found the opposite pattern in people with psychopathy?

Yes, we found that the amygdala tends to be smaller in individuals with psychopathic traits. They have difficulty recognizing fear and distress in other people. Most people with psychopathic traits report not feeling fear as often as other people do. And what’s interesting about that is that if you don’t really feel an emotion, it’s very difficult to empathize with it in other people.

So we asked, is altruism the inverse of psychopathy? And it turns out that yes, altruistic kidney donors are more reactive than typical people to the sight of others in distress. And they are relatively better at recognizing other people’s fear, as well."

Hikers Reach 8,000-Foot Mountain Summit And Discover A Dog Unable To Move; The Dodo, December 20, 2025

Alana Francis-Crow, The Dodo; Hikers Reach 8,000-Foot Mountain Summit And Discover A Dog Unable To Move

"A few years ago, married couple Maxime and Issy hiked up Bobotov Kuk, the tallest peak in Montenegro. When they reached the mountain’s summit, they were surprised to find a dog lying on his side, unable to move.

The dog had an old bandage wrapped around his leg and was clearly underweight. Despite his severe injuries, he was still friendly and could tell the couple wanted to help. As they bent down to offer him water and a can of tuna, he wagged his tail...

When Maxime finally reached the bottom of Bobotov Kuk, he heard from Issy that while she’d been getting organized to take care of the dog, she’d rescued a little stray kitten named Voli. The couple couldn’t believe that they’d somehow saved and adopted two animals in one day...

These days, Bobo and Voli spend their days traveling the world with their parents in their camper van. During the day, they like to explore the outdoors, and at night, they get cozy in the van...

Given how happy and energetic Bobo is now, it’s hard to imagine that just a few years ago, he was abandoned on a mountain with a bullet wound. Thanks to Maxime and Issy, he got a second chance and a beautiful new life."

He ate at this restaurant every day. When he didn’t show, the chef saved his life.; The Washington Post, December 16, 2025

Maggie Penman, The Washington Post; He ate at this restaurant every day. When he didn’t show, the chef saved his life.

"Stallworth went to Hicks’s apartment and knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again, and still no answer. Stallworth was about to turn and leave when he heard a faint cry for help. He opened the door, which was unlocked, and found Hicks on the floor. He had fallen, and was severely dehydrated with two broken ribs. Stallworth was on the phone with Galloway back at the restaurant and asked her to call 911.

“When I got there, he didn’t even know what day it was or what time it was,” Stallworth said. “He really couldn’t talk, because he was so dehydrated.”

Stallworth stayed with him and tried to give him some water while they waited for the ambulance.

“I don’t know what would have happened if Donell hadn’t showed up,” Hicks said. The story was first reported by local station WEAR-TV."

Marine jumps down onto New York City subway tracks to save man; Task & Purpose, December 12, 2025

JEFF SCHOGOL, Task & Purpose; Marine jumps down onto New York City subway tracks to save man

"Marine Sgt. Derrick McMillian was waiting for the subway in Manhattan when he heard a commotion. He saw that a man had fallen onto the tracks and was struggling to stand up.

A recruiter based in New York City, McMillian, realized that a train was about 2 minutes away. Without hesitating, he jumped onto the tracks and went over to the man, whom he was afraid would stumble onto the electrified third rail.

“I saw people were more just kind of like watching, wondering, who’s going to help this guy,” McMillian told Task & Purpose. “I’m seeing him trying to get up and he can’t get up. It just felt normal and natural to go down and help him out."...

When asked why he sprang into action, McMillian cited a lesson he learned from one of his staff sergeants: People expect that Marines will always help them out, no matter who they are or what they look like.

“I just didn’t want to be a bystander,” McMillian said. “I didn’t want to see this man die. So that was what was motivating me.”

He thought he was too old to be an EMT. At 76, he’s saved countless lives.; The Washington Post, August 1, 2025

Kyle Melnick, The Washington Post ; He thought he was too old to be an EMT. At 76, he’s saved countless lives.

"The day a man collapsed in a parking lot in Bethesda, Maryland, EMT Ed Levien rushed in an ambulance to the scene, where the injured man repeatedly called for Jesus.

“Jesus isn’t here,” Levien recalled telling him. “You’ve got to put up with me.”

The man looked at Levien’s mustached face, his thinning gray hair and his round glasses and replied, “Okay, Pops.”

That’s how Levien, one of the oldest EMTs in Maryland, got his nickname a few years ago in the volunteer job that — to his surprise — has become an unintended second career and reshaped his identity.

“I never had an impact on anyone until I started doing this,” Levien, who previously worked in advertising, told The Washington Post.

Levien began working as a volunteer EMT when he was 65 years old, far surpassing the age of his colleagues at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. After recovering from an unexpected injury — with the help of strangers — he decided to help others for as long as his body would allow."

Facebook Reunites Family With Baby Boy Missing In Nice Terror Attack; Huffington Post, 7/15/16

Lee Moran, Huffington Post; Facebook Reunites Family With Baby Boy Missing In Nice Terror Attack:

[Kip Currier: It was timely seeing this story today, in the wake of the horrific Bastille Day terror attack in Nice, France yesterday. A trainer at my gym this morning ruefully said that he was starting to think social media may be being used for more bad purposes than good ones. This story reminds us that technology, specifically digital age tech, has positive applications too.]

"A baby boy who went missing Thursday amid the carnage in Nice, France, was reunited with his family the next day after Facebook posts appealing for help in finding him went viral...

The pastor described the turn of events as “a miracle” and hailed the power of social media in helping reunite the boy with his family. “Social media has been used for a lot of bad things as well,” she said, “but I really believe that technology can be good and used to share hope and to encourage people during this very traumatic time.”"

In a Race to Save a Man on the Tracks, a Reminder of What’s Good in the World; New York Times, 6/14/16

Jim Dwyer, New York Times; In a Race to Save a Man on the Tracks, a Reminder of What’s Good in the World:

"Ms. Tulic provided her video to Gothamist, and it has been seen more than two million times. One of the men who went onto the tracks, David Tirado, told Rebecca Fishbein of Gothamist that he had visited with the stricken man, who had no recollection of being in the subway or that a congress of strangers had gathered to save him.

“That is the greatest thing,” Ms. Tulic said. “The infrastructure in this city of millions is the people themselves providing, being there for others. Without even knowing the person, who he is, no matter what denomination he subscribes to. It was beautiful to see.”"

State Trooper Comes To The Rescue Of Stranded Superheroes; Huffington Post, 3/15/16

Lee Moran, Huffington Post; State Trooper Comes To The Rescue Of Stranded Superheroes:

"A New Hampshire state trooper came to the rescue of "Wonder Woman" and "Captain America" after their car became disabled on Interstate 93 on Sunday morning.

The costumed duo were on their way to a child’s birthday party in Hooksett when the vehicle broke down. Unfortunately, their abilities didn't extend to fixing the problem...

Sgt. Tom Lencki told the New Hampshire Union Leader that state police were "always happy to assist any other members of the Avengers or Justice League should they find themselves in need of a super colleague.""