Crying is only natural, but only for humans, says The New York Times in their super academic op-ed, "I Cry, Therefore I Am." Michael Trimble, the author of the teary piece in question, is an emeritus professor of behavioral neurology and a consultant neuropsychiatrist at the Institute of Neurology, University College London.

In the article's 1,700 words, he fails to mention Adele's ultimate anthem for criers, "Someone Like You." Let's cut through the academic jargon and get to what you really care about. Here's what Trimble lets us know about crying. Read 'em and weep:

  • Animals only cry from pain, not emotions. This is what makes humans unique.
  • Women cry more (and harder!) than men do.
  • If you're sitting next to a friend during a movie, you're more likely to cry if he/she does.
  • "Surveys estimate that 85 percent of women and 73 percent of men report feeling better after shedding tears. "
  • Most people say that music is the thing most likely to make them cry.
  • Trimble says that it's the score of a movie, not a sad plot point, that makes us cry.
  • Human brains evolved to make certain brain circuits activate when we see others in distress. This is what makes compassion.

NYT: I Cry, Therefore I Am [Image via Shutterstock, Paul Hakimata]