With her palms barely touching and her fingers bent unnaturally backward, Nicole proves celebrities are definitely not like us — even when it comes to clapping. "Why do you have hands like the Grinch?

So you get up on the Emmys stage, and you’re looking into the bright lights and wondering how on Earth you can possibly give a speech about your gratitude for winning this award. Your mind is blank.

It's such a natural reaction to something impressive or joyous that you might never have thought to question it. But why do we show our appreciation, approval, or even happiness by noisily clapping ...