What's happening?

Scientist Terri Apter once told an 18-year-old how their brain worked. "So that's why I feel like my head's exploding!" the teenager replied. 

Teenagers are known for many things. They go to bed late, sleep late into the morning, take a lot of risks and argue with their parents. 

For many years, scientists had no idea why teenagers were so different to adults. They did not know how their brains worked. 

Now, they are beginning to find out more about teenage brains. And, say some scientists, some of the things teenagers do that adults find strange could be a sign of strengthA strength is something that makes someone or something strong. , not weakness. 

Being a teenager is a time of change. A teenager is halfway between being a child and being an adult. There are many new experiences and many new challengesChallenges are hard or tough things that someone must overcome., like meeting new people and taking exams at school. 

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In this time, teenagers learn how to think differently. They learn how to answer problems and cope with different events. They are often called dramatic by adults - but, says scientist and author John Coleman, they are simply learning how to exist in a challenging world. 

Are their brains the world's biggest mystery?

Yes! Teenagers behave very differently to both adults and young children. There is still so much we do not know about why this is.

No! Teenagers' brains were once a mystery, but now we know teenagers are simply adaptingChanging. to live in the often confusing adult world.