Why do we like shiny things? have come up quite a few times in various settings. I thought I should look it up… here’s a few from New Scientist. This answer was selected and edited by New Scientist staff. Arguments on this point are necessarily speculative, but it’s worth noting that we associate shininess, cleanliness and crisp outlines with objectively favourable attributes. In assessing a mate, a companion or a rival, we spontaneously see bright eyes and teeth, glowing skin and glossy hair as signs of health and quality. As children, we like things that stimulate our nervous systems with clear, vivid colours, contrasts and light. Art may be seen as a form of play behaviour, in that it relies on elements that matter…