Sometimes a stroll to smiling Germano at the Portuguese deli, to pick up her papers, would shake the plot into place.

ECONOMIST: Dame Beryl Bainbridge, novelist, died on July 2nd, aged 77

Dr. Pressman is currently researching how smiling affects certain stress hormones, such as cortisol, and oxytocin, which is sometimes called the trust hormone.

WSJ: Stress-Busting Smiles

"Sometimes I'll think 'Gee, maybe Alex should go back to work, '" George says, smiling.

FORBES: Life