IN THE GAME OF LIFE, NUMBERS NEVER LIE

National Geographic Channel Plays "The Numbers Game," Revealing How Science and Statistics May Hold the Keys to a Longer, Wealthier, More Exciting Life

New Series Premieres Monday, March 24, 2014, at 9:30 PM ET/PT

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Feb. 27, 2014) Take the index finger on your dominant hand and draw a capital letter "Q" on your forehead. Where did the tail on your Q land? Theorists believe that if it ended up over your right eyebrow, you're presenting the letter as you would see it. You tend to lie less in life and you're less likely to deceive others. If the tail is over your left eyebrow, you may want to consider becoming a con artist, because you're probably a good liar. You're presenting the letter how someone else would see it, meaning you're also good at manipulating others' opinions. One study has found that six out of every 10 people may lie during a 10-minute conversation, and in that conversation they'll tell a lie every 30 seconds.

Jake Porway (@jakeporway) shows us that life is all about the numbers in the new series The Numbers Game, premiering Monday, March 24, 2014, at 9:30 PM ET/PT on National Geographic Channel, as well as on Nat Geo Mundo and internationally on NGC in May. Host Jake, a data scientist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer, will reveal the surprising and fascinating statistical science at work behind everyday situations. The series explores the topics of toughness, superstition, skepticism, lying and desirability, among others, through mind-bending statistics, hilarious man-on-the-street experiments and interactive game play. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and follow us on Twitter at @NGC_PR.

In each episode, Jake tackles an everyday question, such as how likely is it that you will be a hero in your lifetime (20 percent chance), by testing it through experiments, then dissecting the science behind it. So how does he test heroism? A mugger and a victim are planted in front of hidden cameras in a parking garage. As a person is walking down the stairs, the mugger pretends to steal the victim's bag. How many people will step in and be the hero to the victim? The characteristics of these heroes may surprise you - volunteering being one of them. Research has found that if you volunteer your time for just over one hour a week, you'll boost your chances of becoming a hero by 33 percent. And people who survived a disaster are 300 percent more likely to be a hero.

"Statistically speaking, deciding not to watch this show may be hazardous to your health," jokes Jake. He explains, "Scientists now believe that your genetic makeup accounts for only about 25 percent of your potential life expectancy. That means 75 percent of the rest of your life is up to you!"

Risk-taking, however, does have a lot to do with genetics. Are you the youngest of your siblings? Were you born in the summer? Then you're probably more likely to live on the edge. According to one study, as much as 60 percent of our appetite for risk may be genetic. Some scientists think the youngest in birth order may act like a daredevil to make up for the lack of attention they receive compared to their older siblings. Scientists have found that people who are born in the summer tend to take risks, which may be due to being born into a time of year bustling with activity.

Jake, along with top experts, will debunk these everyday mysteries. Mentalist Wayne Hoffman reveals the secrets behind the supernatural scams of the psychic industry. Acclaimed skeptic Dr. Michael Shermer exposes the ultimate secret regarding deception - sometimes being a sucker can actually be good for you. Renowned body language expert Chris Ulrich teaches us how to exude confidence and toughness. Through numbers and statistics, The Numbers Game will teach you how to get ahead in life, work and relationships.

Premiere episodes include:

The Numbers Game: Could You Be a Hero? Premieres Monday, March 24, at 9:30 PM ET/P TIn the premiere episode, Jake proves that heroes aren't necessarily the biggest or strongest among us. They can be everyday people, and something as simple as volunteering can increase the chances of becoming a hero by 33 percent. According to statistics, 1 in 5 people will be a hero during their lifetime. You'll learn what it takes to be a hero, how to hone two vital heroic skills and how to control your body's hero chemical in order to be ready, whenever duty calls.

The Numbers Game: Are You a Sucker? Premieres Monday, March 31, at 9:30 PM ET/PT Just one type of fraud took in nearly $500 million in ill-gotten gains in a year in the United States. That same year, 125 million people planned to play April Fools pranks. But don't worry, Jake has all the stats to teach you how to spare yourself the embarrassment of being a sucker just in time for April Fools' Day. He'll reveal how to dodge the double-crosses and spot the scams. Jake delves into the characteristics that make people gullible. But he'll also reveal some top-secret ways that being a sucker can actually be good for your productivity and your happiness.

The Numbers Game: Are You Desirable? Premieres Monday, April 7, at 9:30 PM ET/PT There is a lot of science behind attraction and desirability, and in this episode, Jake is letting you in on all the key secrets to increasing your own physical hotness. For instance, there's a single accessory that can make you appear more intelligent and there's one grooming tip that can make you 45 percent more attractive to hiring managers. There's one color in particular you can wear that makes you much more desirable to the opposite sex. Jake will show you how attractiveness can literally make you happier, healthier and wealthier. Then you'll learn the tools to be more physically and socially desirable, giving you the ability to change your life - without changing your face.

The Numbers Game: Are You a Jerk? Premieres Monday, April 14, at 9:30 PM ET/PT Being a jerk could earn you nearly $10,000 more at work, and less-agreeable employees are more likely to be promoted than their nice-guy coworkers. This episode will show you how to tap into the benefits of being a jerk without making a long list of enemies. Jake breaks down what makes someone a grade-A jerk versus an average nice guy, and hammers out the pros and cons of each. Then he'll reveal exactly when to be rude, and when not to be, to reap the best rewards in your life.

The Numbers Game: Are You a Big Liar? Premieres Monday, April 21, at 9:30 PM ET/PT Ninety-two percent of people have admitted to lying during their lifetime, and those other 8 percent ... well, we're not so sure about them. The truth is - we lie. But why? Jake demonstrates that lying isn't always about getting what we want, nor is it necessarily mean-spirited. But lying is prevalent, so he'll show you how to spot a lie to avoid getting duped.

NGC continues to build on franchises that complement hit series Brain Games. An all-new season of Emmy-nominated Brain Games with host Jason Silva (@jasonsilva) is back with more interactive illusions, challenges and experiments that showcase the extraordinary nature of the human brain, airing Mondays at 9 p.m. New series Duck Quacks Don't Echo - with co-hosts Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack), Tom Papa (@tompapa) and Seth Herzog (@Thezog) - puts an entertaining spin on assessing the validity of weird, unusual and over-the-top hypotheses through a series of interactive, original scientific tests. New episodes air Mondays at 10 and 10:30 p.m. Highly anticipated new series hosted by world-renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson), Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, aspires to awaken a global audience to the wonders of the universe, as revealed by the awesome power of the scientific perspective, that will serve as a successor to the legendary Emmy Award- and Peabody Award-winning original series.

Cosmos premieres Sunday, March 9, at 9 p.m. and Monday, March 10, at 10 p.m. with special bonus content. In new series None of the Above, premiering Monday, March 24, at 9 p.m., host Tim Shaw challenges viewers to predict the outcome of spectacular experiments before breaking down the science behind the jaw-dropping outcomes.

The Numbers Game is produced by National Geographic Television and Goodbye Pictures for National Geographic Channel. For National Geographic Television, executive producer is Pamela Caragol Wells. For Goodbye Pictures, executive producers are Rich Bye, Michael Rucker and Ed Lavelle. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Richard Wells, vice president of production and development is Charlie Parsons and executive vice president of programming is Heather Moran.

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National Geographic Channel

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in over 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.