Science reveals when you peak at everything

Tim Ireland/AP

Whether you hated being 24 and loved being 47 or vice versa, everyone has favorite and least favorite ages for their own particular reasons.

But what does science say is the best age?

Well, that depends on your priorities. Scientists have studied a range of physical and mental traits and found peaks from childhood straight through to old age.

We've pulled together a range of characteristics that peak throughout your life. The best news we can offer: No matter how old you are right now, there's always something to look forward to.

Of course, these are all averages — you may have experienced these years ago, or may not for another decade or two, and that's totally fine. You do you.

Learning a second language is easiest when you're around 7 or 8.

Linguists and psychologists are still very much arguing about this one, but it's pretty commonly accepted that learning a second language is easier for most people when they're younger, before puberty.

Americans are least likely to die at 9 or 10.

The first few years of life throw up lots of stumbling blocks, but the odds of dying within the next year are very low for 9- and 10-year olds. About 9,999 in 10,000 kids make it through each of these years.

Brain processing power peaks at 18.

One of the key ways cognitive scientists test your brain's processing power is through what's called a digit symbol coding test — they set each number equal to a certain symbol, then give you a string of numbers and ask you to convert them to the correct symbol. On average, 18-year-olds fare best on the task, according to a study published last year.