Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Despite Its Popularity, Americans Skeptical of Social Media
How credible is information found in social media and on the internet?
Brain cell activity imbalance may account for seizure susceptibility in angelman syndrome
Scientists may have pinpointed an underlying cause of the seizures that affect 90 percent of people with Angelman syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Mothers' teen cannabinoid exposure may increase response of offspring to opiate drugs
A study in rats suggests that mothers who use marijuana during their teen years -- then stop -- may put their eventual offspring at risk of increased sensitivity to opiates.
Noninvasive genetic test for Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome highly accurate
Current screening strategies for Down syndrome, caused by fetal trisomy 21, and Edwards syndrome, caused by fetal trisomy 18, have false positive rates of 2-3 percent, and false negative rates...
Have you heard? Nearly 15 percent of work email is gossip
According to some estimates, the average corporate email user sends 112 emails every day. About one out of every seven of those messages, says a new study, can be called...
The power of suggestion: What we expect influences our behavior, for better or worse
A lucky rabbit foot. A glass of wine. A pill. What do these things all have in common? Their effects -- whether we do well on a test, whether we...
Sexual orientation fluctuation correlated to alcohol misuse
Many young adults explore and define their sexual identity in college, but that process can be stressful and lead to risky behaviors. In a new study, students whose sexual self-definition...
Stress may delay brain development in early years
Stress may affect brain development in children, altering growth of a specific piece of the brain and abilities associated with it, according to new research.
I believe exercise can help people beat depression
Despite what the research published this week says, many people who have lived with depression feel the benefits of a trip to the gym, or even a spot of gardeningThe problem with...
Remembering Ray Bradbury, 1920-2012
Ray Bradbury Pour out some dandelion wine Web editor Paul Adams ruined my morning by walking over to my desk to inform me that Ray Bradbury had died at age 91. The...
California Rejects Tobacco Tax to Raise Money for Research
Ballot measure fails by less than a percentage point
New tool tracks doctors’ chats
Effective interactions have been shown to lead to better health outcomes for patients. Image: fotostorm/iStockphoto Healthcare professionals may soon be able to truly see the benefits of their talks with patients, thanks to...
13 Tech Sounds You Just Don’t Hear Anymore
A child born today has a greater chance of hearing a cloned dinosaur roar than a phone's busy signal.
N.L. mother calling for more methadone control
A Mount Pearl mother is calling for an inquiry into the province's methadone program two years after her son died abusing the drug.
Medical marijuana outlets not linked to crime
Despite some concerns to the contrary, neighborhoods with medical marijuana dispensaries may not have higher crime rates than other neighborhoods—at [...]
Been There, Done That or Did I?: Déjà Vu Found to Originate in Similar Scenes
Déjà vu--that uncanny feeling of having experienced a situation before--has eluded explanation for centuries. Now the first study to use virtual reality to model the phenomenon in the laboratory is...
From the archive, 6 June 1975: Doctor defends sterilisation operation for an 11-year-old girl
A doctor who arranged a sterilisation operation for an 11-year-old girl suffering from a congenital abnormality, vigorously defended his decision yesterdayDr Rodger Gordon, the Sheffield consultant who has arranged a sterilisation operation for...
Finches' colour shows personality
Gouldian finches have different personalities depending on the colour of their heads, researchers say.
Op-Ed Contributor: The D.S.M. Gets Addiction Right
As anyone familiar with the history of the diagnosis of addiction can tell you, the D.S.M.’s changes accurately reflect our evolving understanding of what it means to be an addict.
Tablet computers popular gift for Dad
LOS ANGELES, June 5 (UPI) -- A tablet computer is the Father's Day gift of choice for those who lean toward high-tech, a U.S. retail survey shows.
TV review: The Transit of Venus: a Horizon Special and All in the Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry
The Queen can keep her jubilee, my week is all about the transit of VenusMy parents got me up for the moon landing. Plonked me in front of the telly, just so...
Talk therapy on phone improves depression
Talking to a psychologist on the phone as therapy for depression may work as well as meeting face-to-face, according to a new study.
Why working-class people vote conservative
Across the world blue-collar voters ally themselves with the political right – even when it appears to be against their own interests. Is this because such parties often serve up a broader, more...
One face, but two sides of a story
Truck driver William McElligott's face is a graphic illustration of the damaging effects of the sunAt first, it looks like human artifice – a Photoshopped demonstration of ageing in action. But the image...
Right Royal Rubbish and Prince Charles’ Health Speeches
If you hadn’t noticed the internet is odd. I completely love the crazy stuff you find on there. I spend [...]
Ore. woman wins $900K in lawsuit over herpes claim
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon jury has awarded $900,000 to a 49-year-old woman who claimed that a 69-year-old Portland man intentionally gave her a sexually...
Video: Sandusky jury selection underway
Jury selection is underway in the sexual abuse trial of former Penn State Football coach Jerry Sandusky. Manuel Gallegus reports from Bellefonte, Pa.
Gym class with yoga, pilates increases participation 50%
Due to a change in curriculam, Essex District high school has seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of students taking phys ed after Grade 9.