Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Cannibalistic rattlesnakes eat dead offspring
Every mom knows that pregnancy and birth really sap your energy. To get some back, many rattlesnake mothers will eat some of their non-surviving offspring, a new study finds.
Open Online Access To Scientific Papers May Not Guarantee Wide Dissemination
If you offer something of value to people for free while someone else charges a hefty sum of money for the same type of product, one would logically assume that...
If It's Hard To Say, It Must Be Risky
Will a product's name and how easy it is to pronounce, affect how we view the product? In a new study reported in Psychological Science, psychologists present evidence that we...
New approach to dental visits may ease kids' fears
Cincinnati, OH, February 20, 2009 -- For many children, a trip to the doctor or dentist is a stressful experience. The sensory environment (i.e., the sounds, smells, and lights...
Female genital mutilation among Israel's Negev Bedouins has virtually disappeared -- BGU study
BEER-SHEVA, ISRAEL ? February 20, 2009 ? A follow-up study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beer-Sheva has determined that the once prevalent custom of female...
Mating that causes injuries
Researchers at Uppsala University can now show that what is good for one sex is not always good for the other sex. In fact, evolutionary conflicts between the two...
How we think before we speak: Making sense of sentences
We engage in numerous discussions throughout the day, about a variety of topics, from work assignments to the Super Bowl to what we are having for dinner that evening. We...
Is difficult better? Study reveals we tend to ignore simple items while pursuing goals
Try the following experiment with two young children. To one child, hold a toy out just beyond their grasp and watch them bounce all over the place trying to reach...
'Joy of Cooking' or 'Joy of Obesity'?
In the classic cookbook, published since 1931, changes in ingredients and serving sizes have led to a 63% increase in calories per serving in 17 of the recipes, a study...
Facebook Has Removed 5,585 Sex Offenders
Facebook has removed more than 5,500 convicted sex offenders from its social networking Web site since May, Connecticut's attorney general said.
Abandon hope
Do you "hope" that everyone will see the light and start living more sustainably to save the environment? If so, you may be doing more harm than good. So say...
Educational Video Games Effective In Classroom If Certain Criteria Are Met
Playing and studying are not incompatible activities. A team of researchers looked into integrating virtual graphic adventures into online education platforms and analyzes the educational and technological aspects that lead...
Shift and blue-collar workers more likely to be obese: StatsCan
Shift work, long hours and blue-collar jobs are all associated with higher levels of obesity than regular hours, shorter hours and white-collar jobs, a Statistics Canada report says.
Researcher investigates how the gestures of the blind differ across cultures
(PhysOrg.com) -- Gestures serve an important role in language learning and development, and differ depending upon the language and culture, notes a Georgia State University researcher who is investigating how...
'Neurological work-arounds' offer hope to people with monoamine-related disorders
Researchers have known for decades that the brain has a remarkable ability to "reprogram" itself to compensate for problems such as traumatic injury. Now, a research article published in the...
Talking science: Science cafés in Uganda
Debate between locals and scientists is all the rage in Uganda — and the discussions are being taken to the next generation too.
Why New Mothers Need Extra Attention
Childcare is fraught with difficulty, and women navigate tough choices as they try to breast-feed and bring up a child.
Violent Media Numb Viewers To The Pain Of Others
Violent video games and movies make people numb to the pain and suffering of others, according to a research report published in Psychological Science.
New York State Museum palaeontologist receives high honour
New York State palaeontologist Dr Ed Landing has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS), a high honour bestowed upon a select group...
Rare, nearly fatal illness brings shattered family back together
Judy and Scott Lorenz had been through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Their marriage of 30 years broke up, leaving them bickering and at odds over...
Having A Parent With Dementia May Affect Memory In Midlife
People who have parents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia perform less well on formal memory testing when compared to people of the same age whose parents never developed Alzheimer's...
Gene linked to anxious behavior in mice
(PhysOrg.com) -- To measure anxiety in a mouse and suggest it`s similar to anxiety in a person may seem like a stretch, but the metrics sound uncannily familiar. Paralyzed by...
NASA Creating Online Multiplayer Video Game
NASA chooses three game developers to create its online multiplayer game.
How Volvox got its groove
Some algae have been hanging together rather than going it alone much longer than previously thought, according to new research.
Long-distance telemarketer accused of 'phone slamming' senior
The family of a 95-year-old woman says a long-distance phone company took advantage of her confusion by signing her up for an expensive service she did not need, and then...
GSK Outlines Aid For Poor Countries
Activist group welcomes move but asks for more specifics
Future online shopping will look something like Second Life
For all of the conveniences of online shopping -- no crowds, easy parking, seemingly endless choices -- it can't always compete with the real thing. At least not yet.
Defying the disaster: Researcher explores resilient housing
Researchers at North Carolina State University are determining ways to speed the return of residents to their homes in the wake of natural disasters.