Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Teen "Sexting" Worries Parents, Schools
Teenagers' habit of distributing nude self-portraits electronically - often called "sexting" if it's done by cell phone - has parents and school administrators worried.
Prioritising health-care reform components
Faced with a barrage of pressing issues, the Obama administration has placed health-care reform high on its agenda. The timing bodes well for change, according to Aaron E. Carroll, M.D.,...
Colour boosts brain performance and receptivity to advertising, depending on task
A new University of British Columbia study reconciles a debate that has long raged among marketers and psychologists: What colour most improves brain performance and receptivity to advertising, red or...
Young teens really are short-sighted, but don't blame impulsivity
According to popular stereotype, young teenagers are short-sighted, leaving them prone to poor judgement and risky decision-making when it comes to issues like taking drugs and having sex. Now a...
It's the hard work that fosters responsibility in teen programs
Millions of American teenagers participate in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, and other programs designed to develop responsibility in young people. A new study suggests that it's not the fun...
Do children understand how feelings affect school performance?
Most of us know that the way we feel emotionally and physically can influence how we do on tests. That's why we're told to get lots of rest and eat...
Discovery could lead to new autism treatment
A Brown University research team has discovered something in the brain that could serve as a target for future autism and mental retardation treatments. read more
Cognitive training can alter the biochemistry of the brain
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have shown for the first time that the active training of the working memory brings about visible changes in the...
'Enjoy it,' U.S. woman who gave birth at 60 tells new Calgary mom
Enjoy the experience of raising kids late in life, an American woman who gave birth to twins at age 60 two years ago advises a 60-year-old woman in Calgary who...
Alcohol adverts attract the young
Alcohol advertising and marketing may lead to underage drinking. A large systematic review of more than 13,000 people, published in the open access journal BMC Public Health, suggests that exposure...
Homeopathy: Sometimes a dose of nothing can do you a power of good
Should homeopathy be available on the NHS?
Learning by doing: Experiences of writing for SciDev.Net
A survey of our contributors suggests improvements, but has also highlighted the challenges of science reporting in developing countries.
Amid Rising Childhood Obesity, Preschoolers Found To Be Inactive
A study of children enrolled at 24 community-based preschool programs finds that preschoolers are inactive for much of their preschool day, with 89 percent of physical activity characterized as sedentary....
Good News: Teenagers Found Willing To Help Their Parents
New research examines teenagers' and parents' feelings when it comes to young people's obligations to help their parents in everyday situations when requests clash with personal desires. The study shows...
Teen Smoking Could Lead To Adult Depression, Study Says
Teenagers who smoke could be setting themselves up for depression later in life, according to a new study.
Mental Deficiency: Gene Mutations That Affect Learning, Memory In Children Identified
Mental deficiency is the most frequently occurring, yet least understood handicap in children. Even a mild form can lead to social isolation, bullying and require assistance with simple tasks. The...
When dreams come true
People interpret dreams in ways that affect their waking lives, especially when those dreams support pre-existing beliefs
An Apple By Any Other Name
A few weeks ago, some kids in New Jersey were removed from their home by Child Protective Services because their parents named them after Nazis. When the story got out,...
Movie to 'Push' dubious psychic powers
"Push," like many movies, claims to be based on real events. If that’s true, look for the scenes of the young psychics getting caught faking their abilities. Until the long-sought...
Living with a spouse can improve the health of Chinese elderly
(PhysOrg.com) -- Much older people in China—one of the world's largest populations—are healthier if they live with a spouse, a new University of Michigan study shows.
Operation: Dark Wolf
Many millennia ago, man created dog. As the story goes, gray wolves in East Asia took to the comforts of human camp life somewhere between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago....
In Kitchen, ‘Losers’ Start From Scratch
On “The Biggest Loser,’’ the hardest thing contestants do is learn to feed themselves.
Reasons to Flee the Modern World
Researchers found that teenagers who watched more television had greater odds of becoming depressed. Interestingly, there was no similar correlation between watching videos or playing computer games and depression. Ironically,...
Readers Build Vivid Mental Simulations Of Narrative Situations
A new brain-imaging study is shedding light on what it means to "get lost" in a good book -- suggesting that readers create vivid mental simulations of the sounds, sights,...
Is Science Better Today Than It Used To Be?
Science has come a long way in the last century. Advances in communication, changes in who funds scientific research and how, and who actually conducts the research have all changed...
Should scientific research only be funded if it will boost the economy?
It's a question Lord Drayson himself posed at the Royal Society last night, and on hand to respond were some heavyweights from the world of science and technology.
The search for evidence
The question: Where does science end and 'magic' begin?Contrary to popular belief, parapsychologists do not run around in haunted houses trying to trap ghosts, but instead study apparen
Research debate call sparks fears
The UK science minister calls for a debate on whether more of the research budget should be spent in areas that would benefit the economy.