Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Mosquitoes make sweet love music
Sexy songs sung by mosquitoes in courtship could be key to curbing the spread of dengue fever, say scientists.
Device keeps donor organs fresher
A special storage machine could be better than ice for keeping donor kidneys fresh for transplantation, say scientists.
Editorial: In praise of ... missing links
Editorial: Scientists hate the phrase but the notion of a chain that stretches across time is worth clinging to
Wikipedia passes $6M US donation mark
Wikipedia has met its fundraising goal of $6 million US with a bit to spare just days after founder Jimmy Wales made a personal pitch for donations.
New research says academic medicine is in critical condition
Everybody is familiar with the stereotypes of medical education from the student perspective: gruelling hours, little recognition, and even less glory. Now a novel Brandeis study published in Academic Medicine...
New Year's resolutions can be bad for you: mental health charity
Making self-improvement New Year's resolutions often leaves people feeling worse, the British mental health charity Mind warned Thursday.
No shoes? No problem for this college interview
(AP) -- For her college interview, Avery Cullinan put on her best outfit but didn't bother with shoes. She sat in her living room, smiled into her computer's webcam...
Looking for Sleep in All the Wrong Places
Desperately seeking a good night's sleep, insomniacs spend more money on alcohol than medical help and sleep aids combined, according to a study published today in the journal Sleep. But...
Religion May Have Evolved Because Of Its Ability To Help People Exercise Self-control
Psychologists reveal that religion facilitates the exercise of self-control and attainment of long-term goals. A psychology professor has found a strong correlation between religion and self-control, or self-regulation. He explains...
Risk takers, drug abusers driven by decreased ability to process dopamine
Research reveals that novelty seekers have less of a particular type of dopamine receptor, which may lead them to seek out novel and exciting experiences--such as spending lavishly, taking risks...
Car Key Jams Teen Drivers' Cell Phones
Researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving.
Biggest Science Stories: Bloggers' Picks for 2008
National Geographic News asked six science bloggers to each choose the most important, most overlooked, and strangest stories of 2008.
Seizing the day
Subject to sudden unexpected seizures, epileptics are often a subject of discrimination in the workforce. Many employers are hesitant to hire epileptics, fearing that stressful workplace situations might bring on...
Shhh! Gadget racket threatens pulsar research
(AP) -- Of all the threats to scientific research Wesley Sizemore has stymied over the years, satellites and cell phone towers don't stick in his memory quite like the...
Does Facebook Know Breast?
Facebook has become a ubiquitous part of our social and professional lives, but the company says some breastfeeding pictures go too far.
What Science Says about Enlightened Sex
Another year, another batch of boring resolutions. So why not resolve to have better sex?
'GoodQuests' tie online mazes to charity
(AP) -- If kids are playing video games, why not do some good while they're at it?
Aphids Leave Old Exoskeletons Near Their Colonies, As Decoys
By leaving the remains of their old exoskeletons, called 'exuviae', in and around their colonies, aphids gain some measure of protection from parasites. Parasitoid wasps are likely to attack the...
VIDEO: The Year in Robots, 2008
Robots became more and more human-like in the past year, which saw the debuts of "emotional" robots, robot bartenders, robot swarms, and more.
How Crabs Find Their Way Home
Path integration may not be as widely known as the American Express card, but you'd better not leave the house without it. After all, path integration is the ability of...
Fewer dopamine receptors makes for risky business
Brain-scanning study in people sees link between personality, dopamine system
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... 1, Happy New Year!
Celebrants gearing up to say goodbye to 2008 will have to wait an extra second before popping bottles and pursing lips to usher in the new year.
Party's over: help for hangovers
We examine the myths and facts of hangovers, from morning-after cures to the benefits of vodka over brandy.
Education practices influence women engineer shortage, study finds
As the need for engineering professionals grows, educators and industry leaders are increasingly concerned with how to attract women to a traditional male career. A new University of Missouri study...
Abortion debate will not be reopened: PMO
The Prime Minister's Office has reaffirmed its position that the government has no intention of reopening the abortion debate following a Conservative MP's comments that the issue needs to be...
Science Quiz 2008: The stories behind the questions
Breakthroughs and Bust-ups: Links to Guardian articles used to compile our quiz
Online protest of Facebook ban on breast-feeding photos draws tens of thousands
Online, the virtual "nurse-in" to protest Facebook's ban on breast-feeding photos took off, with hundreds joining a group that crept toward 70,000 members Saturday evening.
Cases: A Failure of Nerve, and a New Beginning
Trapped in a body that can't walk, a woman learns to appreciate reality.