Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Our unconscious brain makes the best decisions possible
Researchers at the University of Rochester have shown that the human brain—once thought to be a seriously flawed decision maker—is actually hard-wired to allow us to make the best decisions...
Can Nintendo Wii game consoles improve family fitness?
Consumer research suggests the Nintendo Wii Fit video game console was among this year's most popular Christmas gifts, but could it also be a way to improve overall family fitness?...
Expansion of Clinics Shapes Bush Legacy
President Bush has doubled federal financing for community health centers, enabling the creation or expansion of 1,297 clinics in underserved areas.
An unconscionable conscience rule
Doctors take an oath to put their patients' interests first. A new Bush administration rule will change that. The so-called "conscience rule" is one of a host of last-minute regulatory...
Black women in the U.S. appear to be shrinking, data show
Call her The Incredible Shrinking African-American Woman. In an age when the adult populations of most industrialized nations have grown significantly taller, the average height of black women in the...
No breakfast, earlier sex: Japan study
There are many theories on the links between food and sex, but Japanese researchers have came up with a new finding -- young people who skip breakfast tend to lose...
Asia at risk of era of mega-disasters: report
The Asia-Pacific faces an era of large-scale natural disasters which could kill up to one million people at a time, with Indonesia, the Philippines and China most at risk, according...
Medical Myths For The Holiday Season: True, False Or Unproven?
In a new study, researchers applied rigorous search methodology to explore the science behind six medical myths commonly associated with the holidays yet relevant year-round.
Published Reports Inaccurate Concerning Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy, Experts Warn
A national alcohol research group is concerned that the media's misinterpretation of a recent British research study could encourage pregnant women to be more at ease with temperate alcohol consumption.
Visual Areas Of Brain Respond More To Valuable Objects, Brain-imaging Shows
Dollar signs for eyes -- cartoonists have been drawing them for years, and the artists, while whimsical, may have been onto something. According to new research, areas of the brain...
Rice psychologist identifies area of brain key to choosing words
New research by a Rice University psychologist clearly identifies the parts of the brain involved in the process of choosing appropriate words during speech...
Sleep pods offer respite from HK's frantic pace of life, work
As Hong Kong's already-frantic workers cling to their jobs amid the global economic downturn, the hectic and the exhausted are being offered a haven of relaxation in the overcrowded finance...
SNP calls for spaceport in Moray
The Scottish National Party is calling for an RAF airbase in Moray to become the UK's first commercial spaceport.
Sleep disorder linked to dementia
MONTREAL, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- People with a sleep disorder who kick or cry out during sleep may be at greater risk for developing dementia, says a study...
Reward-stress Link Points To New Targets For Treating Addiction
Investigators have discovered a functional link between reward and stress. They found that dopamine -- the brain's chief reward signal -- works through corticotrophin-releasing factor -- the brain's main stress...
Bill offers help in TV conversion
With the nation's transition to digital TV two months away, U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont has proposed a new government coupon program to subsidize rooftop antennas for people with...
Resolve to take personal inventory this New Years, psychologist says
The end of the year is a time when many of us will make resolutions to lose weight or quit smoking. But instead of making resolutions which are often times...
Police Incompetence Threatens Justice for Children
The case of Caylee Anthony reveals some trends about police work in missing persons cases.
NIST guides genetic genealogy labs toward improved accuracy
Anyone who has watched crime dramas on TV knows that forensic scientists can use DNA 'profiling' to identify people from evidence gathered at a crime scene, establish a paternity link...
Iowa State study finds early family depression has lasting effects on teens, young adults
The country's economic crisis could have lasting effects on children from families that fall into poverty, according to a new paper by researchers from Iowa State University's Institute for Social...
Humans aren't alone in giving gifts
At Christmas time, we usually expect presents in return for the gifts we give out. And now it seems we humans aren't alone in this calculating attitude. New research published...
For Best Results, Ask A Few Thought-provoking Questions
The next time a telemarketer opens with a friendly question, you might stop and wonder why. A new study shows that it is surprisingly effective when salespeople or fundraisers ask...
The Virtue Of Variety: More Options Can Lead To Healthier Choices
Could longer menus lead people to choose salads over French fries? According to a new study, people who choose from a large variety of menu items are more likely to...
Why Do We Believe in Santa?
Having kids believe there's a jolly man in a red suit who visits on Christmas Eve isn't detrimental, although some parents can feel they're outright lying to their children, according...
The victim: how an indirect connection to Huntingdon Life Sciences made one man an ALF target
William Denison compared his family's hounding by extremists to 'Chinese water torture'
Tool keeps users on trail of success
One day in 2003, at age 60, one-time Cray Research executive Terry Sullivan found himself out of work, out of town and unwilling to do another on-the-road corporate stint.
Older adults at high risk for drug interactions
At least one in 25 older adults, about 2.2 million people in the United States, take multiple drugs in combinations that can produce a harmful drug-drug interaction, and half of...
PlayStation 3 console sales lag behind the competition
Three's a crowd in the video game industry. And it looks like the third wheel this time around is Sony. Going back several console generations, there have always been one...