Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Scientists can be sexy
Adam Rutherford: A new report says male science students are less likely to be sexually active than others. Nerds, go forth and fight the stereotype
Poor Children's Brain Activity Resembles That Of Stroke Victims, EEG Shows
Prefrontal cortex activity in children from low socioeconomic levels is lower than in similar children from well-off families. The brain differences, documented through EEGs, are dramatic: the prefrontal cortexes of...
Perfect Gift: Gadgets For Guys
We all know how men love gadgets! David Gregg, senior editor of BehindTheBuy.com, has ideas for the "perfect gift" for the guy on your holiday list.
Students drink (heavily) to relax
A University of Canberra study has revealed that around 43 per cent of students drink at dangerous levels, often for social reasons or relaxation.
Couples ambivalent about surplus embryos
DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A study of patients at nine fertility clinics in the United States finds that many couples are unhappy with the available alternatives...
NASA Study Investigates Mental Overload in Pilots
Have you ever felt as if your brain was so full of information that you couldn't process another thing? Mental overload creates confusion and frustration, and for airline pilots, the...
Genes determine whether placebos work
It is well-known in drug trials that individuals can respond just as well to placebos, sugar pills, as to the active drug. On the other hand, it is difficult to...
Infants Participate In Complex Interactions With Their Parents
A new study shows that infants appear to be active participants in complex interactional sequences with their parents far earlier than previously thought.
Swimming kids not watched closely
According to a recent study, a quarter of New Zealand children are not properly supervised at the beach, with many parents unaware of tides or other factors.
Erratic cricket balls spoil batting
A researcher has found that cricket balls can have a great deal of variability, even within the same model of ball – enough to put unsuspecting batters on a sticky...
Gen Y not so hi tech
A New Zealand survey has revealed that, while Generation Y students love YouTube and Wikipedia, many have never heard of social bookmarking or podcasts.
One in five put workers at risk
A nationwide survey has revealed that one in five companies have no controls in place to protect their employees from workplace hazards, such as sun exposure.
Sleeping in school
Up to 10% of children starting school suffer from sleep disturbances and these may lead to poor performance or behavioural difficulties. In the current edition of Deutsches Aerzteblatt International (Dtsch...
Stereotypes, bias and personnel decisions
In an article in the December issue of the journal Industrial and Organisational Psychology, Frank J. Landy questions research that is said to demonstrate that stereotypes about social groups bias...
Juries not as racially diverse as the communities from which they are drawn
A new review of the literature in the journal Social Issues and Policy Review examines obstacles that prevent diversity on juries and the implications this has on jury performance. Results...
Cosmic Log: Pick your top geek gift
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: 3G? GPS? USB? Which acronym-laden gadget will be chosen as the top geek gift of 2008? Cast your vote, and help someone win a geeky...
New research reveals humans really can smell fear
The smell of fear, one of the most terrible cliches of pulp fiction, is actually founded in fact, scientists claim today.
The phone that feels the flu before you do
(AP) -- Did your parents tell you to remember your scarf when you went out, so you wouldn't catch a cold? Today, the advice might be: Remember your cell...
Mental agility plays key role in avoiding falls, study finds
An agile mind may be as important as strong limbs when it comes to the crucial task of preventing falls.
Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains?
(AP) -- What does a teenage brain on Google look like? Do all those hours spent online rewire the circuitry? Could these kids even relate better to emoticons than...
The votes are in on worst business decision ever
I hardly know where to start. Business brains have made so many bad decisions over the years that it's a wonder there are any going concerns left on the planet....
Researchers work on developing sign language for cell phones
Texting over your cell phone works fine to instruct, remind or arrange a meet time. If you want company or context, however, you use it the old-fashioned way and speak....
When 'just say no' isn't enough: Try science
Teens are fascinated by their brains, the way they work, change, and even "freeze" sometimes. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recommends that parents, teachers and caregivers...
Pilot project sheds light, warmth on Vanier's prostitutes
An aboriginal community organization is reaching out to Vanier's prostitutes as part of a city-funded project to find out more about the women who sell sex on the streets of...
AU takes 'controversial' lead in African S&T programmes
A move by the African Union to coordinate science and technology in the region signals "grudging cooperation" between two key bodies.
The triffids walk again: why do we have a love affair with man-eating plants?
A new television adaptation is being made of The Day of the Triffids, but why are we still prepared to believe in a post-apocalyptic world roamed by flesh-eating semi-sentient plants?...
More Evidence Needed To Show ‘What Works’ In Prevention Of Child Abuse
More evidence is needed to discover ‘what works’ to prevent child maltreatment, new research shows. Researchers examined all five major subtypes of child maltreatment – physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological...
10 wonders in a winter wonderland
Thoughts of winter often drift to the perennial question: Is it really true that no two snowflakes are alike? The answer depends on how alike "alike" is.