Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
No gender gap noted in math scores
MADISON, Wis., July 26 (UPI) -- A U.S. study found that girls have closed the gender gap in math performance.
Who's More Likely To Do Sports? White, Middle Class, And Middle-aged
The comfortably off, white, and middle-aged are the most likely to participate in sporting activities, reveals a 10 year study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Nicholas Lezard: Why are doctors urging Britons to stick to two children?
Nicholas Lezard: Doctors are urging Britons to stop at two children. So what are those of us with more supposed to do with our extras?
Frequent Family Meals Might Reduce Teen Substance Use
Parents who have regular meals with their adolescent children might help lessen the chances they will start drinking or smoking later in their teen years, according to new research. Researchers...
Mothers not asked to stop drinking
One in two pregnant Australian woman drink alcohol during despite risks for the baby, and many obstetricians do not ask or inform, according to research.
Daughters-in-law Help Reduce Depression Among Chinese Elders, But Help From Own Kids Can Increase Depression, Study Finds
In a new twist on the Confucian ideal of filial piety, a study finds that the assistance of daughters-in-law -- but not their own children -- helps mitigate depression among...
Energy drinks linked to college students' risky behaviour
Energy drinks, popular on campuses, have been linked to risky behaviours among college students, U.S. researchers have found.
Economists' new research shows positive effects of minimum-wage increases
(PhysOrg.com) -- As various states consider minimum wage increases, and with Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama proposing that the minimum wage be increased and indexed to adjust for cost-of-living increases,...
Alarming Study on Teen Dating Violence Is Flawed
Parents, don't hit the panic button just yet.
US fentanyl deaths topped 1,000 over 2 years
(AP) -- More than 1,000 people died over two years from an illegal version of the painkiller fentanyl, the government reported Thursday in its first national tally of those...
Enough sleep improves memory
Lack of sleep impairs children's working memories, and consequently their abilities to perform various intellectual tasks, according to research.
Older People May Need Less Sleep, Study Finds
Along with all the other changes that come with age, healthy older people also lose some capacity for sleep. When asked to stay in bed for 16 hours in the...
Research says fat friends and poor education helps people think thin
Research by economists at the University of Warwick, Dartmouth College, and the University of Leuven, finds that people are powerfully but subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them....
Negative attitudes 'hindering' China GM commercialisation
The negative attitude of European nations towards GM food is affecting commercialisation policies, says a leading Chinese scientist.
Why play a losing game? Study uncovers why low-income people buy lottery tickets
Although state lotteries, on average, return just 53 cents for every dollar spent on a ticket, people continue to pour money into them — especially low-income people, who spend a...
Cancer answers didn't come from me, lab manager tells inquiry
A witness at Newfoundland and Labrador's breast cancer inquiry has testified that information on testing problems had changed substantially by the time it reached government.
Wiretap reports emerge in Peterson case
Two friends of former police officer Drew Peterson told a newspaper he made incriminating statements during secretly taped conversations following the disappearance of his fourth wife — claims that Peterson...
Diversity In Primary Schools Promotes Harmony
For the first time, children as young as 5 have been shown to understand issues regarding integration and separation. The research confirms that the ethnic composition of primary schools has...
Castro cryptic on Russia bomber claim
Ailing Fidel Castro said Wednesday that Cuba's president was right to adopt a "dignified silence" over a Moscow newspaper report that Russia may send nuclear bombers to the island.
Judge: Girl can't be called Talula Does The Hula
A family court judge in New Zealand has had enough with parents giving their children bizarre names here, and did something about it.
F1 chief wins 'Nazi' orgy lawsuit
Motor racing boss Max Mosley won a landmark privacy-invasion lawsuit Thursday against a tabloid newspaper's claims he took part in a "Nazi" orgy.
Are a Popular Doping Drug s Effects All in the Mind? [News]
Editors’ note: This story will appear in the October/November 2008 issue of Scientific American Mind.Many athletes credit drugs with improving their performance, but some of them may want to thank...
Afghan surge faces rough road
As violence in Afghanistan escalates, the U.S. is responding by scrambling to get in more troops. But it's far from clear how the strategy will work in the vast, rugged...
DNA ID's stolen Guatemalan baby
Adoption officials said Wednesday that DNA tests indicate a Guatemalan baby reported stolen from her mother was being adopted by a U.S. couple.
Soy may water down little swimmers: sperm research
Men who consume soy daily and want to start a family may want to reconsider their dietary choices in light of new research.
Why is it So Hard to Wake Up in the Morning?
It’s not necessarily laziness that makes people hit the “snooze” button in the morning. Most likely, your body clock is mismatched with the demands of your life. Your clock is controlled...
Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (and Cricket)
Finally, the scientific finding every man has been waiting to hear: carbo-loading on doughnuts optimizes your lifespan and makes you sexually potent. Too bad the research only applies to crickets...
China: The great contender
China's performance has been remarkable in any number of fields. Declan Butler charts the country's scientific and economic growth.