Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Instant messaging 'chatspeak' no danger to spelling: study
Texting and instant messaging using short-forms and "chatspeak" have no effect on teens' ability to spell properly and could even provide "a little brain workout," researchers at the University of...
Poor Money Management May Be Early Indicator Of Alzheimer's Disease, Say UAB Researchers
Inability to handle financial transactions or manage money may be an early indicator that a person with mild memory problems soon is likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to new...
National autism research led by Leicester specialist
The first ever major study into adults living with autism was published by the NHS Information Centre. The report, entitled 'Autism Spectrum Disorders in adults living in households throughout England...
Research shows parents use deception to influence their children
Parents say that honesty is the best policy, but they regularly lie to their children as a way of influencing their behaviour and emotions, finds new research from the University...
Watching Your Weight? Beware Of Skinny Friends With Big Appetites
Thin friends who eat a lot could put your waistline at risk, according to a new study which examines how other peoples' weight and food choices influence how much we...
Cancer Predisposition From Particular Genetic Variation Shows Strong Gender Bias
Cancer predisposition resulting from the presence of a specific gene variant shows a strong gender bias, researchers have demonstrated.
Geographer Working To Clarify What Sustainability Really Means To Rural Decision-makers
A geographer is researching how people define sustainability with the hope that this will later help civic and business leaders in rural communities make more informed decisions about sustainability.
Are Men Or Women More Likely To Be Hit By Lightning?
The numbers tell the story: Of the 648 people killed by lightning in the U.S. from 1995 to 2008, 82 percent were male. And as much as we were hoping to uncover...
Torturing 'does not get truth'
Researchers say torture techniques used by the Bush administration damage memory and do not get to the truth.
Insurance against financial fear
When the economy stumbles, panic can drive matters from bad to worse. Economist Ricardo Caballero has a new plan to keep investment markets free of fear
Moody memories? New study shows that mood has limited effect on memory
Whether we're deciding to return to a restaurant or to purchase a DVD, many consumers rely on memory when they're making decisions. A new study in the Journal of Consumer...
In pictures: Lundy at 40
The wildlife haven of Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel celebrates 40 years of National Trust ownership.
Why doing good sometimes turns bad
Researchers have found that, after doing something ethically sound, people are more - not less - likely to do something immoral, or even illegal
Chile to invest in science for kids in school
The Chilean government has taken action to promote interest in science and technology in state schools for under-fours.
A Conversation With Martin Chalfie: Watching Life in Real Time
Martin Chalfie may have slept through the notification that he had won a Nobel Prize, but his career has been one of alert discovery.
LA. artist Mark Bradford, USC's Elyn Saks win MacArthur grants
They are among 24 who will each receive $500,000 in the next five years. Bradford specializes in collages with found objects. Saks' schizophrenia has informed her advocacy for the mentally ill. A Los...
Feature: School's in for smarter emotions
Measures of emotional intelligence are being adapted for use in the classroom to help both students and teachers cope with modern stresses.
Psychic Detectives Allow Murderer to Escape Death Penalty
Psychic information failed to recover Brooke Wilberger, a university student missing since May 24, 2004.
Study reveals complexities of female arousal
(PhysOrg.com) -- Challenging the idea that women's sexual motivations are tied exclusively to romantic emotions or reproduction, a new study by psychologists at The University of Texas at Austin found...
Really?: The Claim: Lack of Sleep Increases the Risk of Catching a Cold.
As cold season approaches, many Americans stock up on their vitamin C and echinacea, but heeding the advice on getting more sleep could be more important.
Tie to Pets Has Germ Jumping to and Fro
A germ that used to be of concern only in humans but has leaped to pets can be curtailed with hand washing.
Cases: Pain Beyond Words, and an Impulse Just to Endure
There’s pain, and then there’s serious, gosh-awful, don’t-know-how-you’ll-live-through-this pain. And you don’t learn anything about yourself from the latter. It just is.
Well: In TV Series, Some Reality on Weight
A new dramatic series is challenging the conventional notions about dieting and willpower.
Nationwide study examines youth access to indoor tanning
Many indoor tanning businesses require parental consent for teenagers to use their facilities, but most would allow young tanners more than the government-recommended amount of exposure during the first week,...
What are you getting? Consumer behavior in restaurants
Consumers follow a predictable pattern when it comes to ordering food and drinks, according new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. It seems people in groups tend to seek...
Public Misunderstanding Of Studies
Over at Bioephemera, Jessica Palmer agree with Language Log’s Mark Liberman in his admonition against the use of “generic plurals” in science reporting. read more
Wild Musical Inventions From Berlin Hackday
As much as our 'Project Calliope' satellite is a science project, it's also a music experiment. We are, after all, flying scientific instruments on a picosatellite specifically to make music. ...
H.G. Wells Birthday Quiz: The Man Behind the Fiction
How well do you know H.G. Wells? Test your knowledge of the life and works of one of the fathers of science fiction today, his 143rd birthday.