Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
News Analysis: New F.D.A.: Transparence and Flexibility
In its decision on the diabetes drug Avandia, the agency has shown a shift from keeping a united front and dependence on clinical, rather than academic, trials.
Own touch eases acute pain: study
People tend to clutch a painful area of their body after an injury because it may offer a sense of relief, British scientists have found.
Bedbug Anxieties Force Exterminators to Play Psychologist
Taking on bedbugs and hysterical homeowners one exterminator at a time.
Current decisions shape your future preferences
Psychologists have known for a long time that after you make a choice, you adjust your opinion to think better of the thing you chose. Now a new study has...
Anger amplifies clinical pain in women with and without fibromyalgia; Sensitizing effect of anger and sadness not limited to fibromyalgia patients
Researchers who studied the effect of negative emotions on pain perception in women with and without fibromyalgia found that anger and sadness amplified pain equally in both groups.
SAfrican students study math via cell phone
(AP) -- A South African think tank said Thursday they have lined up volunteers to tutor on a popular mobile phone platform after a nationwide teachers' strike left students...
Research explains brand reputation's key role in a store-within-a-store
With the concept of a store-within-a-store growing across the country, a Kansas State University researcher's work shows the increasing importance of brand reputation and its strong role in governing decisions.
Spanish Tomato Growers Seek Effective Biodegradable Mulches Ahead of Regulation
In Spain, tomato growers are seeking effective ways to keep their crops weed-free as government regulation limits the use of formerly favored herbicides and plastics. Hand-weeding is not economically viable,...
Divisive primaries help challengers and hurt incumbents
Divisive primaries may waste precious campaign resources and damage the primary winner's reputation and chances to win the general election, according to a study in the current American Politics Research...
Could brain abnormalities cause antisocial behavior and drug abuse in boys?
Antisocial boys who abuse drugs, break laws, and act recklessly are not just "bad" kids. Many of these boys may have malfunctioning brains, according to a new study by...
What psychology can teach us about our response to climate change
Calls to 'save the planet' or 'do it for our grandchildren' do not engage people, says psychology professorTonight at the Royal Society's lecture hall in central London, Prof David Uzzell will present this...
Losing your religion deemed unhealthy
People who leave strict religious groups are more likely to say their health is worse than members who remain in the group, according to a Penn State researcher...
Sarcasm has always been child's play | Michael Rosen
New research has discovered that children understand irony from the age of four – this will hardly come as a shock to parentsChildren can understand irony from the age of four, according...
Cosmic Log: How is science seen?
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: A new survey about attitudes toward scientific issues seems to point up international differences ... but goes about it somewhat unscientifically. ...
Higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss, Israeli study finds
A new study conducted by researchers in Israel reveals that higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss.
Onward to Ethiopia, and Gelada Monkeys
A doctoral student studying social behavior in primates begins his journey seeking permits in Addis Ababa.
Athletes face tough hits, players susceptible to concussions
With the recent deaths of football players top of mind, parents and coaches should always be mindful of the risks of concussions. Kim Gorgens, assistant professor and neuropsychologist at the...
Positive behavioral interventions programs found to improve student behavior and learning
Adopting the evidence-based procedures of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) helped 21 elementary schools reduce student suspensions, office discipline referrals and improve student academic achievement, according to a...
For sufferers of an early-onset dementia, career choice may determine location of disease in brain
In an international study of patients with a devastating type of dementia that often strikes in middle age, researchers have found intriguing evidence that career choice may influence where the...
Showing Gay Teens a Happy Future
A new online video channel is reaching out to teenagers who are bullied at school for being gay. The message: life really does get better after high school.
Times Co. expects revenue decline on print ad slide
The New York Times Co. said Wednesday it expects revenue to fall up to three percent in the current quarter as print advertising revenue continues to slide.
Clues to child sacrifices found in Inca building
Bodies buried with artifacts offer peek at poorly understood practice
Space-age device to deliver more efficient health care on Earth and above
On an exploration mission, an astronaut has an accident and appears to have serious injuries as the spacecraft speeds to its destination. The ensuing scene is hectic as the other...
Confused monkeys clarify how the brain sees things
Michael Jackson's classic transformation from a panther to a human during the music video "Black and White" may cause confusion upon first viewing for good reason. Now neuroscientists have used...
Rita Bronowski obituary
Shortly after they met, Rita Coblentz asked her husband-to-be, Jacob Bronowski, to pose for a life drawing, and offered him a volume of William Blake's poems to pass the time while he...
Science diplomacy should focus on people
Science partnerships for development and diplomacy must put scientists at the forefront of engagement, says science diplomacy expert Ali Douraghy.
IVF does not negatively affect academic achievement
Children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) perform at least as well as their peers on academic tests at all ages from grade 3 to 12, according to a new...
Talking while walking puts Parkinson’s patients at risk for falls
We’ve all heard the saying about people who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, but it turns out that walking and talking is difficult enough, especially for...