Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Secondhand smoke linked to mental distress
Risk of psychological troubles rises for exposed nonsmokers
Adolescent brains biologically wired to engage in risky behavior, study finds
There are biological motivations behind the stereotypically poor decisions and risky behavior associated with adolescence, psychologists reveal.
Common genetic threads link thousands of years of Jewish ancestry
Using sophisticated genomic analysis, scientists have probed the ancestry of several Jewish and non-Jewish populations and better defined the relatedness of contemporary Jewish people. The research may shed light on...
Online games new marketing tool for unhealthy foods
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — UC Davis public health researchers have found that children, who are already saturated with television messages about unhealthy food choices, are the targets of a...
1 in 5 high schoolers abuse prescription drugs
(AP) -- A new report shows one in five high school students have taken a prescription drug that they didn't get from a doctor.
Model aims to predict quake risk anywhere
The Global Earthquake Model should enable people to calculate local risks but critics say the hard bit will be communicating the outcome.
African rice gets a status upgrade
Researchers are promoting the use of elite African rice varieties, which can be just as high-yielding as other varieties on African soils.
'Golden Girl' Rue McClanahan dies
Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 76.
Teen sex survey reveals higher use of the rhythm method
The National Survey of Family Growth finds that 17% used that form of contraception in the period from 2006 to 2008, up from 11% in 2002. The method has a...
Mentor-protégé relationships: Age gap really does matter
A new study of mentor-protégé relationships has found that the generation gap is real and it matters. The researchers analyzed a "family tree" of mathematicians and the doctoral students they...
Nokia launches bike-powered handset
(AP) -- Want to talk more? Keep pedaling, says Nokia.
Tobacco tax hike could curb smoking among those with alcohol, drug or mental disorders
A new study from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA suggests that increasing cigarette taxes could be an effective way to reduce smoking among individuals with alcohol, drug...
Motorsport athletes top eye tests
NZ research shows top motorsport athletes have superior visual abilities compared with other sports people of the same age.
The neurological effect of neglecting children's needs | Yvonne Roberts
Kids Company's Peace of Mind campaign brings attention to the negative effect society is having on childhood developmentWhen I was about 12 I watched a film called The Bad Seed in which...
Telecommuters with flextime stay balanced up to 19 hours longer
Not surprising: Telecommuters balance work and family life better than office workers...
'Helicopter' Parents Have Neurotic Kids
Children with so-called "helicopter parents" are more likely to be dependent, neurotic and less open, a new study finds.
Suspect in 2005 Holloway case sought in Peru slaying
Officials say Joran van der Sloot was seen with the Peruvian victim before her body was found. He was never charged in the earlier disappearance of the American teen in Aruba. Police...
Photo raises issue of sexual orientation in softball
Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is pictured playing the sport, and whispers grow that she is gay. Those who play say they are aware of the reputation, but history of...
Tidy house, fitter body?
A study that examined the relationship between physical activity and a range of variables involving urban residents' homes and neighborhoods found that the inside of their homes had more to...
Police recover 2 pipe bombs, improvised hand grenade in Garden Grove drug raid
Authorities on Wednesday said they recovered two pipe bombs, an improvised hand grenade, a handgun and numerous boxes of ammunition from a home in Garden Grove during a drug raid.
Violent felons banned from owning body armor under new California law
Violent felons are now banned from owning body armor such as the bullet-proof padding used by two bank robbers in 1997's infamous North Hollywood shootout with the LAPD under a...
Lawmakers vote to raise kindergarten age
The earliest age at which California children could start kindergarten would go up three months under a measure passed by the state Senate on Wednesday. Youngsters would have to turn...
The player: is gaming a path to self-understanding?
Psychologists have many theories about why we play games. And I've certainly had flashes of self-knowledgeI occasionally game with my friend Josh, who like me has had therapy in the past. "Come...
The inside story of Einstein’s brain
A story on NPR this morning reminded me of a delightful book that I reviewed several years ago, Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America With Einstein’s Brain by...
Mind Control: Learning How the Brain Works
Ed Boyden studies the control mechanism behind neural circuits in order to understand how cognition and emotion arise.
Financial literary bailout for the younger generation
Hanover, NH — June 1, 2010 — In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, financial literacy is still low among young adults. According to a new study published in...
Poll: GOP grows stronger in generic congressional ballot
Riding a wave of unhappiness among independents, Republicans have increased their lead over Democrats in the preference poll for Congress, the Gallup organization reported Wednesday.
The social dreaming experiment | Alison Flood
Two therapists believe that sharing our dreams can help make society less violent. Are they away with the fairies?Falling. Flying. Running away from monsters. I have been listening to people share their dreams...