Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Epilepsy drug may help alcoholics recover from dependence, small study suggests
It's a Catch-22 of the highest order. People with alcohol problems often use alcohol to get to sleep -- but it actually keeps them from getting good-quality sleep all night...
Biological Fathers Not Necessarily The Best, Social Dads Parent Well Too
Men who marry a child's mother parent just as well, if not better than biological fathers. A new study examined differences in the parenting practices of four groups of fathers...
Traumatic Response To Bad Memories Can Be Minimized
Researchers have identified the brain mechanism that switches off traumatic feelings associated with bad memories, a finding that could lead to the development of drugs to treat panic disorders.
Aging Impairs The 'Replay' Of Memories During Sleep
Aging impairs the consolidation of memories during sleep, a process important in converting new memories into long-term ones, according to new animal research in the July 30 issue of the...
Cocaine Addiction Linked To Voluntary Drug Use And Cellular Memory, Study Shows
New research has uncovered a fundamental cellular mechanism that may drive pathological drug-seeking behavior. Rats that voluntarily use cocaine show a persistent cellular memory in the brain's reward center even...
Living With A Partner Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer’s
Living with a spouse or a partner decreases the risk of developing Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases. This according to a study by Krister Håkansson, researcher in psychology at Växjö...
Internet in New Zealand explored
A study has thrown light on New Zealand's Internet habits and attitudes, showing for instance that 22 per cent of New Zealanders don't use the Internet at all.
Factors that influence whether people define unwelcome sexual joking in the workplace as harassment
A new study in Law & Social Inquiry shows that how people define sexual harassment is directly related to the extent to which they view sexual harassment rules as ambiguous...
Respiratory Illnesses And Dog Bites A Concern For Travelers To China For 2008 Olympics
As 600,000 visitors and athletes gear up to travel to China for the 2008 Olympic Games, travelers should be most concerned about respiratory illnesses and dog bites, according to a...
Chinese conferences 'unsatisfactory', say participants
A new survey reveals that many Chinese science academics and students are dissatisfied with the quality of domestic academic conferences.
Never Give in to the Enemy
I kept thinking of killing myself for 15 years or so, driving off the road, instigating fights, fingering my gun and imaging the relief I would feel if I just...
SKorea court rules parents may know baby's sex
South Korea's top court ruled Thursday that parents have the right to know the sex of their unborn babies, sparking concerns the decision might result in more sex-selection abortions.
The Power Of Peter Piper: How Alliteration Enhances Poetry, Prose, And Memory
From nursery rhymes to Shakespearian sonnets, alliterations have always been an important aspect of poetry whether as an interesting aesthetic touch or just as something fun to read. But a...
Jim Al-Khalili: While our scientists struggle with ethics, the Islamic world forges ahead
Jim Al-Khalili: Stem cell researchers are branded by the Catholic church as playing God, but Iran's geneticists are unhindered by doctrine
Reality Check: Offshore Drilling
A new poll shows two out of three Americans agree with President Bush and want to lift the ban on offshore drilling. But what difference would that actually make on...
Understanding prescription drug misuse in older adults
The marriage of geriatric medicine/gerontology and drug physiology is critical when determining if an adverse event has taken place; and how to treat and manage the patient thereafter. Furthermore,...
Religion Plays Strong Role in Gay Unions
Same-sex couples with strong religious beliefs most likely to ritualize their partnerships.
Senators Want Johnson To Step Down
Attorney general asked to investigate whether agency administrator gave misleading statements to Congress
Physics Professor Uses Technology to Increase Students' Knowledge
If you step into one physics classroom on Florida State University's campus, you may not recognize it as the same course you took in high school or college. Making use...
Automatic imitation is not only a human trait, research finds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have shed new light on a process known as 'automatic imitation' — and discovered that we have more in common with the humble budgerigar than previously thought.
Alberta's health minister says low wages didn't drive doctors away
Four top public health doctors are not leaving because of low wages, said Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert.
Ancient Greek 'computer' displayed Olympics calendar
Hidden inscriptions reveal that the mechanism – which was used to calculate the movements of heavenly bodies – incorporated a sporting calendar
Beating the baby blues: A mouse model for postpartum depression
A new study provides critical insight into the disabling depression experienced by many women during early motherhood. The research, published by Cell Press in the July 31 issue of the...
Olympic journalists face web restraints
Journalists covering the Beijing Games will not have uncensored internet access, Chinese and Olympic officials have confirmed.
Orange County-based group helps children cope with parents' cancer
Kids Konnected has grown to help 10,000 youngsters in more than eight states. ...
Gaining advantages from childhood experience
It often seems that certain aspects of our personalities are influenced by events that occurred in our childhoods. A recent study by Dr. Akaysha Tang's research team from the University...
A Lab Is Set to Test the Gender of Some Female Athletes
Olympic organizers have set up a sex-determination laboratory to evaluate the external appearance, hormones and genes of “suspect” female athletes.
Let the Proton Smashing Begin. (The Rap Is Already Written.)
After 14 years, the world’s largest physics experiment seems to be getting close enough to becoming a reality for its participants to plan the opening parties.