Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Hackers take over sentencing commission website
The hacker-activist group Anonymous says it hijacked the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to avenge the death of Aaron Swartz, an Internet activist who committed suicide.
Multitasking While Driving - You Still Stink At It
While many people believe they can multitask, a new paper indicates yet again that people who multitask the most, including supposedly easy things like talking on a cell phone while...
It's a dog's life when man's best friend becomes his fattest
A study published this morning in Nature offers further insight into how dogs became domesticated. The comparative analysis of human, canine and wolf genomes suggests that humans and dogs have...
Analysis of rhetoric and policy
As an English major, Natalie Midiri has an appreciation for the art of the written and spoken word. The Rutgers–Camden senior knows rhetoric can influence and inspire people, especially when coming...
VIDEO: When did dogs stop being wolves?
Domesticated dogs evolved into man's best friend much more recently than previously thought, according to a new analysis of their DNA.
Carbs were key in wolves' evolution into dogs
Comparing the DNA of dogs and wolves shows that dogs' ability to easily digest carbohydrates, originally from starch in scraps left behind by humans, helped enable their domestication, a study...
Pavlov's rats? Rodents trained to link rewards to visual cues
In experiments on rats outfitted with tiny goggles, scientists say they have learned that the brain's initial vision processing center not only relays visual stimuli, but also can "learn" time...
Effect of taking smaller bites outweighs tendency to eat more when distracted
Eating while distracted generally makes people eat more without being aware of it, but reducing bite sizes may be able to counter this effect, according to new research.
Owl monkeys who 'stay true' reproduce more than those with multiple partners
Breaking up is hard to do -- and can be detrimental to one's reproductive fitness, according to a new study.
Migraine triggers may not be as strong as you think
A new study suggests that triggers for migraine with aura may not be as strong as some people think. Auras that occur with migraine include visual disturbances, with symptoms such...
Monogamous owl monkeys have more babies
For owl monkeys, it pays to be faithful. Monkeys that stick with their primary mate produce more children than those who wind up with another monkey, new research finds.
People Underestimate Weight, Research Suggests
People tend to underestimate their weight and overestimate their height in health surveys.
Socially isolated rats are more vulnerable to addiction, report researchers
Rats that are socially isolated during a critical period of adolescence are more vulnerable to addiction to amphetamine and alcohol. Amphetamine addiction is also harder to extinguish in the socially...
Ross Rebagliati aims to open medical marijuana dispensary
Ross Rebagliati, the snowboarder who was stripped of his Olympic medal after marijuana was found in his sytem, is hoping to use his celebrity to sell pot.
Children's complex thinking skills begin before going to school
New research reveals that children begin to show signs of higher-level thinking skills as young as age 4 ½. Researchers have previously attributed higher-order thinking development to knowledge acquisition, but...
Well: Can You Read the Face of Victory?
When overwhelming feelings set in, the subtle cues that convey emotion are lost. The face of joy and celebration often appears no different from the look of grief and devastation....
Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday
The legal exemption allowing you to unlock your new phone is about to expire.
European Sociologists Call For More Effective Teaching
In Europe, where over 19 million students are in tertiary education, they are looking for ways to improve the teaching skills of scientists in order to teach more effectively the...
Sociologists find similarities in meanings behind protestant work ethic, religious tattoos
(Phys.org)—When it comes to religious tattoos, two Texas Tech University sociologists say the reasoning and spirit behind them is strikingly similar to a 100-year-old theory about how the Protestant work...
Starchy genes made dog into Man's best friend, study reports
The question of how some wolves evolved into the trusty dogs that work on farms, lead the blind and curl up on pillows in bedrooms has remained largely unanswered. Until...
After shootings, states rethink mental health cuts
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Dozens of states have slashed spending on mental health care over the last four years, driven by the recession's toll on...
See What I Smell: Learning, Memory May Play Key Role in Synesthesia
People with color-grapheme synesthesia experience color when viewing written letters or numerals, usually with a particular color evoked by each [...]
Prince Harry vs. Taliban: Is War a Game?
Prince Harry takes verbal fire from the Taliban for crediting gaming for his Apache gunner skills in Afghanistan.
Court: Indiana can't ban sex offenders from Facebook
ACLU filed class-action suit on behalf of man who served 3 years for child exploitation, but is no longer on probation
The Wheel Of Exotic Pets [INFOGRAPHIC]
Wheel of Exotic Pets Emily ElertWant a pet bobcat? How about an adorable otter? Consult our Wheel of Exotic Pets to find out exactly how good or bad a...
Parents numb to misuse of narcotic pain meds by youth, new poll shows
Only 1 in 5 parents say they are very concerned about children and teens misusing narcotics, according to U-M's National Poll on Children's Health.
Erwin Hiebert, 93, dies
From his first days in grade school until the last year of his life, Erwin Hiebert was deeply dedicated to scholarship. He was passionate about science, not only in regards to his...
Forcing choice may hamper decision-making, study finds
Constraining choice isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to managers' problem-solving, according to a new Canadian study.