Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Muslim thought on evolution takes a step forward | Salman Hameed
A high-quality debate of a sensitive topic did not disappoint, as all panellists bar one accepted the scientific consensusAn imam of an east London mosque, Usama Hasan, received a death threat for arguing...
Observatory: Wrinkled Fingers Get Better Grip on Wet Objects
New research suggests that prunelike wrinkles on fingers and toes may have evolved to give early humans an advantage in wet conditions.
Prior relationship experiences shape romantic partnerships, says psychologist
Partners each bring a suitcase of prior experiences to a relationship, which may influence what happens in their current relationship, says a professor of psychology and education.
Emotions Pose Obstacle to Weight Loss, Psychologists Say
Emotions often pose some of the biggest challenges for those trying to shed pounds.
Boredom at Work May Boost Creativity
Boredom on the job might actually be a boon for creativity, especially if your tedious tasks leave room for daydreaming.
Albino-like Bald Eagle Spotted in Washington State
Talk about an odd bird-a bald eagle with white spots has been spotted in Washington State.
Biting the bullet
Panelists at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) expressed little hope on Tuesday for the prospect of Congress passing sweeping gun control legislation, but urged citizens to fight for culture change around...
Newly found 'volume control' in brain promotes learning, memory
Researchers report synapses that act as "volume control" for nerve cell activity in the brain's hippocampus, the epicenter for learning and memory. Too much synaptic communication between neurons can trigger...
Eliminating useless information important to learning, making new memories
As we age, it just may be the ability to filter and eliminate old information -- rather than take in the new stuff -- that makes it harder to learn,...
Views on Gay People Shift in Singapore
Positive views about homosexuals are becoming more common in the Southeast Asian city-state.
Passive smoking increases risk of severe dementia, according to study in China
Scientists have found a link between passive smoking and syndromes of dementia. The study of nearly 6,000 people in five provinces in China reveals that people exposed to passive smoking...
R U eating healthy 2day?
Teens receive an average of 114 texts per day! Couple this with CDC's report that high school students' consumption of fruit and vegetables is, on average, 1.2 times per day...
Networking ability a family trait in monkeys
Two years of painstaking observation on the social interactions of a troop of free-ranging monkeys and an analysis of their family trees has found signs of natural selection affecting the...
New Data: Americans Hate Congress More Than Root Canals, Cockroaches Or Nickelback
Which Is Worse? The People Have Spoken What do you have a higher opinion of: Congress or Nickelback? Congress 32% ; Nickelback 39% ; Not sure 29%. It's a tough one, for...
Live Chat: Conflicts of Interest in Academia
Talk to experts about the tightrope scientists walk when working with industry
Are academics misunderstood by the general public? – open thread
Forbes labelled the university professor the least stressful job of 2013. Are there wider assumptions here about the role of the modern academic that need to be addressed?Being a university professor is the...
What will be the next great invention? Ask a teenager | Maggie Philbin
From the lightbulb to the internet, the British have a great history of innovation. We must help young people to keep inspiring usFrom the sewing machine to ice cream, the railway to...
Dyscalculia: Number games
Brian Butterworth is on a crusade to understand the number deficit called dyscalculia — and to help those who have it.Nature 493 150 doi: 10.1038/493150a
Neil Hudson obituary
My husband, Neil Hudson, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 65, was a leading academic geologist in the field of metamorphic petrology – the study of rocks that have undergone chemical, mineralogical...
Game not over for retro games
Generations of children around the world were weaned on computer games like 'Pac-man', 'Galaga' and 'Donkey Kong', to name just a few. Indeed many of today's first-rate computer programmers, scientists...
Taiwan's Foxconn reviews buying in China after bribe claims
Taiwan technology giant Foxconn said Wednesday it was investigating and reviewing its acquisition procedures in China after allegations that some of its managers had solicited bribes from suppliers.
US airline halts transport of monkeys for lab tests
Animal rights activists claimed a major victory Tuesday in their campaign to stop global airlines from transporting monkeys for use in laboratory experiments.
The Call To Make Science Less Partisan Gets New Members
Since 2007, on too many occasions to count, I have noted that by being overwhelmingly partisan scientists in academia are putting themselves at risk.Not financially. If funding mattered, all scientists...
Cognitive benefit of lifelong bilingualism
Older bilinguals expend less energy when performing a cognitive flexibility task. The findings suggest the value of regular stimulating mental activity across the lifetime. As people age, cognitive flexibility --...
Big 5 Universal Personality Traits? There May Only Be A Big 2
For decades, the consensus among psychologists has held that a group of five personality traits - openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism - are a universal feature of human psychology. Not...
Bilingualism May Keep Older Brains Nimble
Wanna learn a second language? It could give your brain flexibility as you age.
#OverlyHonestMethods Hashtag Reveals How Science Is Really Done
#OverlyHonestMethods Storify/Beckie PortIn 140 characters or less, the info that didn't get through peer review. If an experiment is any good, the process needs to be replicated. That requires some details on the...
Amid Scandal, People Defend Favorite Brands
Research explains the strong relationships people have with brands.