Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
VIDEO: Qatar plays host to UN climate talks
Qatar's capital Doha is playing host to the latest round of UN climate talks - the first time that a government in the region has hosted such high-profile talks.
Researchers Can Tell A Liar By The Nose With The 'Pinocchio Effect'
On The Nose Courtesy YouTubeThermography scans show that when you lie, your nose heats up. To tell if a person is lying, just measure his or her nose. No, not the length--the...
Infants learn to look and look to learn: Model explains crucial links among looking, learning, and memory
Researchers have explained how infants learn by looking, and the crucial role these activities play in how infants gain knowledge. Their computer model of babies aged 6 weeks to one...
Brain damage found in veterans, high school, college and pro athletes
A new study describes 68 cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among deceased athletes and military veterans whose brain and [...]
Lithium restores cognitive function in Down syndrome mice
Researchers report that lithium, a drug commonly used for the treatment of mood disorders in humans, restores neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a part of the brain strongly associated with learning...
Study: More Americans using tablets, smartphones while watching TV
Media survey suggests a growth in people who watch TV while connected to social media on smartphones and tablets
Gender and race: How overlapping stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions
A new study reveals unexpected ways in which stereotypes affect interracial dating, leadership selection, and athletic participation.
Imaging study identifies relationship between stress and seizures
Many epilepsy patients believe that stress is a factor in their seizure control, while many other epilepsy patients do not have this perception. To better understand the potential role of...
Athletes' brains reflect stages of degenerative disorder
The brains of some deceased athletes, including NHL players, show four stages of a degenerative disorder that offer a glimpse into the potential long-term impact of brain injuries, U.S. researchers...
Money Does Lead to Happiness ... Sometimes
Turns out, optimism may partly explain why a boost in income increases well-being for some.
Alberta's queue jumping inquiry gets underway
The inquiry into queue jumping in Alberta's health care system starts today in Edmonton.
From rats to people: Gaming platform used to compare memory impairments of rodents and humans with epilepsy
A behavioral test widely used on rodents to study spatial learning and memory, the Morris water maze (MWM), was recreated using software developed to create custom video game environments. By...
Nostalgia Can Make You Feel Warmer, Say Psychologists
If you can't afford heat during the ongoing economic malaise, there is some good news; psychology surveys show that students who think about happier times are warmer. The results, published in...
FYI: What Do Forensic Chemists Do, And Why Would They Cheat?
Cocaine Alaska Department of Public SafetyA forensic chemist at a Massachusetts crime lab was arrested for tampering with drug evidence recently. A bad egg or the product of perverse incentives? Earlier this fall,...
Mu2E: Exploring Lepton Flavour Violation At Fermilab
The conceptual design report of the Mu2E experiment at Fermilab is out in the arxiv for you to browse. Mind you - it is a rather thick document, 562 pages...
Heart-warming memories: Nostalgia can make you feel warmer
As the nights draw in and the temperature begins to drop, many of us will be thinking of ways to warm up on the dark winter nights. However, few would...
Shuttlecocks - The Aerodymamics (part 1)
For badminton players: “The centre piece of the game is no doubt a shuttlecock which is made of either natural feathers or synthetic rubber with an open conical shape.” But...
Increases in personal income important for happiness worldwide, new study says
For people living in both rich and poor countries, the average person's happiness is based on a combination of individual wealth, possessions and optimism, according to an analysis of new...
Pope's Twitter handle @Pontifex to start tweeting Dec. 12
The pope will be answering question on Twitter in six languages via his own Twitter account
Drugs are taken for pleasure – realise this and we can start to reduce harm | David Nutt
The web-based Net Pleasure Index is an attempt to gather information about a much-ignored element of drug-takingThe mainstream penalty-driven approach to drugs control is both morally and intellectually flawed. Morally, it ignores the...
Empirically rich new study finds most people alter their risk-management approach depending on the type of decision
Take a moment to consider some of the financial choices you've made in recent years. Do you have a consistent approach to your money, either by playing it safe or...
Human trafficking activity on adult entertainment website more pervasive than expected
Evidence of human trafficking through ads posted on a popular adult entertainment website is more prevalent than first thought, according to a new study published by Arizona State University.
What is local radio for in the age of the internet? | Stephen Curry
BBC East's decision to rein in the Naked Scientists radio show raises the question of how local radio can serve its audiences, especially when information is so accessible on the web. But...
A New Wildlife Magazine for Younger Children
Ranger Rick Jr., featuring Ricky Raccoon, a mascot for children ages 4 to 7, is a new magazine from the National Wildlife Federation, which is tapping into interest in ecology...
Brain and nervous system damaged by low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides
Scientists have found that low-level exposure to organophosphates produces lasting decrements in neurological and cognitive function. Memory and information processing speed are affected to a greater degree than other cognitive...
Teens increasingly abuse prescription painkillers
Young people ages 15 to 24 are abusing prescription painkillers more than any other age group or any other youth in history. Availability of these drugs from their parents’ medicine...
Baby of brood is 'best explorer'
The youngest members of zebra finch broods "explore more" than their older siblings in adult life, scientists say.
Emotional Developmental Symbol Creation
To create an artificial intelligence system that is similar to humans or other animals, it has to have some way to generate meaning. A potential mechanism of meaning is an...