Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Study: Birds have to learn nest-building
EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Nest-building by birds is not an instinctive skill but rather something they learn and improve upon with experience, Scottish researchers say.
Parents dislike ‘fat,’ ‘obese’ terms for kids
Parents prefer that doctors avoid the terms fat and obese and prefer the term unhealthy weight when referring to their children, a new study finds.
Non-verbal clues guide doctor-patient relationships, clinical judgments, study finds
Researchers analyzed video recordings of routine checkups and conducted follow-up interviews with participants to help elucidate signals sent and received by doctors and patients.
UC research brings focus to portrayals of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' on the silver screen
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe was the best-selling novel of the 19th century, and almost immediately upon its publication in 1852, it made its way to stage, vaudeville,...
Young people having more unprotected sex: study
The number of young people having unprotected sex in the West has risen sharply over the past two years, a survey said Monday, with health professionals concerned the safe sex...
Dyslexia independent of IQ
About 5 to 10 percent of American children are diagnosed as dyslexic. Historically, the label has been assigned to kids who are bright, even verbally articulate, but who struggle with...
Not all women choose reconstruction after mastectomy; the options are many
It had taken some years for Nicole McLean to embrace her God-given breasts, ample at size H cups. So when, at 39, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer...
Are Single-Sex Schools Better For Education?
The least convincing argument for government-run schooling is that it provides a 'social' experience for children. Anyone who attended school has horror stories about the behavior kids learn from the...
Pregnant at 61: late-in-life choice stirs debate in Brazil
A woman who at 61 is expecting not a pension check but her first baby has stirred some controversy in Brazil over just when it might be too late to...
Australian alarm over child asylum-seeker suicide bid
Asylum-seekers as young as nine have attempted suicide in Australian immigration lock-ups, the top medical body said Monday, as it slammed detention of youngsters as akin to "child abuse".
In profile: Heather Paxson
As a kid, Heather Paxson wouldn’t eat American cheese.“I thought it was not real food and it was an insult,” she says of her youthful disdain for the processed stuff. As an...
Majority of Journalists Use LinkedIn, though Many Ask, "What's the Value?"
Findings of a recent study conducted by Newswise indicate that as many as 70% of media professionals have profiles on the popular social networking site LinkedIn. Further investigation reveals...
Deep brain stimulation studies show how brain buys time for tough choices
Some people who receive deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease behave impulsively, making quick, often bad, decisions. New research explains why and shows that under normal circumstances key parts of...
Of course video games affect people. That doesn't mean we'll all go on a murder spree
Could an "obsessive" interest in violent computer games have been the decisive factor in submariner Ryan Donovan's murderous attack on his colleagues, as was suggested last week? Rather than being mentally unstable, drunk...
Couples counseling improves sexual intimacy after prostate treatment
Prostate cancer survivors and their partners experience improved sexual satisfaction and function after couples counseling, according to new research. The new article revealed both internet-based sexual counseling and traditional sex...
Laws Of Nature And Natural Justice
Laws of Nature and Natural JusticeWhat are the 'laws of nature', the natural laws which underly the thing which we perceive as natural justice?Aristotle discussed natural justice in terms of...
Video: The pursuit of pleasure
From scenic sunsets to decadent desserts, life's pleasures often feel like luxuries. But in fact, they may boil down to basic survival. Susan Spencer explores the science behind...
The science behind pleasure-seeking
Neuroscientists say the pursuit of simple pleasures is quite complicated, with desire overcoming emotion, reason or pricetags
Creationism explained | Andrew Brown
You can believe in a Creator without being a 'scientific creationist'. The distinction is important and needs preservingIt makes a pleasant change to be attacked as an apologist for atheism here. But I...
New Star Wars Online Game Coming December 20, 2011
Star Wars fans have long awaited the release date of this online role playing game.
What's Wrong With Those Neutrinos?
Do you believe neutrinos can exceed the universal speed limit of 299792.458 km/s? Be careful before you respond with "yes". Rumor has it that the set of all people who...
What my parrot does when I go out... | @GrrlScientist | Punctuated Equilibrium
What does your pet parrot do all day when you're at work? A hidden camera video report reveals all... Those of you who live with parrots might wonder what they get up...
Therapists Are ‘Seeing’ Patients Online
Many therapists are now just a screen away, but opportunities for exploitation, especially by those with sketchy credentials, are rife.
Musician finds new purpose living with dystonia
Medical WatchImagine one day, your muscles stop working. It happened to a professional musician. His career threatened, he composed a new plan. Billy McLaughlin plays his guitar at the neck....
Abortion in America: terminating one twin
It began as an intervention for extreme circumstances. So how did pregnancy reduction become an option for women carrying twins?As Jenny lay on the obstetrician's examination table, she was grateful that the ultrasound...
The dangers of cherry-picking evidence
It's one thing to produce a bias-free experiment – but the second, crucial stage is to synthesise the evidence fairlyLast week the Daily Mail and the Today programme took some bait from...
The conversation: So you believe in hell?
Britain's most famous atheist and scourge of the creationists Richard Dawkins debates faith, science and education with Catholic writer Cristina OdoneRichard Dawkins has written a new book for children that compares scientific explanations...
2011 Biodiversity Festival
Join the Biodiversity Festival for music, dance, live animal demonstrations and talks from leading scientists from around the country.