Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Humans saving Britain's barn owls
LONDON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- British barn owls are becoming increasingly dependent on humans, with three-quarters of the country's owls living in man-made nest boxes, conservationists say.
When gender isn’t written all over one’s face
Neuroscientists at MIT and Harvard have made the surprising discovery that the brain sees some faces as male when they appear in one area of a person’s field of view, but female...
Female fish -- and humans? -- lose interest when their male loses a slugfest
If you see your special someone lose a competition, your subconscious may start whispering, "He's a loser," even as you insist your love is unaffected, according to researchers studying African...
Jet-lagged and forgetful? It's no coincidence
Chronic jet lag alters the brain in ways that cause memory and learning problems long after one's return to a regular 24-hour schedule, according to research by University of California,...
Immigration policy 'will keep talented scientists out of UK'
Young scientists face severe difficulties getting work visas because their qualifications and relatively low salaries score poorly under the points-based systemBritain's scientific institutions may struggle to attract the best researchers from abroad unless substantial...
Social media actually strengthen social ties, various demographics engage differently, study says
(PhysOrg.com) -- Contrary to popular opinion, Facebook is making us more social, albeit in ways unique to the digital age, according to new research at The University of Texas at...
Is the Internet lying to us?
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Alberta scholars talk about the relativity of truth on the World Wide Web.
Alberta health board replaces controversial CEO
Alberta Health Services has replaced its president and CEO, Stephen Duckett, five days after he refused to talk to reporters about a meeting on the province's ER crisis because he...
Out of sight, out of mind
Neglected tropical diseases affect children's minds, not just their bodies. All the more reason to step up efforts to eradicate themSuppose I told you that your child had a one in four...
Busting drug law fears
Portugal's decision to decriminalise all drug use did not lead to dramatic increases in drug abuse or drug-related harm, a joint Australian and UK study has found.
Facebook closer to trademarking 'face'
Facebook has moved a step closer toward trademarking the word "face" - at least in certain contexts.
Brains see Obama as ‘black’
Grouping people based on their features are linked to how our brains learn new groups rather than prejudice, scientists claim.
Opening up climate science can cut off the denialists
Equipping the public with the tools and knowledge to understand complex issues like global warming can help them avoid the rhetorical tricks of climate 'skeptics'. Guest post by Dr. Andrew Holding.It's not uncommon...
False memories of sexual abuse lead to terrible miscarriages of justice | Chris French
To avoid the innocent being convicted, police, lawyers and judges must understand the fickle nature of human memoryMany of those working in our legal system have such a poor understanding of the nature...
UCLA researcher says he won't be deterred by animal activists' attacks
After the latest incident, in which he received a letter containing razor blades and threats that his throat would be cut, J. David Jentsch says he isn't intimidated. 'This is...
U.S. Orders Vast Review of Bioethics
President Obama ordered a vast review to ensure the ethical treatment of people who take part in research backed by the federal government.
Why the Airline Opt-Out Protest Failed
Turns out, it's easier to start a national dialogue than stage a protest.
Review: Paper wins over e-books for travel guides
(AP) -- It sounded like a better, lighter way to pack for a trip to Germany: a Kindle with a Lonely Planet travel guide in lieu of an 844-page...
Extraordinary Measures To Fight Cancer
“Extraordinary measures” is a heart-wrenching movie about a parent’s quest to save the lives of two dying children with Pompe disease. Starring Brandon Fraser (John Crowley) as the venture capitalist...
Apes unwilling to gamble when odds are uncertain
(PhysOrg.com) -- Humans are known to play it safe in a situation when they aren't sure of the odds, or dont have confidence in their judgments. We dont like to...
Computing the Scene of a Crime
The use of fingerprints, shoeprints, handwriting, and other forensic evidence may seem like good science--but often it's not, as it relies heavily on humans for the analysis.
HBS’s Charles Christenson, 80
Charles J. “Chuck” Christenson, a specialist in managerial accounting and control, died of natural causes at his Cambridge, Mass., home at the age of 80. At the time of his death, he...
The New Old Age: Ask an Elder Law Attorney: Medicaid and the Primary Residence
What happens to the house when my mother needs to qualify for Medicaid?
How to Handle Kids' Picky Eating
All kids go through phases of picky or selective eating. What's normal? What's not? And what should a parent do?
China Hopes to Boost Basic Research as Overall R&D Spending Soars
China's science spending is rising fast and on track to meet a 2010 target...
Gendered behaviour: what can science tell us?
Last week, the University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies hosted a public forum, "Gendered Behaviour: what can science tell us?", in association with the Guardian and supported by Cambridge...
Looking for a brainy gift?
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: The ninth annual Science Geek Gift roundup features holiday presents for the science-minded types on your list. But we’ll need your help to make the...
Cloud computing: The good, the bad, and the ugly
A survey of 31 Cloud computing contracts from 27 different providers has found that many include clauses that could have a significant impact, often negative, on the rights and interests...