Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Novelty lures rats from cocaine-paired settings, hinting at new treatments for recovering addicts
The brain's innate interest in the new and different may help trump the power of addictive drugs, according to new research. In controlled experiments, novelty drew cocaine-treated rats away from...
Haiti earthquake a reminder that disasters are preventable, expert says
Amid all the commentary focused on the historic tragedy in Haiti, a tough but important fact -- disasters are preventable -- has gone virtually unmentioned, according to a nationally recognized...
Healthy adults may need less sleep as they age
A new study suggests that healthy older adults without sleep disorders can expect to have a reduced "sleep need" and to be less sleepy during the day than healthy young...
The new civil defence: UC researchers look at public's role in national cybersecurity
University of Cincinnati researchers say the nation's cybersecurity is being threatened because an important element in establishing it is not being emphasised enough - citizen awareness and participation...
Children with cochlear implants have quality of life equal to normal hearing peers, study finds
Children who have cochlear implants rank their quality of life equal to their normally hearing peers, indicates new research.
Study investigates how people behave in pandemics
(PhysOrg.com) -- A UCL-led study has identified key demographic and psychological factors that may predict protective behaviours during pandemics.
An Experiment In The Causes Of Warfare
An Experiment In The Causes Of Warfare The President of Europe has not been elected; he was appointed in a secret meeting of the heads of government of the 27 EU...
After 18, family influence still key to one's ethnic identity
The formative years don't stop at 18 according to a new study that found the actions and lifestyle of the family continue to influence whether young adults embrace their ethnicity...
How the 'climategate' scandal is bogus and based on climate sceptics' lies | Fred Pearce
Claims based on email soundbites are demonstrably false – there is manifestly no evidence of clandestine data manipulationAlmost all the media and political discussion about the hacked climate emails has been based on...
Seeing The Brain Hear Reveals Surprises About How Sound Is Processed
New research shows our brains are a lot more chaotic than previously thought, and that this might be a good thing. Neurobiologists at the University of Maryland have discovered information...
Couples can overdo being supportive
Couples having problems are often advised to be more supportive of each other, but a series of University of Iowa studies shows that too much support -- or the wrong...
The population crash | Fred Pearce
Across Europe, we are having fewer babies. In many places, such as the deserted town of Hoyerswerda in east Germany, the falling birth rate is already taking its toll• Get the full...
Our ageing population | Fred Pearce
How the falling birth rate will affect global demographicsFuture historians will record two great social trends in the last half of the 20th century: the dramatic decline in fertility, and the transformation of...
Robots shed more light on evolution (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Swiss scientists have proposed that if robots could evolve through natural selection the result would be robots that would help each other, cooperate, and be capable of hunting....
Brain responses during anesthesia mimic those during natural deep sleep
The brains of people under anesthesia respond to stimuli as they do in the deepest part of sleep -- lending credence to a developing theory of consciousness and suggesting a...
Prayer increases forgiveness, study shows
Is it possible that directed prayer might spark forgiveness in those doing the praying -- and in the process preserve relationships?
Barefoot running: How humans ran comfortably and safely before the invention of shoes
Scientists have found that those who run barefoot, or in minimal footwear, tend to avoid "heel-striking," and instead land on the ball of the foot or the middle of the...
Brain arousal heightens sexual activity in male mice
The most powerful sexual organ, it's said, is the brain. Now here's the evidence. New research shows that an overly excitable brain hastens sexual activity in male mice and increases...
New studies highlight needs of boys in K-12, higher education
Boys face high rates of a variety of mental health issues, in addition to lagging behind girls in academic performance and college attendance, according to two new studies. The studies...
Self-Aggrandising Pseudoscience Castigated - Wakefield Struck Off By GMC
Self-Aggrandising Pseudoscience Castigated - Wakefield Struck Off By GMC Following the longest medical misconduct inquiry ever held in the U.K., Andrew Wakefield has been struck off by the GMC, the General...
Can blocking a frown keep bad feelings at bay?
Your facial expression may tell the world what you are thinking or feeling. But it also affects your ability to understand written language related to emotions, according to research that...
FDA wants drug companies to look at potential for abuse
The Food and Drug Administration is calling on pharmaceutical firms to give more attention to the potential for abuse of new drugs when subjecting them to pre-market testing.
Got a decision to make? Get some sugar in your system: study
If you're about to try to negotiate a pay rise, it might be a good idea to have a sugary drink beforehand, according to a study published this week in...
Giving Life in a Land Overflowing With Pain
At a maternity tent outside the general hospital in Port-au-Prince, now one of the better medical facilities in Haiti, the joy found in most maternity wards has been lost to...
Who is to blame for obesity, and what should be done about it?
Is it individuals or junk food? Regardless, some workplaces now offer health-based initiatives. While experts argue over whether to blame individuals, society, fast food or families for the rapid rise in obesity rates,...
This column will change your life: WIth friends like these…
Ever wondered why your friends seem so much more popular than you are? There's a reason for thatThis is going to be awkward, but someone has to tell you, so it may as...
Charest may face asbestos protests in India
Quebec Premier Jean Charest will face protests over the province's continued exportation of asbestos when he arrives in India on Sunday, according to reports.
Research sheds light on new employees
(PhysOrg.com) -- Starting a new job is never easy. However, research by Victoria University graduate Dr Sarah Burke shows that not only does an organisation need to help new employees...