Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Ontario's proposed landlord drug liability law rattles supportive housing providers
Supportive housing providers say a new Ontario law that would make landlords responsible for preventing certain kinds of drug-related activity in their units could threaten their ability to house those...
Could Magnesium and TikTok's 'Sleepy Girl Mocktail' Actually Help You Sleep?
TikTok’s “sleepy girl mocktails” remind us how important magnesium is for sleep and health
Secret Mathematical Patterns Revealed in Bach's Music
Physicists found that the music of Johann Sebastian Bach contains mathematical patterns that help convey information
Virtual Bar Scenes Are a New Tool to Study Why People Commit Crimes in the Heat of the Moment
Virtual-reality could assist researchers in decoding how emotions spur a decision to commit a crime
Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
Engaging the fine motor system to produce letters by hand has positive effects on learning and memory
Flimsy Antiabortion Studies Cited in Case to Ban Mifepristone Are Retracted
Outside experts found that two studies cited in a federal case on medication abortion had serious design problems and that their authors had undisclosed conflicts of interest
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds': Jess Bush and Martin Quinn talk feeling comfortable in their characters for Season 3 (exclusive)
'I'm trying to make it as realistic as possible, so that a modern day Scottish person could see themselves in space one day.'
Born this way? Researchers explore the science of gender identity
NEW YORK (Reuters) - While President Donald Trump has thrust transgender people back into the conflict between conservative and liberal values in the United States, geneticists are quietly working on...
Why do some moms have more boys than girls—or vice versa? New study provides clues
At first glance, the sex of your unborn child seems like it should be a coin toss: Most sperm carry either an X or a Y chromosome, giving the baby a roughly...
From bad to worse
Arts & Culture From bad to worse Photo illustration by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff Sy Boles Harvard Staff Writer June 23, 2025 6 min read Harvard faculty recommend bios of infamous historical figures Writing...
Reading skills — and struggles — manifest earlier than thought
Science & Tech Reading skills — and struggles — manifest earlier than thought New finding underscores need to intervene before kids start school, say researchers Liz Mineo Harvard Staff Writer June 23, 2025...
Why are young people taking fewer risks?
Richard Weissbourd directs the Making Caring Common Project at Harvard.Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer Health Why are young people taking fewer risks? Psychologist describes generation overparented — but also overwhelmed by ‘frightening world’ Sy...
Got emotional wellness app? It may be doing more harm than good.
Health Got emotional wellness app? It may be doing more harm than good. Julian De Freitas. Photo by Grace DuVal Christina Pazzanese Harvard Staff Writer June 25, 2025 8 min read Study...
As reading scores decline, a study primed to help grinds to a halt
Phil Capin, assistant professor of education, saw two research grants cut in May.Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer Nation & World As reading scores decline, a study primed to help grinds to a halt Partnership...
As wave of dementia cases looms, Law School looks to preserve elders’ rights
Health As wave of dementia cases looms, Law School looks to preserve elders’ rights Sy Boles Harvard Staff Writer July 1, 2025 5 min read Academic experts seek improvements that could protect decision-making...
Can AI be as irrational as we are? (Or even more so?)
Illustration by Judy Blomquist/Harvard Staff Science & Tech Can AI be as irrational as we are? (Or even more so?) Christy DeSmith Harvard Staff Writer July 1, 2025 6 min read Psychologists...
When the falcons come home to roost
Campus & Community When the falcons come home to roost A nest cam has been installed to livestream a pair of peregrine falcons atop the Memorial Hall tower.Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer...
Highly sensitive science
Science & Tech Highly sensitive science Veasey Conway/Harvard Staff Photographer Sy Boles Harvard Staff Writer July 2, 2025 6 min read David Ginty probes pleasure and pain to shed light on autism,...
Meditation provides calming solace — except when it doesn’t
Health Meditation provides calming solace — except when it doesn’t Researchers find ways to promote altered states of consciousness, reduce risks of distress that affect some Jacob Sweet Harvard Staff Writer July 7,...
Did Jane Austen even care about romance?
Arts & Culture Did Jane Austen even care about romance? Scholars contest novelist’s ‘rom-com’ rep as 250th anniversary ushers in new screen adaptations Eileen O’Grady Harvard Staff Writer July 7, 2025 5 min...
Is the secret to immortality in our DNA?
Arts & Culture Is the secret to immortality in our DNA? Photo by Maryam Hiradfar Samantha Laine Perfas Harvard Staff Writer July 8, 2025 7 min read Alum’s campus novel offers cautionary...
An outdoor museum, rooting for the away team, and an alt-rock anthem
Campus & Community An outdoor museum, rooting for the away team, and an alt-rock anthem Photo illustration by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff July 15, 2025 2 min read Chan School professor recommends 3 ways...
In the News – NPR – Brivanlou
Embryo Experiments Reveal Earliest Human Development, But Stir Ethical Debate “‘The amazing thing is that it’s doing its thing without any information from mom,’ Brivanlou says. ‘It just has...
Study tests the “three-hit” theory of autism
Could a genetic predisposition to autism together with early stress have a more detrimental effect on boys than on girls? In experiments with mice, researchers found evidence that three factors—genes,...
In the News – NBC News – Young
This Night Owl Gene Mutation Turns People Into Sleep Martians “‘It’s as if these people have perpetual jet lag, moving eastward every day,’ said Michael Young, who oversaw the study....
A dog’s taste for TV may depend on its temperament
Anxious dogs might react nervously to some television sounds, a survey of dog owners reports, while hyper ones might try to play chase.
A child’s biological sex may not always be a random 50-50 chance
Some people’s biology may set them up to birth babies of a certain sex, explaining why a family with multiple children may have all girls or all boys.
Just 5 minutes a day of these exercises can sharpen your brain as you age
A recent study found that 'huff-and-puff' movements, like running or lap swimming, were associated with better brain functions including information processing, focusing and multitasking and short-term memory.