Why uncertainty makes us change our behavior — even when we shouldn’t
People around the world dramatically changed their shopping behaviours at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with new uncertainty, shoppers began stocking up on basic household items — especially toilet paper — to account for the new unknown. This buying frenzy led to shortages, even though, in most cases, there would have been enough […]
More tolerant primates have a greater need to communicate vocally, new study shows
Primates who are more tolerant of each other use vocal communication more than their stricter counterparts, research from the University of York shows. The study looked at how dominant primates behave towards those of lower status, with some demanding deference and punishing challenges from subordinates harshly (despotic), whilst others are more relaxed (tolerant). Japanese macaques […]
Scientists create tool to explore billions of social media messages, potentially predict political and financial turmoil
For thousands of years, people looked into the night sky with their naked eyes — and told stories about the few visible stars. Then we invented telescopes. In 1840, the philosopher Thomas Carlyle claimed that “the history of the world is but the biography of great men.” Then we started posting on Twitter. Now scientists […]
COVID-19 Lockdown in Uganda Increased Gender-Based Violence
Women and young girls confined to their homes during the COVID-19 lockdowns experienced increases in sexual violence and exposure to HIV, researchers in Uganda reported. At a press conference at the virtual International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science, Rose Apondi, MPH, an HIV-prevention specialist with the CDC in Kampala, Uganda, said that when […]
Should My Teenager See a Therapist? Teen Mental Health
What are different types of therapy? During their first visit, your teen’s therapist will talk with them, listen to their problems, and discuss with you how they plan to go about the therapy sessions. Depending on the problem, the therapist may suggest one of three main types of therapies for teens, or a combination of […]
How otters’ muscles enable their cold, aquatic life
Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal. As cold-water dwellers, staying warm is a top priority, but their dense fur only goes so far. We have long known that high metabolism generates the heat they need to survive, but we didn’t know how they were producing the heat — until now. Researchers recently discovered that […]
Human-driven habitat change leads to physical, behavioral change in mosquitofish
Bahamian mosquitofish in habitats fragmented by human activity are more willing to explore their environment, more stressed by change and have smaller brain regions associated with fear response than mosquitofish from unaffected habitats. The new study from North Carolina State University shows that these fish have adapted quickly in specific ways to human-driven change, and […]
Consuming a diet with more fish fats, less vegetable oils can reduce migraine headaches, study finds: Frequency, intensity of monthly migraines declined among those on higher fish oil diet
A diet higher in fatty fish helped frequent migraine sufferers reduce their monthly number of headaches and intensity of pain compared to participants on a diet higher in vegetable-based fats and oils, according to a new study. The findings by a team of researchers from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute […]
Elephants solve problems with personality
Just as humans have their own individual personalities, new research in the Journal of Comparative Psychology shows that elephants have personalities, too. Moreover, an elephant’s personality may play an important role in how well that elephant can solve novel problems. The article was written by Lisa Barrett and Sarah Benson-Amram in the University of Wyoming’s […]