SciGlow | All Science News In One Place
SciGlow is a newsletter of science stories from the major research labs. Headlines link to in-depth articles and editorials. SciGlow keeps scientists and others up-to-date on current research.
An auditory illusion thought to synchronize brain waves and alter mood is no more effective than other sounds, according to research in adults recently published in eNeuro. The effect reported in other studies might be a placebo but could still have helpful effects for some people. Binaural beats are an auditory illusion caused by listening to … Read more Binaural beats synchronize brain activity, don’t affect mood
Dr Rebecca Monk and Professor Derek Heim carried out a computer-based study in bars and pubs local to the University’s Ormskirk campus, by asking participants to respond to stimuli while ignoring photos of attractive and unattractive faces. The findings of the study – published this week in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors – showed that while sober participants … Read more Can beauty be-er ignored?
We all have our varying mental emphases, inclinations, and biases. These individual dispositions are dynamic in that they can change over time and context. In a study published today in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Prof. Moshe Bar, a neuroscientist at the Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University (BIU), together with Noa … Read more State of mind: The end of personality as we know it
When it comes to adapting to the effects of climate change, scientists and policymakers are thinking too small, according to a new research review. The authors argue that society should focus less on how individuals respond to such climate issues as flooding and wildfires and instead figure out what it takes to inspire collective action … Read more Adapting to climate change: We’re doing it wrong
Women who find bearded men less attractive may be deterred due to their potential risk for carrying ticks, bugs and lice, according to a University of Queensland study published today. Senior author Dr Barnaby Dixson from UQ’s School of Psychology said the findings suggested that when women judged men for their eligibility as a partner … Read more What puts women off bearded men?
A growing body of research shows that the behavior of peers has a significant influence on an individual’s energy-related decisions, whether it’s choosing to install solar panels or to purchase a hybrid vehicle. In short, personal energy choices can be contagious. But why exactly that occurs is less clear. In a new paper, an interdisciplinary team of … Read more Energy choices can be contagious – but why? New insights into peer influence
Surveys show that consumers are worried that smart speakers are eavesdropping on their conversations and day-to-day lives. Now University of British Columbia researchers have found that people are also concerned about something else: friends, family and others who may have access to these devices. The team spoke to 26 Canadian adults who used shared smart … Read more UBC research shows more needs to be done to alleviate user concerns about privacy and security
Humans began transporting and growing banana in Vanuatu 3000 years ago, a University of Otago scientist has discovered. The discovery is the earliest evidence of humans taking and cultivating banana in to what was the last area of the planet to be colonised. In an article published this week in Nature Human Behaviour, Dr Monica … Read more 3000-year-old teeth solve Pacific banana mystery
A new study, published in Royal Society Open Science, sheds light on the origins and evolution of European sign languages. Using phylogenetic network methods to compare dozens of sign languages, the scholars identify five main European sign language lineages that dispersed to other parts of the world beginning in the late 18th century. Natural human languages … Read more Interdisciplinary study reveals new insights into the evolution of signed languages
They might not yet speak in complete sentences, but 18-month-olds are savvy when it comes to deciding when and how to try. According to a study from Arizona State University, the University of Washington and University of Toronto that has implications for how people learn, infants do not try things at random or simply mimic … Read more Infants integrate firsthand and social experiences to decide when and how to try