The common food additives altered mice microbiomes to encourage gut inflammation and overeating. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Although clinical guidelines assume just two years for hot flashes and night sweats, a large study finds a median symptom duration of more than three times that length. Dina Fine Maron reports   

Choosing a user name starting with a letter appearing earlier in the alphabet is just one scientifically vetted way to increase the odds of turning an online encounter into a first date. Christopher Intagliata reports

High-tech pedometers do a decent job of counting steps accurately. Dina Fine Maron reports.

High-calorie and exceedingly pleasurable foods appear to change rat brain rewards circuitry, causing the rodents to continue to seek such fare. Erika Beras reports

Parkinson’s patients derived more benefits from a salt solution they were told was an expensive drug than from the same solution when it was described as being cheap medication. Karen Hopkin reports

Some 42 percent of U.S. adults who drink have been prescribed a drug that may interact negatively with alcohol. Dina Fine Maron reports

Strains of the lab workhorse roundworm C. elegans that lived longer added more time being frail and had the same portion of their lives being healthy as normal worms. The work has implications for life-extension ideas such as caloric restriction. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Researchers tracked 70,000 for decades to find lifestyle clues for better cardiovascular condition. Dina Fine Maron reports

Of studies presented at conferences, those that found a cognitive benefit to bilingualism were almost twice as likely to get published in journals as were studies finding no benefit. Karen Hopkin reports  

Volunteers who read from an iPad before bed took longer to fall asleep and had less restful nights than when they read from a printed book. Dina Fine Maron reports.  

Implicit bias against another race lessened after volunteers experienced themselves via virtual reality as a member of that race. Karen Hopkin reports  

Nonpasteurized milk is fueling more outbreaks and hospitalizations. Dina Fine Maron reports

Levels of a protein fragment in the blood paralleled how long head injuries benched hockey players. Ingrid Wickelgren reports

Careful tracking of more than 50,000 women during the six weeks after the procedure finds that serious adverse effects are rare. Dina Fine Maron reports  

If you're in an up mood, you may walk more energetically. But a study finds that purposefully walking more energetically may improve your mood. Christie Nicholson reports  

People with type 2 diabetes in middle age had greater cognitive impairment in the following decades than did their nondiabetic counterparts. Dina Fine Maron reports  

The World Health Organization issues a new report on the neglected public health issue of drowning

A 10-second makeout session can also transfer some 80 million oral bacteria. Dina Fine Maron reports

A first-of-its-kind study finds it’s possible to analyze snake DNA left in a bite victim’s wound to identify the species—and thus the correct antivenom. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Subjects who kept pace with a walking colleague estimated a potential enemy to be smaller and lighter than did other walkers who were not marching. Karen Hopkin reports  

Young adults who’d had highly controlling parents were less able to stress their own viewpoints to a friend or partner in confident and productive ways. Daisy Yuhas reports  

Diagnostics, vaccines and new drugs could vastly improve the way future Ebola outbreaks manifest in Africa, according to emerging infectious disease expert Jeremy Farrar. Steve Mirsky reports  

Should Ebola continue to crop up in the U.S., having fewer people coming to emergency rooms with the similar symptoms of flu will help the public health system respond. Steve Mirsky reports  

Physically active children are healthier and score better on intellectual tests than their sedentary peers. Dina Fine Maron reports

In a bid to boost fitness, new park benches in Moscow will let sitters see their weight and receive health tips. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Absence from work due to illness increased dramatically for those who slept less than six hours or more than nine hours per night. Christie Nicholson reports  

A study in mice suggests that chemical changes that occur during dry roasting may increase the odds of an allergic reaction. Dina Fine Maron reports  

A new study reveals that bacteria associated with staph infections can hitch a ride in workers’ noses. Dina Fine Maron reports

The direction of your gaze when looking at someone offers an unconscious, automatic giveaway of whether your initial reaction is romance or sex. Christie Nicholson reports

People who had to strike up conversations on a subway later reported feeling happier than those who didn’t. Christie Nicholson reports.

Sisters spend double the time caring for parents as their brothers. Dina Fine Maron reports

Survey subjects rated life experiences as making them happier and as a better use of money than buying objects. But they actually spent their cash on material goods, whose value is more easily quantifiable. Erika Beras reports

In Chicago monitoring Twitter for reports of food poisoning led to 133 restaurant inspections for health violations, with 21 establishments shut down. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Children who experience neglect, abuse and/or poverty can have smaller amygdalas and hippocampuses, brain regions involved in emotion and memory, compared with kids raised in nurturing environments. Christie Nicholson reports  

Patients in low-income zip codes were up to 10 times more likely to lose a leg or foot than diabetic patients in more affluent zip codes. Dina Fine Maron reports

Monkeys trained to play fixed video games made moves indicating that they expected certain patterns to occur. Erika Beras reports  

An analysis of 130,000 runners in events during a seven-year span revealed that competitors were 10 times more likely to experience heat stroke than serious cardiac problems. Dina Fine Maron reports

Researchers studying anesthetized rats discovered a handful of activity patterns that may mark the path to consciousness after anesthesia. Karen Hopkin reports  

When refilled prescriptions for post–heart attack care resulted in the same medication looking different in shape or color, patients were significantly more likely to stop taking their meds. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Headbanging can cause pain or even whiplash. But a 50-year-old Motörhead fan developed a more serious condition, bleeding in the brain that required surgical repair, after headbanging at a concert. Dina Fine Maron reports  

The ReWalk exoskeleton allows some people paralyzed from the waist down to walk again, with the aid of crutches. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Mice regularly exposed to UV light produced feel-good endorphins and behaved like addicts. If humans do, too, it could explain why we seek sun, despite damage. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Our ability to pinpoint pain varies across the body, and in a specific pattern. Christie Nicholson reports  

A helmet placed on the head of a stroke victim sends low-intensity microwaves through the brain to quickly determine whether a blockage or hemorrhage is taking place, making faster treatment possible. Wayt Gibbs reports  

Researchers who compared peer-reviewed articles to the Wikipedia pages for the 10 most costly medical conditions in the U.S. discovered incorrect information on nine out of 10 pages. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Compared with 50 years ago, today's heroin user is whiter, more suburban and had prescription opioids for a gateway. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Researchers could tell what sounds blindfolded volunters were hearing by analyzing activity in their visual cortexes. Christie Nicholson reports  

Low-power laser light shined on damaged rat teeth activates growth factors that cue stem cells to generate the tooth constituent dentin, leading to regeneration.  Dina Fine Maron reports  

Thirty-three families allowed themselves to be recorded for up to six nights. Parents who said they supported corporal punishment did it often and with little provocation. Christie Nicholson reports  

Children of smokers who popped vitamin C during pregnancy had better lung function than kids of other women who also smoked during pregnancy. Dina Fine Maron reports  

In a study covering five different countries, subjects reported feeling best on the days when they practiced what are considered extroverted actions. Christie Nicholson reports  

Food’s texture in your mouth—also called “mouthfeel” or “oral haptics”—influences estimates of calorie counts. And people might eat more crunchy stuff assuming (often incorrectly) it has fewer calories than softer fare. Christie Nicholson reports  

Just a few nail drying sessions under the highest output UV bulbs used in some salons could age the skin and bump up the risk of skin cancer. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Sneeze and cough particles form a cloud whose turbulence pulls in surrounding air, which allows the goop to maintain buoyancy and move farther than expected. Cynthia Graber reports

Teenage drivers who have a high sensitivity to stress actually have lower rates of car accidents than their more mellow friends. Christie Nicholson reports  

What's being called "nomophobia," the anxiety of not having your mobile phone with you, may be a real condition among teens, at least according to two recent studies out of South Korea, the world’s most connected nation. Larry Greenemeier reports  

Exposure to bright light in the morning appears linked to reduced appetite and lower body weight, regardless of sleep patterns. Sophie Bushwick reports  

Girls who played with dolls were then asked about future careers. Those who played with Barbie more likely to envision traditional pink-collar jobs than were girls who played with Mrs. Potato Head. Erika Beras reports  

Residues of the antimicrobial agent triclosan can paradoxically boost bacterial growth in our bodies, by giving microbes a comfortable biofilm in which to rest. Christopher Intagliata reports  

Children who heard descriptions of animals behaving like humans were less likely to attribute to a real animal a newly learned biological fact than were kids who heard realistic information. Christie Nicholson reports  

The number of Americans aged 60 or more who issued advance directives governing their end-of-life care went from 47 percent in 2000 to 72 percent in 2010. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Bones are filled with a viscous fluid that’s key to their function as support structures, and which could inform osteoporosis research. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Moms were better able to sway a child's perception of risk when they explained the reasons an activity was dangerous and its possible consequences rather than just saying no. Christie Nicholson reports  

Adults who had been members of gangs in their adolescence had poorer outcomes on a variety of measures, including physical and mental health, than those who'd never been in a gang. Christie Nicholson reports  

Stan Conte, vice president of medical services for the L.A. Dodgers, advised parents and coaches of young athletes to not consider Tommy John surgery on healthy arms for the sake of improving performance. He spoke at the SABR conference in Phoenix on March 13. Steve Mirsky reports  

After flu shot regulations upped Connecticut kids' vaccination rate, their hospitalization risk went down. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Babies learning speech figure out what an object is by listening to others talk about what that object does. Christie Nicholson reports  

The mere presence of a TV in a child's bedroom is linked with weight gain—regardless of how many hours per week a youngster watches it. Dina Fine Maron reports

Recent and easily retrievable information can overwrite the details of memories, thus altering them in your mind. Christie Nicholson reports

Volunteers who handled receipts containing the hormone-altering compound bisphenol A for two hours showed elevated BPA levels in their urine. Dina Fine Maron reports

People who played instruments as children responded a bit quicker to complex speech sounds as adults, even if they had not played an instrument in many years. Erika Beras reports

A meta-analysis finds that concussions accounted for between 6 and 9 percent of all injuries sustained on soccer fields. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Psychologists found that encouraging newlywed couples to watch romance flicks, and then discuss them cut the three-year divorce rate in half. Christie Nicholson reports

The CDC reports that locally acquired Dengue killed a Texas woman in 2012 who had been misdiagnosed with West Nile virus. Dina Fine Maron reports  

A study of more than 600 asthmatic children at one Ohio hospital found that if the kids’ saliva tested positive for markers of nicotine exposure, the children were about twice as likely to be readmitted over the next year for breathing issues. Dina Fine Maron reports  

A meta-analysis of 47 previously published studies concludes that there's moderate evidence for meditation offering some relief of anxiety and depression, and low or insufficient evidence for effects on other conditions. Christie Nicholson reports  

People who drank vodka with a diet mixer had breath alcohol levels 18 percent higher than when they drank alcohol with full-calorie soda. Sophie Bushwick reports

Brain-training games seem to temporarily improve specific tasks, but claims that they can improve overall brain function have yet to be proved. Christie Nicholson reports

Between 1999 and 2010 changes in seafood consumption meant that blood levels of mercury in women of childbearing age dropped by a third, and the percentage of such women who have worrisome blood levels of mercury dropped by two thirds. Dina Fine Maron reports

Computer-use affects the brain's ability to generalize the skill of moving a mouse. Christie Nicholson reports

In annual physicals teens and docs failed to talk sex a third of the time and usually too briefly when the subject was addressed. Dina Fine Maron reports

A survey of 2500 Americans finds that despite many knowing about Jolie's preventive double mastectomy, most remain in the dark about breast cancer risk. Christie Nicholson reports

Middle-aged to elderly adults with no history of exercising still saw significant health benefits from even small additions of regular physical activity to their schedules. Dina Fine Maron reports

Scores on standardized tests may go up but a student's ability for abstract and logical thinking may not improve. Christie Nicholson reports

A population model suggests that a small dietary change, such as eating a daily piece of fruit instead of the equivalent calories in less healthful fare, may stave off as many heart-related deaths as would statins. Christopher Intagliata reports

If you want to catch someone in a lie, you'll raise your odds in the afternoons, as most people are more likely to cheat or lie then as opposed to the morning. Christie Nicholson reports

Swaddling infants is safe when done correctly. But done wrong, it raises the risk of osteoarthritis and the need for hip replacement in middle age. Dina Fine Maron reports

If you over-eat or under-eat as a reaction to stress, don't worry, your body may compensate to balance you over time. Christie Nicholson reports

Based on the number of searches for info about smoking cessation on Google, it appears more people consider quitting on Mondays than any other day. Dina Fine Maron reports

An analysis of TV drug ads finds that six of 10 for prescription drugs and eight of 10 for OTC drug ads are misleading. Katherine Harmon reports.

Looking at photos of food can lead us to become bored with other similar foods. Christie Nicholson reports

Exposure to a fearful memory while in deep sleep may help reduce the fear. Christie Nicholson reports

In a group experiment, members who donated the least and the most to the community were both ostracized. Amy Kraft reports

It appears we might be born with the knowledge that living things have insides and are not hollow. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent experiment finds that when people are about to lie via digital text they take longer to construct their words. Christie Nicholson reports

No measurable increase in risk for neurological conditions could be found in a large cohort of pre-adolescent children who had been vaccinated on schedule when infants. Wayt Gibbs reports

Turns out that if we think something looks like trash then we probably won't bother recycling it. Christie Nicholson reports

In a study of patients asked to tolerate discomfort, different placebo treatments achieved different levels of relief, in keeping with individual expectations. Katherine Harmon reports

Understanding that, for example, anorexics and autists both tend to have high interest in systems could inform treatment choices. Erika Beras reports

Changes in youth football practices cut total hits to the head in half, while leaving game situations unaffected. Ingrid Wickelgren reports.

Women who ate half of 1,400 daily calories at breakfast lost almost 80 percent more weight than women who ate half their 1,400 calories at dinner. Katherine Harmon reports

People ate less of a portion of food if it was labeled "double-size" rather than "regular." Karen Hopkin reports

When it comes to news or political statements, the more powerful the speaker the more we are likely to believe them. Christie Nicholson reports

The lone star tick has been fingered as the carrier of a recently characterized infectious disease called Heartland virus. Katherine Harmon reports

A survey of thousands finds that our mood during the young adult years is a good predictor of later happiness in retirement. Christie Nicholson reports

Our feline friends might be carrying hazardous organisms in their waste, so be careful when scooping that poop. Katherine Harmon reports

Fighting couples don't want an apology, but rather for one partner to relinquish power. Christie Nicholson reports

Sleep deprivation raises levels of hormones associated with hunger, and provides more awake hours for eating. Katherine Harmon reports

A study finds that large, expansive body postures may influence people's honesty. Christie Nicholson reports

A small group of type 2 diabetes patients lost significant amounts of fat around their hearts and in their livers and abdomens with regular exercise, even without dietary changes. Katherine Harmon reports

A particular type of meditation training led study subjects to become more altruistic. Christie Nicholson reports

Run-of-the-mill neutral running shoes do not lead to more injuries for beginning joggers whose feet pronate or supinate. Katherine Harmon reports

Overweight patients are more likely to take weight-loss advice from overweight doctors, but the advice from thin doctors may be of higher quality. Katherine Harmon reports

Many women complained about memory loss during menopause, but a recent study provides the evidence. Christie Nicholson reports

Participants in a media-assisted weight-loss program had some success, and those who tweeted about their efforts lost a bit more. Karen Hopkin reports

It seems that those with high IQs have a beneficial quirk in their ability to perceive a moving scene. Christie Nicholson

Exercisers who worked out to a video featuring a verbally encouraging gym buddy showed lower stamina than those who watched the muted video. Amy Kraft reports

Rather than significantly hardening tooth enamel, fluoride may cut cavities by making it harder for oral bacteria to stick around. Karen Hopkin reports

When facing a lot of choice, it is best to decide on one option and then physically shut off all others. Christie Nicholson reports

The brains of psychopaths react differently to images of someone being hurt than the brains of non-psychopaths. Christie Nicholson reports

We tend to diminish the value of money earned through questionable means. Christie Nicholson reports

A long-term survey of more than 10,000 people finds that green spaces make for better moods. Christie Nicholson reports

Sleep plays a crucial role in better memory. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study of macaque monkeys finds that those who are of middle status tend to experience the most stress. Christie Nicholson reports

If you are in a bad mood don't try to comfort yourself with unhealthy food. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study finds that a meditation practice improved Graduate Record Exam scores. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study finds that we might think of time as though we are literally moving through it. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study takes a closer look at the sexting habits of one particular subgroup within teens. Christie Nicholson reports

Researchers have found that people who study languages tend to show significant growth in certain areas of the brain. Christie Nicholson reports

A study finds that three-year-old children know a lot more than we might give them credit for. Christie Nicholson reports

We tend to overestimate how rare our names are, perhaps in an effort to preserve a sense of being special. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study finds that we can instill our emotions in others through chemical signals delivered by scent. Christie Nicholson reports

Two or more drinks cut REM sleep, which is important for memory and health. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds that we tend to recognize words associated with positive thoughts faster after we've had some coffee. Christie Nicholson reports

A new study finds that diapers, both disposable and cloth, impede walking for babies. Christie Nicholson reports

New smart phone apps that purport to assess patients' skin lesions as cancer or not are unreliable, according to a new study. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study shows that images of thin women do in fact alter women's body preferences. Christie Nicholson reports

The errors known as surgical "never events," which are never supposed to happen, still occur some 4,000 times annually in the U.S. Katherine Harmon reports

Michael C. Hall, of TV's Dexter, talks about psychopathy with psychologist Kevin Dutton, author of The Wisdom of Psychopaths

Dan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty, explains how creativity makes us better liars--even to ourselves

Volunteers who spent at least four days hiking with no communications or computing technology scored higher on creativity tests upon their return than did a control group. Rose Eveleth reports

The American Chemical Society has produced a YouTube video with info to help you survive the holiday eating season. Katherine Harmon reports

Weather prediction models armed with citizens' flu symptom query data enable researchers to predict flu outbreaks. Katherine Harmon reports

Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder were more likely to have experienced violence or abuse in civilian life, especially during childhood. Karen Hopkin reports

People who score higher on negative personality traits know how to look hotter when they try harder than do those with more stable characters. Christie Nicholson reports

A study finds that patients who enter information online about common infections get decent diagnoses from docs, although antibiotics may be overprescribed. Katherine Harmon reports.

New research finds a way to break an embedded habit, even a bad habit, at least for mice. Christie Nicholson reports

Blindfolded subjects were able to successfully use a plastic version of a rat's whisker to help them detect objects. Christie Nicholson reports

Patients know that health care workers should wash their hands, but are are often reluctant to ask a doctor or nurse to lather up. Katherine Harmon reports

Just a couple of hours of physical activity each week adds years to average life expectancy. Katherine Harmon reports

A women who settles down with what she considers to be a stable man might not find him all that attractive while she is ovulating. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study finds that when we can easily quantify a good we tend to be less happy with it, as opposed to those goods that are less easily quantifiable. Christie Nicholson reports

Researchers develop a model for how we find certain sounds, like nails on a chalkboard, unbearable. Christie Nicholson reports

A small study finds that sleep-deprived fat cells are less sensitive to insulin, a condition that often precedes diabetes. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent twist on the famous "marshmallow test" for children finds that environment and experience play a big role in a child's ability to resist temptation. Christie Nicholson reports

Young adults at risk for getting a sexually acquired infection were more likely to use a condom if they followed a social media's sex education campaign. Katherine Harmon reports

Patients are more likely to follow doctors' orders if they have access to their notes. Katherine Harmon reports

We tend to notice sounds that appear much more often and accurately than sounds that vanish. Christie Nicholson reports

Obese kids have higher cardiovascular risks as adults, and sugary beverages are stoking that obesity epidemic. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds that where we sign a document can influence our tendency to be honest or cheat. Christie Nicholson reports

Making bad choices harder is actually the best way to help people get healthier, say public health experts. Katherine Harmon reports

New research finds that prenuptial doubt predicts marital separation, especially when that doubt comes from the bride. Christie Nicholson reports

This year has had the most recorded cases of West Nile virus on record in the U.S. Public health experts offer tips to avoid the virus. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds that when people are stimulated by fear, they tend to be more engaged with art. Christie Nicholson reports

Produce grown organically cuts pesticide use and the promotion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But nutrient levels appear similar to conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Katherine Harmon reports

Making decisions faster may improve the accuracy of choosing the guilty person from a police lineup. Christie Nicholson reports

Being in good shape in your 30s through 50s not only increases life span but also improves quality of life for decades to come. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds that we might often choose brands and products for reasons that have nothing to do with the actual brand or product. Christie Nicholson reports

Better sidewalks and other changes to the physical environment could encourage more activity and improve the overall health of the public. Katherine Harmon reports

A new survey of college students finds that attitudes toward gender and promiscuity are changing. Christie Nicholson reports

A Mayo Clinic doc says physicians may miss the signs of extreme deconditioning and prescribe medication instead of long-term exercise programs. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds evidence for why hoarders might be considered separate from those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Christie Nicholson reports

Six months after color coding its food choices as least, somewhat or most healthful, Massachusetts General Hospital saw its cafeteria users substantially decreased their least healthful food choices and increase the more healthful ones. Katherine Harmon reports

A study finds that unstable furniture can influence how we feel about our relationships. Christie Nicholson reports

The most common chronic condition among all Olympic athletes is asthma. But many don't start suffering symptoms until their later years, suggesting that endurance training could be a trigger. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent research finds that different forms of multitasking can impact our performance much more than others. Christie Nicholson reports

M.I.T. researchers used real traveler patterns, geographical information and airport waiting times to predict what U.S. airports are most likely to spread an epidemic from its origin. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent survey finds considerable differences in how men and women view attraction between male and female friends

Dieting women who kept a diligent food diary lost more weight than other women in a cohort. Skipping meals and eating out slowed weight loss. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds that who we socialize with can influence our eating behavior. Christie Nicholson reports

Normal mice fed protein stopped eating much sooner than mice that lacked the receptor to sense they were eating protein. Katherine Harmon reports

Researchers have found that time spent deliberating on a decision actually exacerbates the difficulty in making that decision. Christie Nicholson reports

New research finds that we tend to care more about the success of future generations when we are faced with our own mortality. Christie Nicholson reports

Sixteen ounces of coffee a day cut the risk of heart failure, but 40 daily ounces of coffee upped the odds of ticker trouble. Katherine Harmon reports

It may be a good thing to be confused during the learning process. Christie Nicholson reports

A new study locates the bacterial hot spots of your hotel room. Tip: don't turn anything on. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent research finds that a solid grade school knowledge of fractions and long-form division accurately predicts later success in high school math. Christie Nicholson reports

Hospital sounds raised volunteer sleepers' heart rates, and the effects on sick patients may be impeding recovery. Katherine Harmon reports

New research suggests that testosterone may make us more aggressive without us consciously feeling any aggression. Christie Nicholson reports

Daily aspirin could lower the risk of dying from some nonvascular-related diseases, including specific cancers. Katherine Harmon reports

Performance in different kinds of sports benefits from specific types of motivational "self-talk." Christie Nicholson reports

A small study shows that a little blood loss might improve cardiovascular health for obese people with metabolic syndrome. Katherine Harmon reports

Subjects who watched a hand being pricked by a needle while they received a gentle electric shock felt more pain than others who watched gentler material. Rose Eveleth reports

A large survey finds evidence that millions of Americans had at least one episode of sleepwalking in the last year. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds that we tend to view meat consumption as being more masculine than vegetarianism. Christie Nicholson reports

Car commutes are linked to increased metabolic health problems, and the longer the ride the worse the issues. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study shows that strong pro-vaccine messaging might have an unintended impact. Christie Nicholson reports

Workers who turned off their e-mail had lower stress and did less multitasking compared with co-workers who left their in-boxes open. Sophie Bushwick reports

The conventional wisdom that pacifiers can interfere with early breast-feeding efforts might not hold milk. Katherine Harmon reports

New research finds that keeping a secret can make you feel as if you are physically burdened. Christie Nicholson reports

The anterior cerebral artery widens just before brain freeze, sending warming blood to the brain but increasing the pressure to painful levels. Katherine Harmon reports

A forthcoming study finds that keeping busy with selfless tasks greatly expands our perception of how much time we have. Christie Nicholson reports

Fast food chains say it's hard to hold the salt, but outlets in other countries are already cutting back on sodium. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds that men are perceived to be strong and large if they are carrying a deadly weapon. Christie Nicholson reports

Women who wish to conceive later in life have benefited from improvements in reproductive technology. But even those have expiration dates. Katherine Harmon reports

New research has found significant discrepancies between how much people think they weigh and how much they actually weigh. Christie Nicholson reports

Boys get more outside playtime than girls, and almost half of parents do not take their preschool-aged kids out to play once a day. Katherine Harmon reports

People who ate chocolate frequently consumed more calories and more saturated fat, yet had lower average body mass indexes than those who did not eat chocolate. Katherine Harmon reports

Researchers find that how soon we sleep after learning new information impacts how well we retain it. Christie Nicholson reports

People take smaller bites of food that has a strong smell. Could more aroma help people lose weight? Katherine Harmon reports

A new study has found a strong correlation between how much your mind wanders and your working memory capacity. Christie Nicholson reports

Yoga may increase parasympathetic nervous system activity and neurotransmitter levels, helping to decrease symptoms of some stress-related illnesses. Katherine Harmon reports

New research finds a relatively simple method to increase your capacity for self-control. Christie Nicholson reports

Signals to improve muscle tone alter the expression of genes after just one workout. Katherine Harmon reports

When our body needs something, like food, the brain tends to open a fast track for perceiving that specific thing. Christie Nicholson reports

The teen brain suffers more long-term damage from concussions than does the child or adult brain. Katherine Harmon reports

Two recent studies find that dehydration not only affects your body but your mood as well. Christie Nicholson reports

Chromosome-protecting telomeres are shorter in people with depression--which has been linked to irregular stress hormone levels. Katherine Harmon reports

A team of psychologists reviewed online dating sites and their conclusions are not promising. Christie Nicholson reports

After a heart attack, cells from the patient's bone marrow can help improve heart function. Katherine Harmon reports

If we think of time as money, we might be undermining our ability to enjoy free time. Christie Nicholson reports

A smart-phone app in development for depression patients tracks contacts and movement, and prompts activities when patterns show withdrawal. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study shows that it's multiple blows to the head that lead to a concussion in football. Christie Nicholson reports

Manuka honey stopped a skin strep in its tracks. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds that where the itch begins says a lot about how bad it is--and how pleasurable the scratch. Christie Nicholson reports

Men with more brown fat burn more calories in the cold to keep warm. Katherine Harmon reports

Extreme lack of sleep might make one more susceptible to food imagery, making us feel hungrier than we actually are. Christie Nicholson reports

When dishes were the same color as the food served, people took bigger portions. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study finds that when men perceive that there are few women, they'll spend more money. Christie Nicholson reports

A penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened drinks would cut consumption, obesity and health care costs. Katherine Harmon reports

A new study finds that the inevitable cognitive decline we all face starts earlier than we originally thought. Christie Nicholson reports

A meta-analysis finds that keeping kids active also boosts their academic performances. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent studies have found that the elderly may respond more slowly to specific tasks, but not because their cognitive skills are slower. Christie Nicholson reports

Obesity and high-fat diets might alter brain function, changing, in particular, the hypothalamus and hunger. Katherine Harmon reports

Adults and children hear their own voice and use it as feedback to monitor their speech, but it seems that young toddlers do not. Christie Nicholson reports

Norovirus, famous for ruining cruises, sickened successive crews and passengers on an Air New Zealand plane. Katherine Harmon reports

What used to be thought of as a symptom of a speech disorder might now be a hot trend in vocal style among rock stars and young women. Christie Nicholson reports

After decades of working on health problems in Haiti and other poor countries, Paul Farmer suggests equity is the best way to better health. Katherine Harmon reports

A recent study has found that we do not tend to hold individual members of a group responsible for their individual actions. Christie Nicholson reports

In rural Nepal volunteer motorcyclists are transporting snakebite victims to medical care soon enough to cut deaths by 95 percent. Katherine Harmon reports

Researchers test a famous ethical dilemma called the "trolley problem" in a very real setting. Christie Nicholson reports

A specialized form of brain imaging finds that soccer players who head the ball more than 1,000 times a year face risks similar to those with head trauma. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds that dreams may help consolidate and soothe troubled memories and experiences. Christie Nicholson reports

Many meat and poultry products probably carry drug-resistant bacteria before cooking. Katherine Harmon reports

Glucose can block brain cell secretion of orexin, which keeps us alert. But amino acids can stop that block. Christie Nicholson reports

One in five Americans has their daily life affected by hearing loss--and earbuds blaring loud music may be just a small factor. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds that scantily-clad women and men are judged in similar ways. Christie Nicholson reports

Common grapefruits have a compound that can negatively interact with some medications. A new hybrid grapefruit solves the problem. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds support for the theory that brains excel when we cooperate. At least in duet-singing wrens. Christie Nicholson reports

A computer training program improves how oncologists respond to negative patients. Katherine Harmon reports

Halloween reminds us that we love to be scared. But too much of anything is not good. Christie Nicholson reports

People who took at least one of their blood pressure medications before going to bed had a reduced risk of circulatory problems compared with morning pill poppers. Katherine Harmon reports

A new study finds that the humor gap between the sexes is more stereotype than reality. Christie Nicholson reports

Hair care pros often spot possible skin cancers on the scalp. Dermatologists recommend they be trained to do it more and better. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent research finds that body language significantly improves how well we are understood by our audience. Christie Nicholson reports

People with genetic variant 9p21, which predisposes them to heart disease, lowered their risk with a healthful diet. Katherine Harmon reports

Research shows that young children tend to think that naturally occurring objects like pinecones or rocks cannot be owned. Christie Nicholson reports

Researchers looking to expand our knowledge of viruses should dip into some raw sewage. Katherine Harmon reports

A study in the journal Public Library of Science ONE finds that many judge race based on types of clothing. Christie Nicholson reports

Singing therapy is often used to restore fluency to sufferers of speech disorders due to stroke. Recent research found, however, it may not be the singing itself that helps. Christie Nicholson reports

Many U.S. physicians think that their patients and their patient's purses could get by with less medical care. Katherine Harmon reports

The influenza virus is hiding and changing in animal populations. Virologist Ab Osterhaus explains how that could make it more lethal and how we have to keep a constant eye on its development. Katherine Harmon reports

Scientists have been searching for an accurate way to measure pain beyond a patient's self-report, but to no avail. A recent study might have found one possible solution. Christie Nicholson reports

A hearing study of experienced musicians found they had a better chance than non-musicians of avoiding the hearing loss associated with aging. Christie Nicholson reports

Dealing with any one of five key lifestyle risk factors can lower the risk of developing diabetes by about a third. Katherine Harmon reports

Yellowing of the eye lenses changes the array of incoming light wavelengths, which can affect circadian rhythms, including sleep patterns. Katherine Harmon reports

Research has found that ritual and context influences us to eat too much with no regard for quality. Christie Nicholson reports

An analysis of the Gallop World Poll finds that there is an association with religion and increased happiness, but only in societies that lack adequate social support. Christie Nicholson reports

For picking off pimples, few reliable studies exist to show clear benefits of one treatment over another. Katherine Harmon reports

Married women gain weight but survive bypass surgery better than unmarried people do. Katherine Harmon reports on two studies

Children who have a good sense of numbers also tend to have a talent for arithmetic, even before formal training. Christie Nicholson reports

A nightcap may force the body to work harder at repair during sleep, making for a less restful night. Katherine Harmon reports

Research has found that giving away the best part of a story at the beginning actually makes it more enjoyable. Christie Nicholson reports

Eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink offers tips on fooling yourself into eating less. Katherine Harmon reports

The Canadian Sports Concussion Project announced the results from brain autopsies of four CFL football players. Two of the players suffered from the degenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Christie Nicholson reports

The alternative therapy of colon cleansing typically does little good, and may cause significant harm. Katherine Harmon reports

Panic attacks seem to come out of nowhere, but research finds symptoms appear up to one hour before the sufferer is aware of the attack. Christie Nicholson reports

Hospitals are hiring Disney to help them create environments that patients prefer. Katherine Harmon reports

People who have trouble understanding health and medical information are more likely to get hospitalized. Katherine Harmon reports

Compulsive gamblers seeking treatment were more impulsive and more likely to be superstitious than were non-gamblers. Steve Mirsky reports

A new study says high sodium and low potassium intake are the twin culprits in many cardiovascular syndromes. Katherine Harmon reports

The Nurses' Health Study finds that the risk of death from sudden cardiac arrest in white women can be lowered by 92 percent through lifestyle maintenance alone. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent research finds that taking a hot bath can cure loneliness. Christie Nicholson reports

In the last decade, more than a billion people have seen improved water safety and sanitation. But 800 million are still at risk of water-borne disease. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent research finds that our vices can be held back when we use cash instead of credit cards at the grocery store. Christie Nicholson reports

Many blood pressure assessments rely on too few measurements in an intimidating environment. Katherine Harmon reports

A study of 25 young gang and group members in South Wales found that they wanted dogs less as weapons or protection and mostly for companionship and socialization. Steve Mirsky reports

Having pets in the house during a baby's first year was associated with a lower risk for allergies through the child's teens. Katherine Harmon reports

Research finds that a cop who testified that he ran past a beating without seeing it could be telling the truth. Christie Nicholson reports

Mice fed an alternating high-fat and low-fat diet lived almost as long as mice on a constant low-fat diet--and longer than mice on a constant high-fat diet. Katherine Harmon reports

Research has found that dyscalculia, a learning disability focused around number and math concepts, is as common as dyslexia. Christie Nicholson reports

A study in a hospital in Turkey found that three quarters of cell phones belonging to patients and visitors carried staph bacteria. Katherine Harmon reports

Recent research has confirmed that in blind subjects who use echolocation to navigate, it is the visual part of the brain that processes the auditory echoes. Christie Nicholson reports

On the drawing board are cars that would monitor the health markers of its passengers. Katherine Harmon reports

Powerful people often bend the rules, so if someone is a rule-breaker could they be perceived as powerful? Christie Nicholson reports

Discover how to successfully persuade others with these findings from a recent study on speech. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent review paper shows that we might not know ourselves as well as we think. Christie Nicholson reports

A study about the perception of neighborhoods reveals that our gut instinct based on the physical features of the neighborhood is highly accurate. Christie Nicholson reports

By just thinking about, or saying, certain words, people can control a computer cursor. Christie Nicholson reports

We think we should remove any ums and uhs when we talk, especially when teaching children language. New research finds that such pauses may be useful. Christie Nicholson reports

Research with chimpanzees finds that chimps yawn more around other yawning chimps from their own community than with those from a separate community. Christie Nicholson reports

Research finds that increased brain activity in key areas is tightly linked to an ability to control the tics caused by Tourette syndrome. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent assessment of undergrads reveals a gender difference in how the students see their bodies after their first sexual intercourse. Christie Nicholson reports

Research shows that when we practice self-restraint, we also tend to prefer aggressive messaging and movies. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research in the journal Psychological Science found that righties tend to prefer the right side of anything (spatially speaking) and lefties the left. Christie Nicholson reports

Depression and anxiety have very different influences on how we perceive physical symptoms. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study with teenage male songbirds finds that they can suddenly have a surge of tweeting talent when they are placed in the presence of a female bird. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research in the journal Psychological Science reveals that infant attachment styles might influence our ability to recover from fights with our romantic partners. Christie Nicholson reports

Volunteers could endure an uncomfortable stimulus longer when they looked at the affected body part, and even longer if the part appeared enlarged

Research to be published this summer finds that the use of cannabis is associated with the early onset of psychosis. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research shows that even infants have a bias to think that big means alpha. Christie Nicholson reports

A study published this week finds that an eight-week meditation course leads to structural changes in the brain. Christie Nicholson reports

Data analysis from the popular online dating site OkCupid finds that the women who get the most attention from men are rated by many men as unattractive. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent survey performed by the Tufts Medical Center finds that many would take a predictive test for prostate cancer. Christie Nicholson reports

This New Year's as we reflect on our experiences with friends and family we might think about forgiveness, both given and received. Philosopher Charles Griswold provides some guidance. Christie Nicholson reports

Research from wild baboons provides insight into perhaps the best way to combat daily, psychological stress. During this holiday season it might bring some comfort. Christie Nicholson reports

Richard Easterlin wrote a paper back in the 1970s showing that increased income doesn't correlate with increased happiness. Last week he published an update on that paper. Christie Nicholson reports

What is the telltale clue to a genuine smile? Recent research finds positive correlations with this honest show of emotion. Christie Nicholson reports

Research released today in Nature Neuroscience finds that we are are more likely to be tricked by a visual illusion if we have a smaller amount of brain real estate devoted to visual processing. Christie Nicholson reports

The emerging field of cultural neuroscience reveals fascinating differences in brain function between cultures and environments. Christie Nicholson reports

A study proposes that fear-based messaging about an issue like global warming may encourage the audience to dismiss it. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent Swedish study finds that teenagers put most of the blame for bullying behavior on the bully or the victim, and not on their peers or the school environment. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study finds that despite our efforts for parity between the sexes, male names still come first when referring to a couple. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent review advises us to beware of the gender differences found in brain-imaging studies. Christie Nicholson reports

Psychologist Liz Dunn spoke with us from the PopTech conference in Camden, Maine, about the link between greed and long-term health. Christie Nicholson reports

A certain amount of negative life events is correlated with an overall sense of life satisfaction and happiness. Christie Nicholson reports

Priming our mind with thoughts of time or money influences our future behavior. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study shows the negative impact that noise can have when one is attempting to predict where a tennis ball will land. Christie Nicholson reports

Research confirms that women tend to apologize much more frequently than men do, but there's a curious twist as to why this is the case. Christie Nicholson reports

We only consider scientists to be experts when their argument is in line with our own previously held beliefs. Christie Nicholson reports

The tools used by the commercial industry to detect our thoughts and brain states are very different, and somewhat limited, compared with those used in the research lab. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent review of studies on intoxication has determined that we are very bad at determining just how drunk someone is. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent survey analysis reveals that gen-Xers are more likely than baby boomers to remain loyal to religion. Christie Nicholson reports

A series of longitudinal studies done with nuns out of the University of Kentucky shows a significant relationship between linguistic ability early in life and the development of Alzheimer's later in life. Christie Nicholson reports

In a public lecture at the Banff Center for the Arts, science journalist Jay Ingram argues that climate change controversies have little to do with facts and findings. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent and exhaustive meta-analysis of scientific data shows that top psychology studies tend to make conclusions about human nature based on samples taken solely from Western undergraduate students. Christie Nicholson reports

When it comes to love, we're ambivalent about "opposites attract". Christie Nicholson reports

New research shows that rudeness between employees can have a far worse impact on a business than rudeness directed toward customers, or even employee incompetence. Christie Nicholson reports

A new study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology finds that mammals with larger brains tend to have longer life spans. Christie Nicholson reports

A new analysis reveals that bullies and victims share more similarities than we might think, with one stand-out difference. Christie Nicholson reports

Research in the journal Biological Psychiatry finds a potential physiological connection between multiple sclerosis and depression. Christie Nicholson reports

New research reveals that nearly all fights between romantic partners can be distilled into two fundamental complaints. Christie Nicholson reports

In a new book "The Invisible Gorilla and Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us," authors Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons show how little we know about our own knowledge. Christie Nicholson reports

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Alcoholics Anonymous continues to lead addicts to sobriety as long as they stick with it for the long haul. Christie Nicholson reports

A study of over one million men shows a link between IQ scores and attempted suicide. Christie Nicholson reports

Research presented at the conference of the Association for Psychological Science found that today's college students are far less empathic than their counterparts 30 years ago. Christie Nicholson reports

Research presented this week shows that exposure to a specific bacteria found in soil increases learning in mice. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent paper in the journal Nature finally brings some vindication to fMRI, one of the most popular methods used to study the brain. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research has found that mice make humanlike facial expressions when they are in pain. Christie Nicholson reports

Many studies suggest that risk-taking behavior in teens is due to the slow development of brain function that controls impulsivity. New research concludes it's not that simple. Christie Nicholson reports

Two classic auditory illusions. Try them out! Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study shows that when faced with a decision, it's best to take some time--relax and cool off--so logical thinking can guide us to the best choice. Christie Nicholson reports

A new approach to manipulating the brain with light is gaining increasing attention. Christie Nicholson reports

From literature to architecture, academics and entrepreneurs are using neuroscience to explain everything from why we like a complex narrative thread to why round tables are more social. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists find that when the area of the brain responsible for understanding the intent of others is disrupted, moral judgment is also affected. Christie Nicholson reports

Chronic pain may be due to an overabundance of a protein, which amplifies the pain signal to the brain. A drug that neutralizes this protein may provide the long-awaited relief. Christie Nicholson reports

Speaking at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Tex., new media scholar Clay Shirky argues that businesses are buckling under the pressure of the digital revolution because of a subtle quirk in human nature. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study analyzed 20,000 conversations and found that happiness strongly correlated with talkative people who went beyond the small talk. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research explores the effects of a schizophrenia risk factor (DISC1) and its influence over the onset of the disease. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science presented a mathematical model to predict criminal behavior and police success. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists found a way to detect the order of activity in two regions of the brain using fMRI. And they found that the brain can register something as highly emotional before it actually processes what that something is. Christie Nicholson reports

Sports psychologist Patrick Cohn discusses two types of athletes, and how to deal with pressure in the days before the big game. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research attempts to provide a more nuanced look at the long-held view that men are more jealous of sexual infidelity than emotional infidelity. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research in Current Biology finds that the ability to recognize faces is most likely heritable. Christie Nicholson reports

An interview with David Allen, best-selling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, on how to make and keep goals. Christie Nicholson reports

A worldwide study of nearly half a million boys and girls found no significant gender gap in math ability. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research finds that a feeling of entitlement to power can inspire hypocrisy. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research finds that we all have a tough time remembering names as we age. But for those with early Alzheimer's the decline is significant and includes forgetting biographical information, as well. Christie Nicholson reports

How we understand the location of our own body in space is culturally dependent. Christie Nicholson reports

Researchers are asking hockey players to give up their brains to study the long-term impact of concussions. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent study links fear of feeling anxious to depression. Christie Nicholson reports

This Thanksgiving how can we be certain we're sitting down with our genetically related family? Evolutionary psychology provides some food for thought. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research with chimps provides support for theories of how language evolved in humans. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research published in the journal Brain and Cognition finds that people can boost the number and quality of their original ideas when they increase the interaction between the brain's right and left hemispheres. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists have recently found that there are two brain pathways involved how we perceive our own thumping hearts. Christie Nicholson reports

When pursuing a mate for a short-term relationship, are we more interested in the face or the body? How about for a long-term relationship? Christie Nicholson reports

Psychologist Sam Gosling from the University of Texas reveals what we can predict about personalities by just looking at their stuff. Christie Nicholson reports

New research proves that the things we find funny often reveal somewhat hidden beliefs we hold. Christie Nicholson reports

Twenty three world-renowned psychologists write about what they still don't understand about themselves

As experts organize the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a debate has started on whether to include Internet addiction among our newest afflictions

A recent study finds SMS texting is not impacting young people's ability to spell. Christie Nicholson reports

A study in Applied Cognitive Science finds that we're likely to believe a doctored video over own memories of an event. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists have found an area of the brain that becomes highly active when we finally decide to explore the unknown. Christie Nicholson reports

A five-year study followed more than 1,700 children and found that depression in preschoolers is primarily predicted by two factors. Christie Nicholson reports

Lisa DeBruine of the University of Aberdeen proposes that the value of evolutionary psychology lies in its ability to inspire new questions about human behavior. Christie Nicholson reports

How will human-robot interaction affect our culture? A psychologist and artificial intelligence researcher share their predictions. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent debate erupted on Wikipedia concerning the public posting of popular interpretations of the Rorschach test. Christie Nicholson reports

A simulated neural network is able to predict the bets and wins/losses of gamblers. Christie Nicholson reports

Recently, the doubts and questions plaguing the theory of evolutionary psychology have boiled up to the mainstream press. Christie Nicholson reports

A psychology PhD student from the University of Sheffield shares her initial observations on how well local people understand the behavior of tornadoes. Christie Nicholson reports

Jacqui Wilmshurst, a PhD psychology student at the University of Sheffield, is spending summer in the field studying human reactions to severe weather and tornadoes. In this special longer-than-usual episode, she shares her initial findings. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research shows that people who have lived in a foreign country are more creative when it comes to solving problems. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent studies have shown that moving our body in certain ways can improve our ability to think. Christie Nicholson reports

President Obama's message to Arizona State University grads matches new research on how to live a fulfilled and happy life. Christie Nicholson reports

The other week headlines were crying out that Twitter, the microblogging platform, makes us immoral, but the study on which the claim was made did not mention social media. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists confirm what may seem obvious to some: what satisfies us in dating, does not predict how happy we'll be in marriage. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research from the American Institute of Physics has found that the our dreaming sleep begins much earlier than previously thought. Christie Nicholson reports

A paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA reports success in repairing damaged nerves in a system critical for human movement. Christie Nicholson reports

New research suggests that a police officer's ability to multitask influences the number of wrongful shootings. Christie Nicholson reports

The recent suicide of Sylvia Plath's son, Nicholas Hughes, makes us question whether suicidal tendency runs in families. But the science remains complex. Christie Nicholson reports

Research published in the journal Science last week shows the successful obliteration of a specific memory in mice. Christie Nicholson reports

Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA provides support to the critics of the idea that a God spot exists in the brain. Christie Nicholson reports

An interdisciplinary research group called the "Virtual Worlds Exploratorium" has started to analyze data from the online game EverQuest II, in order to find out more about real-life human behavior. Christie Nicholson reports

It will be a long time before machines can be "more human than human," as scientists are just starting to decode what happens inside our brains as we recognize a spoken word. Christie Nicholson reports.

A new study presented at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago shows that when men see photos of scantily clad women their brain registers the women as objects to be acted on. Christie Nicholson reports

Do you like the scent of your Valentine? The Journal of Neuroscience reports that certain regions in women's brains are activated when they smell "sexual sweat." Christie Nicholson reports

The area of the brain responsible for movement plays a larger role than previously thought in how we hear speech. Christie Nicholson reports

New research shows the persuasive power of a false confession. It seems the confession itself can corrupt other evidence that may excuse a defendant. Christie Nicholson reports

We might think near-death experiences leave survivors, such as those on US Airways Flight 1549, forever suffering from post-traumatic stress and fear, but research concludes otherwise. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research concludes that although people predict they will react negatively to racial slurs, their behavior proves otherwise. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent paper in Current Biology provides one of the few human cases of blindsight, the ability for perceptively blind people to respond to visual stimuli, even though they have no awareness of seeing anything. Christie Nicholson reports.

Multiple experiments by Duke University professor Dan Ariely reveal how our expectations hugely influence our decisions, and ultimately, our experiences. Christie Nicholson reports

Recent research concludes that parents significantly overestimate how sugar affects their children's hyperactive behavior. Susannah F. Locke reports.

Research suggests that women don't seem to mind if they receive the less-than-perfect gift. Men, on the other hand, are a different story. Susannah F. Locke reports

Research suggests that college students don't get enough sleep, and that they are far better off sleeping than cramming for exams. Steve Mirsky reports

Beware using the Web for self-diagnosis, you'll probably end up with a lot of unnecessary stress, according to a recent study by Microsoft. Christie Nicholson reports

Research shows that people who write down what they are grateful for may exercise more. Rachel Mahan reports

Researchers have found that indulging in feelings of nostalgia curiously combat the sad feelings that accompany loneliness. Christie Nicholson reports

Research shows that the items surrounding a successful medical treatment, like the type of drink we use to wash down a pill, can sometimes be as effective as the pill itself. Christie Nicholson reports

A recent analysis of survey responses shows who's cheating: Women, young couples and the over-60 crowd are closing the infidelity gap. Rachel Mahan reports

A study shows that young children have a tough time knowing if monsters are real or pretend. Christie Nicholson reports.

A study published in Nature shows how an artificial connection restores movement in paralyzed limbs. Christie Nicholson reports

People increasingly complain of being "electrosensitive," claiming that the electromagnetic fields emitted from mobile phones cause them real pain. Christie Nicholson reports

New research shows that musicians simultaneously use both sides of their brain more often than nonmusicians

New research finds that business students lie more often in e-mail than when communicating using pen and paper. Christie Nicholson reports

Misinformation on the campaign trail, once disseminated, is hard to undo--especially when it reinforces one's preconceptions. Christie Nicholson reports

Does the fear of "someone watching" help put us on the straight and narrow path?

When viewing figures walking, a curious illusion appears. People perceive male strollers as moving toward them, whereas the female walkers appear to be moving away, regardless of the figure's actual direction. Christie Nicholson reports

A gene that promotes monogamy in rodents may do the same in humans. Researchers think variation in this gene may help predict your man's ability to commit

When it comes to using towels in hotels, it's herd mentality, not eco-principles, that leads patrons on a greener path. Christie Nicholson reports

Back in 2006 the concept of the "long tail" stated that the Web will turn consumers into lovers of niche products and services, and that the days of the blockbuster are over. But the data tell a different story. Christie Nicholson reports

A study published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA concludes that our reaction to Olympic victory is innate. Christie Nicholson reports

Studies show we may be doing a lot more than just resting while we sleep. In fact the brain is hard at work, consolidating, sifting and moving the information we acquired during the day. Christie Nicholson reports

A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine shows that fatal medicinal mistakes at home rose substantially in two decades. Christie Nicholson reports

Research published in Nature Neuroscience uncovers a remarkable mechanism a female mouse uses to save her babies from dangerous miscarriage.

Researchers continue to search for a way inside the mind of an animal. One promising study looked at monkeys that make bets

A new study in The American Journal of Psychiatry evaluates the merits of digital therapy. Christie Nicholson reports.

A study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that our own calming thoughts can significantly dampen the arousal we feel when we are anticipating positive rewards. Christie Nicholson reports.

Conservatives have greater subjective life satisfaction than liberals, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Two New York University researchers performed three studies to find out why. Christie Nicholson reports.

Studies of split-brain patients provide insight into how we form thoughts--specifically how the left brain will create its own narrative based on information it never received. Christie Nicholson reports.

The chemical messenger serotonin, thought to be implicated in depression and anxiety, may change the way we see fairness in social situations. Christie Nicholson reports.

Watching women in bikinis tends to make men more impulsive when it comes to monetary decisions. Christie Nicholson reports.

A 2007 study published in Science shows that young human children perform as well as apes on intelligence tests, but that kids beat apes in social skills. The lead researcher explains why this difference is crucial. Christie Nicholson reports.

Increasingly, GPS and voice-activated systems in cars are turning a fairly private place into an open vessel for our habits--and as such, a possible boon for advertisers. But they are also becoming something else: our counselors

A fascinating auditory illusion proves that the visual cue of moving lips plays an important role in accurately hearing what people say.

Two scientists from the University of Bremen have found that groups of brain cells within the temporal lobe of macaque monkeys, are not only dedicated to recognizing facial features, but each cell is responsible for specific sub-sets of facial features, like eye size.

Crucial in any successful negotiation is an accurate understanding of each side's motivations and needs. And although understanding another's needs involves the talent to empathize, research from the journal Psychological Science reveals that feeling another's emotions can be a deal breaker.

A study of male traders in London reveals an interesting correlation between testosterone levels and success on the trading floor.

An investigation published in the 'British Medical Journal' reveals that Web searches for information on suicide will likely result in links to pro-suicide sites, which often encourage and facilitate suicide and suicidal ideation.

Research published in the April issue of the journal Cognition shows that the colorful brain images created by functional magnetic resonance imaging can give a perceived credibility to an otherwise flawed science news story.

New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds that we can acquire a greater capacity for compassion through meditation training, in much the same way as athletes or musicians train to improve their skill.

Neuroscientists recently made a startling discovery--young brains may experience memory loss due to the same mechanism responsible for Alzheimer's.

While at Stanford in the mid-1960s, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest author Ken Kesey started adding a peculiar ingredient to his homemade venison stew--LSD. Now, more than forty years later, the psychedelic pioneer's beloved drug is giving neuroscientists new clues about what causes schizophrenic psychosis.

Animal behaviorist Temple Grandin believes extraordinary animals think much like autistic geniuses. Now, some neuroscientists say it simply isn't true. *This week's podcast guest hosted by Christopher Intagliata, an intern for Scientific American Mind. www.sciammind.com

A study out of the business school INSEAD reveals that we tend to invert the economic axiom of short supply leads to high demand, meaning that we also conclude (prematurely and often incorrectly) that anything in high demand must be in short supply.

A survey of 1,000 Iraqi teens reveals a surprising effect of living in a war torn country. Seems that when faced with an indirect threat to one's self or nation, we take action to raise our own self esteem.

Contrary to the media hype that today's teens are more self-absorbed than generations past, Canadian researchers have found zero evidence for any increase in narcissism, which includes arrogance and self-entitlement, over the last three decades.

Psychologist Steven Pinker describes why passionate infatuation, typically associated with unhealthy romantic behavior, may have real advantages for long term commitment.

Results from a 10-year study show that bisexuality in women is not a transitional phase enroute to lesbianism, but rather a distinct and long-term sexual orientation.

Two Harvard psychologists use neuroimaging to provide what some call the best evidence yet that extrasensory perception (or ESP) does not exist.

James Flynn, who noticed that IQ scores have risen by three points every decade (a trend called the Flynn Effect), makes a case for why any racial differences in IQ are not immutable and caused by genetics. For more see his latest book, "What is Intelligence? Beyond the Flynn Effect."

As much as parents try to craft equal gifts for each child around the holidays, siblings still seem to fight over who got the better gift. New research reveals that parents may not always give fairly to each darling, in fact there's one sibling who takes the lion's share.

Recent research from the Baylor College of Medicine tackles the fascinating experience we have of time slowing down during a terrifying event, like a car accident. Does our brain track time differently during crisis? They say no, it's more about a trick of memory.

Research from the University of Bath reveals that the kind of messaging that persuades us to get to the gym is based on how we see ourselves in the future.

Two researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health published a review in the November 20th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, of several hundred smoking studies. They conclude that success in quitting depends on a combo of meds and non-pharmacotherapy, but that a key component is the role of the physician. Just advising a patient to quit, actually doubles their quit rates. And long term follow-up, at least one year, is critical the researchers say.

Imagine a future where a digital you is influencing the real you; where a communicating clone can convince us to alter our decisions and behavior. Research underway at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab has shown that our digital self can persuade our real self to exercise more. (A good thing after gorging on mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie!)

A poster presented at the Society of Neuroscience meeting reveals that empathy isn't always about matching anothers' emotion. Researchers found that sometimes instead of feeling anothers' pain, we might feel more...amused.

Duke University neuroscientists have found a distinction between memories for specifics versus memories for the overall gist of an event. The latter, the overall impression we have of something, tends to be the memory that is more often false.

Research published in Nature describes how spontaneous activity in a developing ear creates the mechanics of hearing in the absence of sound. Researchers say this might help explain the tortuous ringing of tinnitus.

Biologists are able to turn on a gene in the brain of nematode worms that leads them to desire same-sex partners.

Clock genes, long known to regulate our circadian rhythms, also give clues to what makes sleep so persistent.

As neuroscientists search for brain circuits that lead to religious experiences, they're touching on some of our deepest questions - like, could religion be explained by a neural quirk? For more on this story, see David Biello's article, "Searching for God in the Brain" in this month's issue of Scientific American Mind.

A new high-tech helmet allows coaches and sideline doctors to spot concussions and other dangerous injuries on the football field, in real-time. The head gear has sensors that send impact measurements wirelessly. For more on this story, please read Larry Greenemeier's October 4 article on Sciam.com news.

Recent studies on a hormone receptor in the brain called CRF2 brought new hope for a solution to obesity. But research in the Journal of Neuroscience cautions: while CRF2 cuts appetite, it also increases stress.

A recent study with monkeys finds that the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, has neurons that fire for good surprises, and different neurons that fire for bad surprises.

Special cells that control the wiring of a fetus' brain were thought to die off shortly after birth. But scientists have found some of these pre-natal neurons surviving, and communicating, in the adult brain.

New research in Science reveals that children and apes are on par when it comes to straight numerical and spatial abilities, but when they're tested on social learning, the children excel.

Turns out that hypnosis, once thought to be a hocus-pocus parlor trick, may now be considered a legitimate surgical tool

A study has shown that women are more attracted to reddish hues, than to greens, yellows and the universally-loved blues.