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The Physics of Terror
After studying four decades of terrorism, Aaron Clauset thinks he’s found mathematical patterns that can help governments prevent and prepare for major terror attacks. The U.S. government seems to agree.
Accidental Deaths Linked to Macho Code of Honor
Accidental death rates are higher in states where challenges to one’s masculinity are taken seriously.
Extraverts More Likely to Believe in Free Will
Philosophers’ views on freedom and moral responsibility are influenced by inherited personality traits. If they can’t be objective, can anyone?
Can Watching ‘Jackass’ Turn You Into One?
Did you see that movie about the moron? If so, it may have negatively impacted your own intelligence, according to new research from Austria.
On ‘Jeopardy!’ Women Take Fewer Risks vs. Men
A study of contestant behavior on the popular game show “Jeopardy!” suggests women tend to hedge their bets when facing male opponents.
Sarcasm Boosts Creativity? Yeah, Right.
New research from Israel suggests exposure to sarcasm may enhance creative thinking.
‘Just Do It!’ Culture Feeds Confirmation Bias
New research finds people primed to think in terms of action are more certain of their opinions and less likely to seek out dissenting views.
You Are What You (Think) You Eat
New research reveals why food labeled “healthy” is unsatisfying.
Why Are the World’s Muslims So Mad at America?
Perceived American influence and its failure to live up to its freedom-loving rhetoric pour into a gulf of discontent in the Muslim world.
archive
Taste Buds Reflect Feelings of Moral Disgust
New research finds moral disgust can elicit a physical reaction, changing our evaluation of a beverage.
Sensory Deprivation Boosts Musicians’ Skill Level
Canadian researchers report floating in an isolation tank increased the technical skill level of young jazz players.
Religious Affiliation and Brain Shrinkage
New research finds membership in a minority religion seems to hasten a loss of volume of the hippocampal region of the brain.
Study of Emotion: Women’s Brains Are Wired for Compassion
Brain-scan research from Mexico suggests women’s neural systems respond more robustly to images that evoke compassion.
Why Whites Avoid Movies With Black Actors
New research suggests white audiences tend to stay away from movies featuring minorities due to the assumption that they are not the films’ intended audience.
What Do Osama bin Laden and Paul McCartney Have in Common?
Conspiracy theorists have already emerged from the woodwork asking if bin Laden is really dead, or if he was dead already. Don’t be fooled.
Academics Debate Whether Osama bin Laden’s Death Will Have Impact on al-Qaeda Leaders
Researchers debating the effect of “leadership decapitation” of terrorist organizations have come to very different conclusions.
Environmental Footprints May Produce Backlash
New research suggests being informed of one’s environmental footprint can have the opposite of the intended effect.
Understanding Popular Uses of Percentages
While “figures lie and liars figure,” that’s no reason not to pay attention to some basic facts about common numerical comparisons.
Architect Frank Gehry Builds on Virtues of Play
Law professor Robert Benson — part of the panel that offered Frank Gehry the first big commission to draw international attention to his architecture in 1979 — talks to the world-class architect about the benefits of “creative play.”
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Children’s Books Increasingly Ignore Natural World
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from the source
House Bill Puts Transportation in Partisan Crossfire
Transportation used to be one of the few guaranteed areas of agreement when ideology trumped pragmatism in D.C. But that’s no longer the case.
Pressure to Conform Can Inspire Creativity
New research suggests less-creative people do more innovative thinking when they are told individualism is the norm, and instructed to conform.
Better Super Bowl Makes for Better Ads
A lot of people say they watch the Super Bowl mostly for the ads. But it turns out a good game surrounding those ads makes them seem better.
Overseas Troops Finally Get Fair Shot at Voting
After decades of obstacles hindering the voting process, new laws will allow overseas and military voters to submit their votes in time for the 2012 election.
Neglected Tropical Diseases Neglected No More?
World health leaders announce coordinated push to eradicate or control neglected tropical diseases.
Children’s Books Increasingly Ignore Natural World
A survey of award-winning children’s picture books from 1938 to 2008 suggests our increasing estrangement from the natural environment.
Traffic Solution: Make Drivers Less Lonely
Rather than moaning about too many cars on the road, the Ridesharing Institute says the real key to battling traffic congestion and pollution is filling empty passenger seats.
Numerology Doesn’t Know the Score
Various ways of assigning numbers to events, people, and actions is an ancient parlor game, but let’s not take it beyond that.
Conservatives’ Politics of Fear a Biological Response
Researchers looking at how we fixate on threats uncover more evidence of a biological component to the red-blue divide.
Morning People May Be More Creative in the Afternoon
New research finds problems that require a flash of illumination to solve are best approached during the time of day when you’re not at your peak.
Hall of fame
Slugging — The People’s Transit
In Washington, D.C., commuters have taken thousands of cars off highways via a homegrown rideshare system known as “slugging.” Can the government create more slugs — without stepping on any?
Bacteria ‘R’ Us
Emerging research shows that bacteria have powers to engineer the environment, to communicate and to affect human well-being. They may even think.
A New Take on Political Ideology
An evolutionary psychologist proposes a new framework for understanding the root causes of our political beliefs.
The Real Science Gap
It’s not insufficient schooling or a shortage of scientists. It’s a lack of job opportunities. Americans need the reasonable hope that spending their youth preparing to do science will provide a satisfactory career.
Triumph of the Cyborg Composer
David Cope’s software creates beautiful, original music. Why are people so angry about that?
