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Genetic Research Helps Scientists Understand Alcohol Use
A rat, a mouse, and a vole walked into a bar… It isn’t just a bad joke: According to John Crabbe, who delivered the 16th Annual Mark Keller Honorary Lecture at the National Institute of Health on October 25, rodents can teach us a lot about the way humans behave when they consume alcohol. Crabbe, who serves as Director of the Portland Alcohol Research Center, was honored for pinpointing genes and neurobiological factors that shape the way mammals respond to alcohol. Breeding mice that are resistant or susceptible to the negative results of alcohol use allowed Crabbe to study interactions among genes, environmental factors, and alcohol-related behaviors.
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Sexism and Gender Inequality
Data from 57 countries indicates that an individual’s sexism leads to gender inequality in the society as a whole.
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What’s the power of a good luck charm?
CNN: As Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson took to the mound Monday night, he wore a rope-like necklace that may be nothing more than a fashion choice, but if he believes in the maker's claims, that may give him an "edge" against his opponents at bat. It's not just Wilson; a surprising number of professional athletes have begun wearing the titanium-laced necklaces, including Rangers Derrick Holland, Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus. The "edge" the necklaces' manufacturer, Phiten, claims to give is not proved, but especially for athletes, there is psychological value to an item worn consistently, rituals and superstitions, one sports psychologist says.
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Curiosity + Diligence as Good as Plain Intelligence, Researchers Say
International Business Times: Curiosity and diligence are as important as intelligence for a student's success, according to research released Wednesday. A European trio analyzed 200 existing studies that included 50,000 students and found that curiosity influenced academic performance. Not only that, but throw in contientiousness, and average-intelligence students shone as brightly as those deemed intelligent. Put together, conscientiousness and curiosity had as big an effect on performance as intelligence.
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Tel maître, tel chien
Le Matin: Une étude scientifique menée il y a quelques années dans la revue américaine Psychological Science prétendait démontrer que l'homme a tendance à choisir un compagnon canin qui lui ressemble. Les chercheurs concluaient que les personnes achetant un chien de race, le choisissaient en fonction de ressemblances physiques ou de traits de comportement communs. C'est donc une merveilleuse excuse pour voir ou revoir une galerie photos de "Tel maître, tel chien" ou vice-versa! Read the full story: Le Matin
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Studying Flags, Pins, Hope From 2008 Election
Miller-McCune: The Stars and Stripes are subliminal, class cleavages are overrated, and other academic analysis we should consider from the last election. I Pledge Allegiance to the GOP Flag The flags of the United States of America and the Civil War-era Confederate Army have somewhat different symbolic associations. But recent research suggests exposure to the Stars and Stripes and the Confederate flag may have had the same effect on voters during the 2008 presidential election: A decreased likelihood of voting for Barack Obama.
