Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Aug 31, 2011

Night Owls More Likely to Experience Nightmares

Night owls might think staying up late is a real hoot, but a new study hints that delayed sleep might have a sinister side. People who hit the sack late might have a greater risk of experiencing nightmares, according to scientists, although they add that follow-up research is needed to...

Aug 31, 2011

From Athlete to Couch Potato: What 2 Missing Genes May Mean

The difference between a couch potato and an Olympic athlete may be all in the genes. Researchers have discovered that disabling two genes in the muscles of mice severely limits their activity — specifically, their ability to run. The findings may help to explain why some people have trouble getting...

Aug 31, 2011

Global Smarts: Why Average IQ Is Higher in Some Places

Being smart is the most expensive thing we do. Not in terms of money, but in a currency that is vital to all living things: energy. One study found that newborn humans spend close to 90 percent of their calories on building and running their brains. (Even as adults, our...

Aug 31, 2011

For Women, One Drink a Day Leads to Healthy Aging

For middle-aged women, having one alcoholic drink a day — as opposed to not drinking at all or having two or more drinks — may improve health and pave the way to a long life, a new study shows. These data suggest that regular, moderate consumption of alcohol at midlife...

Aug 31, 2011

Why Are More Boys Born Than Girls?

Worldwide, there are 107 boy babies born for every 100 girl babies. This skewed ratio is partly due to sex-selective abortion and gendercide, the killing of female infants, in countries such as China and India where males are more desired. But even discounting those factors, the completely natural male-to-female sex...

Aug 31, 2011

Why Laughter May Be the Best Pain Medicine

Laughing with friends releases feel-good brain chemicals, which also relieve pain, new research indicates. Until now, scientists haven't proven that like exercise and other activities, laughing causes a release of so-called endorphins. Very little research has been done into why we laugh and what role it plays in society, study...

Aug 31, 2011

Eyewitness Testimony Can Be Tragically Mistaken

Last night's execution of convicted murderer Troy Davis reportedly sent those convinced of Davis' innocence into hysterics. One of their concerns — that eyewitness testimony in the case had been recanted — also concerns cognitive scientists. This is not the first time a person is pretty much convicted based on...

Aug 31, 2011

Life's Extremes: Outgoing vs. Shy

In this weekly series, LiveScience examines the psychology and sociology of opposite human behaviors and personality types. We all know them: The exuberant, outgoing glad-handers who relish a social gathering, and the reserved, shy wallflowers who might not attend the event at all. On a given day, of course, any...

Aug 31, 2011

Top 10 Cancer-Fighting Foods

Foods Associated with a Lower Cancer Risk (Image credit: Tom Tomczyk | shutterstock)The countless books and news articles about cancer-fighting foods might lead you to think you can ward off this dreaded disease simply by eating better. Alas, it's not that simple. Anytime you see a headline stating Cure...

Jul 31, 2011

King Tut Related to Half of European Men? Maybe Not

A personal genomics company in Switzerland says they've reconstructed a DNA profile of King Tutankhamen by watching the Discovery Channel, claiming the results suggest more than half of Western European men are related to the boy king. But researchers who worked to decode Tut's genome in the first place say...

Jul 31, 2011

Positive Thoughts May Help Treat Depression

Gratitude and optimism may be a key to managing depression, a new review of relevant research finds. Called positive activity interventions (PAIs), the treatment involves intentional positive behaviors and thoughts, such as performing acts of kindness, expressing gratitude, meditating on positive feelings toward others and using one's signature strengths. Although...

Jul 31, 2011

Fat Can Be Healthy: Some Obese People Live Long Lives

Not everyone who is obese needs to lose weight — it's possible to carry extra pounds and still be healthy, a new study says. Although obesity brings an increased risk of many health complications, the new study shows that people who are obese but do not have such complications might...

Jul 31, 2011

Brain Changes in Stutterers Involve More Than Speech

The brains of people who have stuttered since childhood show evidence of rewiring, with the right side taking on tasks generally handled by the left. A new study, in which participants tapped their fingers in time with sounds, shows that this rewiring extends beyond speech. Research so far indicates that...

Jul 31, 2011

Family Warns Swimmers About Brain-Eating Amoeba

Jeremy and Julie Lewis were dreading the warm months, when so many people go swimming, and the headlines that emerged in August confirmed their fears. Three more people had died from the brain-eating amoebas that killed their son a year ago. On Aug. 29, 2010, the Texas couple lost their...

Jul 31, 2011

Why Supermoms Should Chill

Trying to have it all could be bad for your mental health, according to a new study that finds that supermoms have higher rates of depression compared with working moms who let things slide. The research, presented Aug. 20 at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Las...