Some kindergartners are more likely to be heavy users of online tech later, according to new research
Too much screen time doesn't leave enough time for other important parts of growing up. Predicting which little kids will likely grow into heavy tech users could help target educational campaigns.
Jan. 12, 2021 • ~7 min
education children social-media reading parenting child-development quick-reads research-brief screen-time behavior gaming screentime new-research online-technologies
Some kindergartners are more likely later to be heavy users of online tech, according to new research
Too much screen time doesn't leave enough time for other important parts of growing up. Predicting which little kids will likely grow into heavy tech users could help target educational campaigns.
Jan. 12, 2021 • ~7 min
education children social-media reading parenting child-development quick-reads research-brief screen-time behavior gaming screentime new-research
Seat belts and smoking rates show people eventually adopt healthy behaviors – but it can take time we don't have during a pandemic
Public health recommendations have always been a hard sell. Resistance to new behaviors – like the mask-wearing and social distancing advised during the COVID-19 pandemic – is part of human nature.
Dec. 29, 2020 • ~7 min
public-health covid-19 coronavirus smoking pandemic science statins life-expectancy human-behavior health-behaviors ideology immunization medical-advice
How to outsmart your COVID-19 fears and boost your mood in 2021
One medication-free technique uses your emotions to release stress.
Dec. 28, 2020 • ~6 min
health mental-health covid-19 coronavirus depression anxiety stress fear training emotions fight-or-flight cognitive-behavioral-therapy self-help
We discovered a 115,000-year-old iguana nest fossil in the Bahamas
A trace fossil of an iguana burrow was discovered on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Estimated to be 115,000 years old, it is the first known fossil of its kind.
Dec. 9, 2020 • ~7 min
nests fossils endangered-species animal-behavior the-bahamas limestone
Racial discrimination ages Black Americans faster, according to a 25-year-long study of families
A study of 800 Black American families shows early experiences of racism have long-term consequences for physical and mental health.
Nov. 17, 2020 • ~5 min
poverty mental-health blacklivesmatter aging stress health-disparities disease biomarkers healthcare quick-reads research-brief racism living-longer-2020 african-americans age adolescents health-behaviors human-body resiliency racial-discrimination american-academy-of-pediatrics black-americans black-health-disparities
Scientists identify specific brain region and circuits controlling attention
Norepinephrine-producing neurons in the locus coeruleus produce attention focus, impulse control via two distinct connections to prefrontal cortex.
Nov. 3, 2020 • ~8 min
neuroscience anxiety biology optogenetics research behavior school-of-science brain-and-cognitive-sciences picower-institute
Study helps explain why motivation to learn declines with age
Research on mice suggests aging affects a brain circuit critical for learning to make some types of decisions.
Oct. 27, 2020 • ~8 min
neuroscience aging research behavior school-of-science brain-and-cognitive-sciences mcgovern-institute
Sick of COVID-19? Here's why you might have pandemic fatigue
It's draining and depressing to stay on high alert month after month after month. Understanding pandemic fatigue better might help you strengthen your resolve.
Oct. 23, 2020 • ~8 min
public-health covid-19 coronavirus psychology handwashing social-distancing social-norms reopening loneliness social-isolation face-masks masks health-behaviors wearing-masks preventive-health effects-of-social-distancing loneliness-and-social-distancing reopening-after-social-distancing coronavirus-and-handwashing business-reopenings covid-19-prevention
The urge to punish is not only about revenge – unfairness can unleash it, too
Unfairness alone is upsetting enough to drive people to punish lucky recipients of unfair outcomes.
Sept. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
morality psychology inequality competition motivation behavioral-economics evolutionary-psychology psychology-research fairness morals punishment justice deterrence stealing moral-outrage theft inequity social-inequity
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