Cats like to play fetch, as long as it's on their terms – new research

There hasn’t been a lot of research into adult cat play, but a new study shows it’s not just dogs who like to play fetch.

Jemma Forman, PhD Candidate in Psychology, University of Sussex • conversation
Dec. 21, 2023 ~6 min

What is an attosecond? A physical chemist explains the tiny time scale behind Nobel Prize-winning research

Three scientists won the 2023 Nobel Prize in physics for their work developing methods to shoot laser pulses that only last an attosecond, or a mind-bogglingly tiny fraction of a second.

Aaron W. Harrison, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Austin College • conversation
Oct. 4, 2023 ~5 min


Poisons are a potent tool for murder in fiction – a toxicologist explains how some dangerous chemicals kill

From ‘Breaking Bad’ to James Bond, certain chemicals are popular options for characters looking to achieve nefarious ends.

Brad Reisfeld, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University • conversation
March 21, 2023 ~7 min

Marriage provides health benefits – and here's why

Most marriage and health studies have focused on married men and women. But more recent studies examine relationships in which partners have the same gender identity, the same biological sex and who are gender diverse.

Rosie Shrout, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University • conversation
Jan. 13, 2023 ~10 min

The power of swearing: how obscene words influence your mind, body and relationships

Swearing can raise our pain threshold.

Richard Stephens, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Keele University • conversation
Oct. 18, 2022 ~7 min

Restoring land around abandoned oil and gas wells would free up millions of acres of forests, farmlands and grasslands

Abandoned US oil and gas wells and their associated land cover more than 2 million acres, a recent study estimates – an area larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

Matthew D. Moran, Professor of Biology, Hendrix College • conversation
June 8, 2021 ~6 min

Service dogs can help veterans with PTSD – growing evidence shows they may reduce anxiety in practical ways

Traditional treatments for PTSD, such as talk therapy and medication, do work for some veterans. But service dogs can make a difference when those methods fall short.

Marguerite E. O'Haire, Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction, Purdue University • conversation
March 26, 2021 ~8 min

Laughing is good for your mind and your body – here's what the research shows

Whether in the form of a discreet titter or a full-on roar, laughter comes with many benefits for physical and mental health.

Janet M. Gibson, Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Grinnell College • conversation
Nov. 23, 2020 ~8 min


Delinquent electric bills from the pandemic are coming due – who will pay them?

Many Americans have been unable to pay their electric bills during the COVID-19 pandemic, racking up billions of dollars in delinquent bills. Where will the money come from?

Theodore J. Kury, Director of Energy Studies, University of Florida • conversation
Nov. 6, 2020 ~9 min

Your dog's nose knows no bounds – and neither does its love for you

Dogs process the sensory world very differently than humans, but love in a way that is entirely familiar.

Ellen Furlong, Associate Professor of Psychology, Illinois Wesleyan University • conversation
Oct. 26, 2020 ~6 min

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