To break unhealthy habits, stop obsessing over willpower – two behavioral scientists explain why routines matter more than conscious choices

Understanding and changing the environment in which habits form is a critical step when it comes to breaking unwanted behaviors and forming healthy ones.

Wendy Wood, Provost Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Business, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences • conversation
Aug. 9, 2022 ~8 min

In fish, parents' stressful experiences influence offspring behavior via epigenetic changes

A parent's or grandparent's stressful experiences change how their offspring behave. And it turns out that moms' experiences produce different changes in kids than dads'.

Jennifer Hellmann, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Dayton • conversation
March 30, 2021 ~5 min


Risk versus reward on the high seas – skinny elephant seals trade safety for sustenance

By measuring how and when elephant seals sleep, researchers were able to figure out how elephant seals change their risk-taking behavior as they gain weight.

Jessica Kendall-Bar, PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz • conversation
March 17, 2021 ~9 min

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.

Paul L. Morgan, Eberly Fellow, Professor Education and Demography, and Director of the Center for Educational Disparities Research, Penn State • conversation
Jan. 12, 2021 ~7 min

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.

Paul L. Morgan, Eberly Fellow, Professor Education and Demography, and Director of the Center for Educational Disparities Research, Penn State • conversation
Jan. 12, 2021 ~7 min

Mandatory face masks might lull people into taking more coronavirus risks

Policies meant to improve public health – like mandatory face masks during the coronavirus pandemic – need to take into account how people might adjust other behaviors in response.

Konrad Grabiszewski, Associate Professor of Economics, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College (MBSC) of Business & Entrepreneurship • conversation
July 20, 2020 ~6 min

As coronavirus cases spike in the South, Northeast seems to have the pandemic under control - here's what changed

A key difference is people's behavior, as a doctor explains.

Taison Bell, Physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
July 14, 2020 ~8 min

While coronavirus cases spike in the South, the Northeast seems to have it under control - here's what changed

A key difference is people's behavior, as a doctor explains.

Taison Bell, Physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
July 14, 2020 ~8 min


COVID-19 messes with Texas: What went wrong, and what other states can learn as younger people get sick

Texas hospitals are filling up with new COVID-19 cases, and many of the people falling ill are young.

Tiffany A. Radcliff, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Health Policy and Management, Texas A&M University • conversation
June 29, 2020 ~9 min

COVID-19 messes with Texas: What went wrong and how the state can turn it around

Texas hospitals are filling up with new COVID-19 cases, and many of the people falling ill are young.

Tiffany A. Radcliff, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Health Policy and Management, Texas A&M University • conversation
June 29, 2020 ~9 min

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