Psychology

Tickling Makes For Happy Rats

I remember in grade school, as the box of crayons expanded into the hundreds, a cool new color of pink was invented, called Tickle Me Pink –  well, probably just the name was invented.  Maybe Crayola had more insight into science than I thought.   Wohr and ...

Blog Post - M G - May 18 2021 - 12:07am

How To Put A Stop To Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Theories

Do you think pharmaceutical companies are creating problems that don't exist in order to keep selling drugs to an increasingly over-medicated population? Do you think scientists are unethical if they work at a corporation like DuPont or in nuclear sc ...

Article - Hank Campbell - May 26 2021 - 4:15pm

Positive Spiritual Beliefs May Improve Breast Cancer Survivor Health

It is no surprise that cancer survivors often express gratitude for being alive and mention God or a divine acknowledgement that had improved their health and well-being. Is there evidence spirituality helps? It may be that healthier levels of cortisol, a ...

Article - News Staff - Jun 24 2021 - 2:35pm

Women And Millennials More Likely To Believe A Cell Phone Can Cause Cancer

Are you worried about getting cancer from a light bulb? Probably not, but if someone conspiratorially intones that 5G wireless towers are emitting radiation and you are a woman or a milllennial, you are a lot more likely to worry than men or Generation Z t ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Jul 2 2021 - 3:20pm

People Who Who Say They Trust Science More Are Also More Likely To Promote False Science-y Sounding Claims

A short while ago a prominent physicist made the offhand claim that bees were dying because of a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids- seed treatments that protect plants from pests at their most vulnerable stage and result in far less chemical use th ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Jul 26 2021 - 1:06pm

If You Talk About 'Social Darwinism' A Lot You May Have Dysfunctional Psychological Characteristics

It's common when the subject of stupid behavior comes up, like belief in supplements or acupuncture over medicine, for someone to post a picture of Darwin or recommend them for a Darwin award. It's scientifically wrong- Aedes aegypti is an ecolog ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 13 2021 - 10:23am

Coulrophobia: Are Clowns Scary? Ha Ha Aaaargh

When Australian singer and TV personality Mark Holden appeared as a clown recently on Channel 7’s "Dancing with the Stars", his supposedly “bizarre” behavior sparked furious debate and complaints to the network, demonstrating the problematic natu ...

Article - The Conversation - Sep 22 2021 - 6:51pm

We Were Wrong About Daniel Craig As James Bond, Maybe We Were Wrong About His Stress Relief Also

When Daniel Craig was announced as the new James Bond, he took a lot of criticism. I will be honest, I was among the critics. I have read every book, seen all the films, I wear both Charvet and Turnbull  &  Asser shirts for no other reason than they we ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Oct 8 2021 - 2:01pm

Baseball And Belief Engines

In a few short hours, the World Series will begin between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals.  In the midst of all the talk of how offense is winning games this year (team Earned Run Average by starters in the post-season is over 5) and the stra ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Oct 20 2021 - 10:23am

4 Reasons To Let This Halloween Be A Treat For Kids

Children have a higher tolerance for thrills than most parents believe.  In 1989, when Disney returned to form with "The Little Mermaid", Ursula was among the scariest villains ever. She got impaled by the mast of a ship. That didn't bother ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Oct 29 2021 - 7:27pm