People ignore facts, opinions are based on beliefs

Not only that, but presenting people with facts can entrench them further in their beliefs. People willfully ignore facts that don’t correspond to their opinions. “This bodes ill for a democracy, because most voters — the people making decisions about how the country runs — aren’t blank slates. They already have beliefs, and a set Read more about People ignore facts, opinions are based on beliefs[…]

Incidental Haptic Sensations Influence Social Judgments and Decisions — Ackerman et al. 328 (5986): 1712 — Science

Touch is both the first sense to develop and a critical means of information acquisition and environmental manipulation. Physical touch experiences may create an ontological scaffold for the development of intrapersonal and interpersonal conceptual and metaphorical knowledge, as well as a springboard for the application of this knowledge. In six experiments, holding heavy or light Read more about Incidental Haptic Sensations Influence Social Judgments and Decisions — Ackerman et al. 328 (5986): 1712 — Science[…]

Stand up to child bullying – it’s good for you!

Children who returned hostility with hostility appeared to be the most mature, the researchers found. Boys who stood up to bullies and schoolyard enemies were judged more socially competent by their teachers. Girls who did the same were more popular and more admired by teachers and peers, the researchers found. via Bullying ‘can be good Read more about Stand up to child bullying – it’s good for you![…]

A school with normal times gets impressive results.

A school that has allowed its pupils to start the day an hour later says it has seen absenteeism decline.At Monkseaton High School, in North Tyneside, 800 pupils aged 13-19 have started lessons at 10am since October.Early results indicates that general absence has dropped by 8% and persistent absenteeism by 27%. via BBC News – Read more about A school with normal times gets impressive results.[…]

Behavioral Game Design / How you get addicted to games

This article is a general primer on how to get players to continuously play your game, which in the world of the MMPORG is a very important element, using a behavioural model. Gamasutra – Features – Behavioral Game Design. This article is a bit more cynical and compares the above techniques to addiction creation and Read more about Behavioral Game Design / How you get addicted to games[…]

Be lucky – it’s an easy skill to learn

My research revealed that lucky people generate good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good. I wondered whether these four principles could be Read more about Be lucky – it’s an easy skill to learn[…]

WWF finds vegetarianism is bad for the environment

Aside from vegetarians killing more animals than meat eaters (sounds strange? Consider how much random killing a combine harvester does), they are also worse for the environment as they require more arable land and the processing of  the foods creates way more greenhouse gasses. Being vegetarian does more harm to the environment than eating meat Read more about WWF finds vegetarianism is bad for the environment[…]

British Airwars treats men like paedophiles

BA has implemented a policy whereby children are not allowed to sit next to men they don’t know. Flight attendants patrol the aisles and if they find a strange man they start shouting if he doesn’t want to change places. Not only is it sexist, it’s also extremely rude and embarrasing for the passenger. Mirko Read more about British Airwars treats men like paedophiles[…]

Thought control: now with letters

Using ECoG (electrocorticography) and overlaying electrodes directly on the surface of the brain, scientists can record reactions when letters are flashed on a screen and then play back the letters when that thought pattern is brought up. It’s around 8 letters per minute, but it’s something. There’s also a piece where they translate thought patterns Read more about Thought control: now with letters[…]

Belle de Jour is a science nerd

After many years, book deals and a ITV series, Belle de Jour reveals her identity, Her name is Dr Brooke Magnanti. Her specialist areas are developmental neurotoxicology and cancer epidemiology. She has a PhD in informatics, epidemiology and forensic science and is now working at the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health. She is Read more about Belle de Jour is a science nerd[…]