Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 30, 2009

Antidepressants Can Change Personalities

Taking an antidepressant can lead to significant personality changes, likely for the better, a new study finds. The study looked at the effects of taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are widely used to treat depression today, and found that those who took these antidepressants experienced more positive emotions,...

Nov 30, 2009

The 9 Most Provocative Sex Science Stories of 2009

We've loved. We've learned. And we've had some of our sexual suspicions confirmed by scientific research. As 2009 comes to a close, LiveScience looks back at the year's nine most intriguing sex lessons. Sex smells. A man's sweat smells different when he's sexually aroused — and women can tell the...

Nov 30, 2009

Motherly Behavior Grows New Brain Cells

The act of mothering may trigger the development of maternal neurons, at least in rats, according to a new study. The mommy neurons could help a nurturer to recognize her little ones, though the scientists aren't sure of their function. And the rats didn't have to be pregnant or have...

Nov 30, 2009

Boys Explore Cell Phone Features More Than Girls

Differences in cell phone habits can be seen in children as young as 11, with boys more likely to use their mobiles for checking email and playing video games than girls, a new study finds. But that doesn't mean you should buy phones with fewer features for girls, said study...

Nov 30, 2009

9 Discoveries That Made Us Blush in 2009

This year was full of scientific findings about us, with a host of discoveries that helped explain how our brains and bodies work. Among the more interesting were these nine, which focused on some of the things that are on our minds the most and which might leave some folks...

Nov 30, 2009

Popular Treatment for Low-Back Pain Doesn't Work

Mild electric shocks supplied by a portable device, a process called TENS, have been used for years to treat chronic low-back pain. Problem is, it doesn't work, a new study concludes. Anyone currently getting transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) treatments should consult with their doctor about the new findings, researchers...

Oct 31, 2009

Unhealthy Food Ads Pervasive on Kids' Shows

If you think SpongeBob puts junk in your kids' heads, then you need to pay closer attention to the commercials. A new study finds that about one-fifth of commercials kids are likely to see on late-afternoon and Saturday morning television are food-related, and of those, 70 percent advertise fast-food restaurants,...

Oct 31, 2009

Music Improves Brain Function

WASHINGTON (ISNS) -- For most people music is an enjoyable, although momentary, form of entertainment. But for those who seriously practiced a musical instrument when they were young, perhaps when they played in a school orchestra or even a rock band, the musical experience can be something more. Recent research...

Oct 31, 2009

Cell Phone Use Linked to Brain Changes

Peasants waving pitchforks and torches are not exactly storming the castle, but the scientists are sure restless. Yet another scientific study has come out questioning whether cell phone use is good for your brain — and there's more on the way. The Swedish Research Council announced yesterday that researchers at...

Oct 31, 2009

Attractiveness Based Partly on Skin Color

When it comes to an attractive face, color can make all the difference, suggests a new study. The research focused on facial skin color among Caucasians, finding a light, yellowish complexion looks the healthiest. The skin color could indicate a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, whose pigments are known...

Oct 31, 2009

Thinspiration: Do Web Sites Encourage Anorexia?

Recently there has been increased concern over hundreds of pro-eating disorder Web sites that provide thinspiration to legions of young women who want to become stick-thin. These sites provide an online community to swap tips on how to fast, disguise disordered eating, and generally encourage anorexia (though people don't really...

Oct 31, 2009

Shocking Treatment Helps Erectile Dysfunction

If you experience impotence, instead of a little blue pill maybe you want to apply shockwaves to your privates instead. Experiments now suggest directing shockwaves at penises can help treat erectile dysfunction. We can really reverse erectile problems with this, researcher Yoram Vardi, head of the neuro-urology department at Rambam...

Oct 31, 2009

Smoking Gun Found in Rejected Heart Transplants

Scientists have long suspected that smoking increased the risk that a transplanted heart would be rejected. Now they have a smoking gun. And it doesn't matter who smokes, recipient or donor. A new study conducted on rats provides the first direct evidence that cigarette smoke exposure before a heart transplant...

Sep 30, 2009

Goal Posts Appear Smaller After Kicker Misses

In football, kicking a field goal can be a nail-biter for players and sports fans alike. Turns out, if a kicker is having a bad day, with several failed attempts, the target could seem even more elusive on his next chance to score, according to a new study. People trying...

Sep 30, 2009

3 Detroit Marathon Deaths Likely a Fluke

The deaths of three runners at Sunday's Detroit Marathon were tragic, but probably not representative of any increasing danger inherent in the sport. In fact, the deaths are likely to be a statistical fluke, doctors say. A 26-year-old half-marathon runner, and two other runners — a 36-year-old and 65-year-old —...