Human Behavior, features and articles | Educational Science

Jan 8, 2024

Why do we procrastinate?

The dawn of a new year marks a fresh start and motivates many people to break bad habits. Some are easier to shake than others, however, and the tendency to procrastinate is among the stickiest. Whether it's finishing a piece of work, sending an email or going for a run,...

Feb 5, 2024

Can psychopaths learn to feel empathy?

People with psychopathy often embody traits such as being egocentric, manipulative, violent and probably criminal. But can people exhibiting these characteristics overcome them and learn how to feel empathy? Before diving into this question, it's important to know that the medical definition of psychopathy is incredibly complicated, and experts are...

Feb 29, 2024

Why do people dissociate during traumatic events?

During traumatic situations, people might experience an unexpected wave of emotional numbness or feel like they've detached from reality and are having an out-of-body experience. These symptoms of disconnect describe dissociation, a defense mechanism that separates threatening feelings and ideas from the rest of someone's psyche. But why do our...

Mar 1, 2024

Why do we have leap years? And how did they come about?

Feb. 29 is a date that happens only once every four years, but what are leap years? Why do we need them? And how did they come about? Leap years are years with 366 calendar days instead of the normal 365. They happen every fourth year in the Gregorian calendar...

Mar 6, 2024

What's the difference between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning?

Sherlock Holmes, the fictional sleuth who famously resides on Baker Street, is known for his impressive powers of logical reasoning. With a quick visual sweep of a crime scene, he generates hypotheses, gathers observations and draws inferences that ultimately reveal the responsible criminal's methods and identity. Holmes is often said...

Mar 18, 2024

Why do babies rub their eyes when they're tired?

Parents are taught that when a baby rubs their eyes, it's a telltale sign they're ready for a nap. But why do babies rub their eyes when they're tired? What triggers this behavior, and what purpose does it serve? Unfortunately, we can't ask a baby exactly why they're rubbing their...

Apr 27, 2018

Why Is North Korea Shutting Down Its Nuclear Test Site?

Last week, North Korea announced that it will cease all nuclear testing and will shut down its main testing facility at Mount Mantap. Although some believe the decision came because of easing tensions between the country and the world, others think Mount Mantap may have come down with a bad...

May 24, 2018

Here's What We Know About Russia's Hypersonic Waverider Weapon

Warnings of a Russian hypersonic weapon that the U.S. can't defend against may have had you running for the bomb shelter last week. But what, exactly, is this weapon, and how does it work? Russian President Vladimir Putin first announced the hypersonic weapon, code-named Avangard, in a speech in March....

Jun 27, 2018

Stealthy, Sub-Launched Torpedo Will Be Deadlier Than Ever

The U.S. Navy's most commonly used torpedo — the Mark 48 — is getting a makeover that will make it stealthier, deadlier and more far-reaching than ever before, according to news sources. The upgrade will help the submarine-launched heavyweight torpedo — which is a self-propelled underwater missile — demolish enemy...

Jun 30, 2018

Boeing's Hypersonic Vision: A Sleek Passenger Plane That Can Hit Mach 5

Boeing has dreams of a hypersonic passenger plane, and it looks like something straight out of science fiction. The hypersonic aircraft could have military or commercial applications and is just one of several such vehicles Boeing engineers are studying to develop superfast transportation technology, the company said in a statement....

Jul 2, 2018

China's New Laser Gun Can Zap You with a Silent, Carbonizing Beam

The laser blasters in Star Wars are no longer a thing of science fiction. Chinese researchers have developed an actual laser gun that can ignite a target on fire from a half mile (800 meters) away, the South China Morning Post reported. But this new weapon, called a ZKZM-500, has...

Aug 8, 2018

China Just Tested a Hypersonic Weapon That Could Launch Nukes at 6 Times the Speed of Sound

China successfully tested a hypersonic aircraft on Friday (Aug. 3), one that could one day be capable of firing nuclear missiles around the planet at up to six times the speed of sound, according to China's state-run news site China Daily. The aircraft, known as Starry Sky-2, is reportedly capable...

Aug 8, 2018

The EPA Is Making It Easier to Use Asbestos Again. Why Is It Dangerous?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted a rule on June 1 making it easier for companies to use asbestos in products, Fast Company explained in a recent report. But what, exactly, is asbestos, and why is it dangerous? Asbestos is a naturally occurring material made up of thin crystal...

Aug 21, 2018

US Air Force Zooms Ahead on 2 New Hypersonic Weapons Plans

The arms race is picking up considerable speed, and the United States doesn't want to get left behind. Over the past four months, the U.S. Air Force has awarded two contracts for hypersonic weapons worth a maximum of $1.4 billion to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin. The first contract, announced in...

Sep 4, 2018

Microwave Weapon Blamed for Apparent Attack on US Embassy in Cuba

Why did dozens of U.S. Embassy workers in Cuba hear loud sounds and suffer neurological symptoms in 2016? There's a new, Cold War-era microwave explanation for the mystery. The Havana-based diplomats reported hearing loud, strange sounds and feeling movement in the air around them. Those affected went on to experience...