Genetics may make some women more vulnerable to the pressure of being thin, say Michigan State University researchers who also found media exposure to idealized body size plays a less significant role than previously thought. For the study, the researchers focused on the psychological impact of women buying into the perceived ideal of thinness, which […]
Tag Archives | cultural
Science literacy of dubious value in climate change assessment
Is there disagreement over climate change because some people lack science literacy and numeracy? If the public knew more basic science and were better at technical reasoning, would public consensus match scientific consensus? A surprising new study in the journal Nature Climate Change suggests that the answer to both questions is no. The study, involving […]
Boffin Ponders Cultural Manipulation By Cat Parasite
Toxoplasma gondii, a common parasite found in cats that can also infect humans may be affecting human behavior and culture on a mass scale, says a scientist from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Much like the creatures in the movie Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, the parasite would be manipulating our behavior to advance its […]