Tag: study
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Butterflies in the Rain and More Memories
A drop of rain hitting a butterfly is the equivalent of a bowling ball hitting a human. So how do they survive in the rain? New research reveals a fascinating answer. Jeff and Anthony discuss how the butterfly's natural defenses from rain can be applied to human beings. Then, what if the memory could be stimulated by external means? Anthony and Jeff debate the usefulness of trans-cranial stimulation, based on a new study. [more]
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Leave Your Phone and Why You Left?
Is your cell phone making you dumber, just by being near you? Researchers now have evidence that the closer your smart device is to you, the less smart you actually are. Anthony and Jeff discuss phone addiction, and what to do with this research. The, both Jeff and Anthony are left-handed. But what does that mean scientifically? And why? They delve into the murky waters of handedness and sort through the prevailing theories. [more]
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Giving and Gorging
People are more likely appreciate gifts that save time over gifts that save money. This, according to a new study that looked at how people estimate social status when receiving a gift. Anthony and Jeff talk about the best kind of gifts, and whether saving someone time is really more valuable. Then, scientific analysis suggests competitive eaters have come within nine hotdogs of the limits of human performance. Jeff and Anthony discuss stuffing food into your face for sport, and whether there really is such thing as an insurmountable limit. [more]
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Psych Warn
The Stanford Prison Experiment, one of the most famous and compelling psychological studies of all time, told us a tantalizingly simple story about human nature. This experiment has been included in many, many introductory psychology textbooks and is often cited uncritically. But its findings were wrong. Very wrong. And not just due to its questionable ethics or lack of concrete data — but because of deceit. Jeff and Anthony try the experiment out for themselves and flip a coin to see who gets to be the guard. [more]
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Call Made By Your Name
What’s in a name? A lot, apparently. New research suggests that your first name shapes the way other people perceive your age, personality, and how good you are at your job – and the findings could mean some classic psychology experiments were wrong. Jeff and Anthony are doing their part to discredit their own names. [more]
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Twin Galaxies
A new study from NASA has found that astronaut Scott Kelly's genes are no longer identical to those of his identical twin after spending a year in space. Preliminary results from NASA's Twins Study found that seven percent of Kelly's genes no longer match those of his twin, Mark. Scott Kelly spent one year aboard the International Space Station during the study, while his brother remained on Earth. Jeff and Anthony discuss how this story might have been mutated. [more]
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Passing the Sniff Test
A dog searching for a lost child is typically given an item of clothing to smell. But what does that scent “look” like? To find out, scientists tested 48 dogs, half of which had special police or rescue training. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether or not this study stinks. [more]
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Big Skittle Lies
Do gummy bears really come in different flavors, or do we just think they taste different because they are different colors? While closing your eyes, your accuracy in differentiating flavors majorly declines. This phenomenon is something that scientists are studying- and something big candy companies have counted on for years. Jeff and Anthony investigate to see just how deep the gummy worm hole really goes. [more]
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