- Faith in god or ‘a higher power’ was greatly weakened by the pandemic: In a cross-sectional survey done in Germany, 15 % of participants said they had lost faith in god due to COVID-19 during the first wave. Fraction of participants reporting loss of faith increased to 21.5 % during second wave. https://sapienjournal.org/faith-in-god-weakened-by-the-pandemic/ 594 comments science
- Psilocybin Microdosing had no effect on stress or depression in a preregistered, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Study also did not find any evidence that psilocybin makes it easier to identify happy facial expressions as opposed to angry, fearful and sad ones (as previous studies found). https://sapienjournal.org/results-of-psilocybin-microdosing-study-are-surprisingly-unsurprising/ 327 comments science
- Working night shifts increases the risk of diabetes. A new study suggests that eating both during day time and night time (as a lot of night shift workers do) interferes with circadian glucose rhythms and impairs glucose tolerance. But, there is a way to prevent this - restrict meals to day time. https://sapienjournal.org/restricting-meals-to-daytime-reduces-diabetes-risk-in-night-shift-workers/ 657 comments science
- In interacting with an infected person, when only social-distancing (1.5 m), your chances of getting COVID jumps to 90% in 1.5 minutes. When only you are wearing a surgical mask risk reaches 90% in an hour. When both infectious and you are wearing FFP2 masks, risk remains below 1% even after an hour https://sapienjournal.org/wearing-a-proper-mask-can-keep-the-risk-of-infection-below-1-even-after-an-hour-of-exposure/ 338 comments science
- Chimps, like humans, show signs of uncertainty when faced with a hard choice: As choices in a memory test became more difficult, chimps wavered more between choices. They moved their finger back and forth between the two options, unable to decide. https://sapienjournal.org/chimps-like-humans-show-signs-of-uncertainty/ 377 comments science
- Meta-analysis estimates that 4.5% of the general population (or 1 in every 22 persons) is a psychopath. The prevalence of psychopathy in samples of men is more than twice than in those of women. https://sapienjournal.org/latest-estimate-of-psychopathy-in-the-general-population/ 275 comments science
- Longitudinal study (N=1419) finds no association between intensity of social media use and life satisfaction. https://sapienjournal.org/study-finds-no-connection-between-intensity-of-social-media-use-and-wellbeing/ 8 comments science
- Children are unsuspecting meat-eaters: More than a third of children in the US (aged 4-7) think cheese, bacon, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, shrimp, and hamburgers come from plants. According to a new study, nearly half of the children in this age-group also think French fries come from animals. https://sapienjournal.org/a-third-of-children-in-the-us-dont-know-how-meat-gets-to-the-table/ 78 comments nottheonion
- Dogs tilt their head when processing meaningful stimuli: "Genius dogs" learned the names of two toys in 3 months & consistently fetched the right toy from the pair (ordinary dogs failed). But they also tilted their heads significantly more when listening to the owner's commands (43% vs 2% of trials) https://sapienjournal.org/dogs-tilt-their-head-when-processing-meaningful-stimuli/ 630 comments science
- Researchers analyzed submissions on r/relationships across 12 years & found that the majority of help-seekers are men. Findings suggest "the anonymous online platform provides a space where gender norms and stereotypes are relaxed", encouraging men to ask for help & discuss relationship distress. https://sapienjournal.org/men-more-than-women-prefer-relationship-advice-from-strangers-online/ 70 comments science
- It's easier to weaken people's belief in climate change than strengthen it https://sapienjournal.org/its-easier-to-weaken-peoples-belief-in-climate-change-than-strengthen-it/ 3 comments climate
- Success in your career makes you less neurotic, more open to new ideas and experiences. https://sapienjournal.org/success-in-your-career-makes-you-less-neurotic/ 6 comments science
- A set of fossils recently discovered in Argentina has revealed that at least one dinosaur - Mussaurus patagonicus lived in herds. https://sapienjournal.org/newly-discovered-fossils-suggest-dinosaur-lived-in-herds/ 12 comments science
- COVID-19 conspiracy theories thrive on social media platforms *except* Twitter. While engagement with Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Messenger were all associated with an increase in expressed conspiracy beliefs, engagement with Twitter was associated with a reduction in conspiracy beliefs. https://sapienjournal.org/covid-19-conspiracy-theories-thrive-on-social-media-platforms-except-twitter/ 2558 comments science
- It's easier to weaken people's belief in climate change than strengthen it - SapienJournal https://sapienjournal.org/its-easier-to-weaken-peoples-belief-in-climate-change-than-strengthen-it/?fbclid=IwAR0OxDDbUsRXCd02s7pHxPjcWkgTNcMM7GRrDe_HvoOSY7fYRxZcoPIf6ZM 15 comments science
- It's easier to weaken people's belief in climate change than strengthen it, a meta-analysis found. Experimental interventions that present misinformation or Anti-Climate Change arguments show greater effectiveness than ones that present facts or Pro-Climate Change arguments. https://sapienjournal.org/its-easier-to-weaken-peoples-belief-in-climate-change-than-strengthen-it/ 73 comments science
- Consumers perceive food that (physically) weighs less as healthier than their heavier counterparts of the same serving size. According to the study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, they also perceive food that comes in lighter containers as healthier. https://sapienjournal.org/consumers-perceive-foods-that-weigh-less-as-healthier-disregarding-caloric-values/ 10 comments science
- During grooming sessions, chimpanzees clasp each others hands (above their heads) with the free hand. Some chimp communities in Zambia have maintained their preferred style of "handclasp" (either palm-to-palm, wrist-to-wrist or forearm-to-forearm) for 12 years, suggesting stable social cultures. https://sapienjournal.org/some-chimp-communities-have-handclasp-cultures/ 3 comments science
- Suicides among men decreased after Viagra became more affordable in Sweden. In July 2013, the patent rights to Sildenafil (generic Viagra) ended in Sweden, causing the price of Viagra to drop by 75%. https://sapienjournal.org/suicides-among-swedish-men-decreased-after-viagra-became-more-affordable/ 954 comments science
- In provinces of Spain, one *unexpected* loss by the local-favorite soccer team led to a 0.8% decrease in the number of babies born approximately 9 months after, study finds. However, study found no increase in births due to unexpected wins (“Celebratory Intercourse” theory fails to replicate). https://sapienjournal.org/unexpected-losses-of-local-soccer-teams-lead-to-decrease-in-births-after-nine-months/ 9 comments science
- Maybe sexual selection did not boost human intelligence: In a series of speed-dating sessions, women rated men who were *perceived* as being more intelligent or funny as more attractive, but rated men who were actually more intelligent (measured through cognitive tests) as slightly less attractive. https://sapienjournal.org/perceived-intelligence-is-attractive-but-real-intelligence-is-not/ 854 comments science
- Laser pointers can make cats frustrated if they do not get to ‘catch’ something at the end of play. Survey shows owners who frequently used Laser light pointers (LLPs) for playing with their cats are more likely to report Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors in their cats than others who did not use LLPs. https://sapienjournal.org/laser-light-play-associated-with-abnormal-repetitive-behaviors-in-cats/ 284 comments science
- A new scale of prosociality, 'social mindfulness' claims to capture a dimension of prosociality inaccessible to traditional (material) scales. Instead of resource allocation (ultimatum bargaining games, dictator games), it measures how mindful people are of the needs and interests of others. https://sapienjournal.org/study-finds-cross-country-differences-in-social-mindfulness/ 5 comments science
- Psychiatrists identify a new mass sociogenic illness that spreads through social media. Patients who "caught" the illness from a YouTuber exhibit weird behavior - vocal "tics", throwing pens at school & dishes at home. Patients believed they had Tourette syndrome until diagnosed with mass hysteria. https://sapienjournal.org/psychiatrists-identify-a-new-mass-sociogenic-illness-spread-by-social-media/ 46 comments nottheonion
- Humans are known to perform well when the reward is high (you are more motivated to win a ranked game than a normal game). But paradoxically, when the stakes are really high, we perform disastrously. A new study has found that monkeys, like humans, choke under pressure. https://sapienjournal.org/monkeys-like-humans-choke-under-pressure/ 438 comments science
- Psychiatrists identify a new mass sociogenic illness that spreads through social media. Patients who "caught" the illness from a YouTuber exhibit weird behavior - vocal "tics", throwing pens at school & dishes at home. Patients believed they had Tourette syndrome until diagnosed with mass hysteria. https://sapienjournal.org/psychiatrists-identify-a-new-mass-sociogenic-illness-spread-by-social-media/ 1100 comments science
- Dogs recognize other dogs from videos and are puzzled when cows or horses bark. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/dogs-recognize-other-dogs-from-videos-and-are-puzzled-when-cows-or-horses-bark 72 comments science
- Exposure to Credibility-Enhancing Displays (CREDs) predicts religious belief/atheism in American adults. CREDs are hard-to-fake signals of commitment to religious beliefs - painful rituals like scarification, martyrdom, celibacy, emotional displays, financial donations, and dietary taboos. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/exposure-to-costly-religious-rituals-predicts-religiosity-in-american-adults 8 comments science
- Late-night dreams (REM) are 'hyperassociative' - more bizarre, abstract and metaphorical than early-night dreams (Non-REM). REM dreams reflect the formation of fluid associations between items in memory. This is probably why REM sleep is crucial for creative, abstract and associative thinking. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/why-dreams-get-more-bizarre-further-into-the-night 3 comments science
- People who wear masks on their chin or neck are greater liars than people who wear masks properly or not at all. Study finds they r preparing for the contingency of running into the police- a situation they can lie out off (without paying a fine) by claiming that the mask accidentally slipped down. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/people-who-wear-masks-on-their-chins-are-greater-liars 117 comments science
- Blocking opioid receptors reduces social bonding during religious rituals : compared to participants who took the placebo, participants who took the opioid antagonist Naltrexone experienced lower levels of social bonding as a result of religious ritual they attended during the study. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/blocking-opioid-receptors-reduces-social-bonding-during-religious-rituals 29 comments science
- After 2 weeks of mindfulness practice, participants reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction, lower relationship distress, higher connectedness to partner and higher partner acceptance compared to pre-intervention levels. But, the effects of relaxation exercise (control) were superior. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/can-mindfulness-improve-romantic-relationships 20 comments science
- "A megastudy of text-based nudges" : Two texts - one reminding people about their scheduled vaccine appointment and the other suggesting that a vaccine shot has been reserved for them can boost vaccination rate by 11% and the intervention only costs less than a dime per person. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/text-based-intervention-can-improve-vaccination-by-11 12 comments science
- People who are sad and people who are clinically depressed show a high degree of similarity in prevalence of psychiatric disorders and socio-demographic risk factors, suggesting that garden variety sadness is an intermediate state on the continuum from mental well-being to Major Depressive Disorder. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/sadness-as-gateway-to-major-depressive-disorder 15 comments science
- Humans prefer others who resemble themselves as mates and best friends. This 'homophily' is especially strong when it comes to hobbies, moral beliefs, and taste in music. A survey-based study has uncovered some interesting gender differences in what makes intimate relationships flourish. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/what-predicts-intimacy-in-relationships-for-men-and-women 4 comments science
- Americans wrote more blackout tweets during the pandemic compared to the previous year. Findings suggest that high-risk drinking persisted during the pandemic despite the habit posing novel risks. Increased alcohol consumption could have lasting effects beyond the pandemic similar to SARS outbreak. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/americans-wrote-more-blackout-tweets-during-the-pandemic 19 comments science
- As much as 15 percent of the population may have persistent difficulty distinguishing left from right according to a study done in The Netherlands. 42.9 % of the participants said they consulted their hands for help. Some used more specialized strategies. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/15-of-the-population-may-have-left-right-confusion 91 comments science
- Not all stereotypes about atheists are bad. Atheists are perceived as fun, open-minded and scientific according to a new study. https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/atheists-are-perceived-as-fun-open-minded-and-scientific 160 comments science
- People who spend more money on stuff (after controlling for household income) are happier https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/spending-more-money-on-alcohol-can-make-you-happier 9 comments science
- 'Homeopathy Mafia'- The reason the Indian government is trying to legitimize something noone could possibly take seriously in 2020. (Long-form science article, OC) https://www.sapienjournal.org/post/homeopathy-fraud 15 comments india