Robotic dogs and laughter therapy: Combating loneliness and isolation while social distancing
Robotic dogs, laughter therapy and mindfulness are some of the ways that might help people -- particularly the elderly -- cope with loneliness and social isolation while social distancing, say researchers......»»
Over half of Americans say lowering health care costs is among most important issues in deciding their presidential pick
Lowering the cost of health care and prescription drug prices and protecting Medicare and Social Security are among the most important issues for Americans in determining their vote for president, according to a new national West Health-Gallup Poll r.....»»
Dungeon-mastering emotions: D&D meets group therapy
Research is ongoing, but therapists are happy with early results. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) This year marks the 50th anniversary of the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). A.....»»
Researchers urge governments to enlist emotion when fighting fake news
Real people with relatable stories can help public agencies counter social media disinformation campaigns and "fake news" around issues such as vaccination programs, academic researchers say......»»
New tool can assess elderly dogs" frailty
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a tool that can aid owners and veterinarians in assessing an elderly dog's frailty. The tool—when coupled with simple assessments of body and muscle condition by the veterinarian—can.....»»
Social networks help people resolve welfare problems—but only sometimes, new research finds
Lead researcher Dr. Sarah Nason, from Bangor University's School of History, Law and Social Sciences explained, "Debt, benefits, special educational needs, health care issues, these are everyday problems that many of us face, and it's only natural to.....»»
Alleged M4 MacBook Pro packaging leak highlights a few new upgrades
Originally shared on social media by ShrimpApplePro, an apparent packaging leak for the M4 seems to showcase a couple features for the laptop that we didn’t quite expect. The leak is unverified, so take it with a grain of salt. more….....»»
Edmunds" new digital campaign turns to TikTok, YouTube, Meta
Online car shopping guide Edmunds is running a sports-themed fall social media advertising campaign to boost brand awareness and help retailers sell more cars......»»
Team debunks research showing Facebook"s news-feed algorithm curbs election misinformation
An interdisciplinary team of researchers led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst have published work in the journal Science calling into question the conclusions of a widely reported study—published in Science in 2023—finding the social pl.....»»
How social structure influences the way people share money
People around the globe often depend on informal financial arrangements, borrowing and lending money through social networks. Understanding this sheds light on local economies and helps fight poverty......»»
A method of "look twice, forgive once" can sustain social cooperation
The theory of indirect reciprocity holds that people who earn a good reputation by helping others are more likely to be rewarded by third parties, but widespread cooperation depends on agreement about reputations......»»
A social media platform that is actually good for democracy?
Technology is often seen as a threat to democracy, with the surge in AI capabilities the latest big concern......»»
Robotic moving "crew" preps for work on moon
As NASA moves forward with efforts to establish a long-term presence on the moon as part of the Artemis campaign, safely moving cargo from landers to the lunar surface is a crucial capability......»»
How synchronization supports social interactions: Taking turns during conversations may help coordinate cues
Turn-taking dynamics of social interactions are important for speech and gesture synchronization, enabling conversations to proceed efficiently, according to a study published September 25, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Tifenn Fauviaux.....»»
How professional sports leagues that embrace social justice causes could influence politics
Given that 77 percent of people in Canada and 57 percent of people in the United Kingdom watch a sports team regularly—compared to the 60 percent of people who turn out to vote in Canada and the U.K.—it's clear sports have an important and persis.....»»
Fecal transplants reduce ADHD and anxiety symptoms in dogs with epilepsy, researchers find
Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and Center for Systems Neuroscience in Hannover, Germany have discovered that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can reduce negative mental health symptoms i.....»»
Ads from Hell: How a pizza brand"s marketing reveals NZ"s shifting religious attitudes
Controversial advertising holds a mirror up to society. It can unite us in laughter or outrage, spark debates that shape our beliefs—and sometimes expose our political differences......»»
Saturday Citations: Football metaphors in physics; vets treat adorable baby rhino"s broken leg
This week, researchers reported an effective way to protect working dogs from heat stress: training them to dunk their heads in cool water. A new computational technique provided a breakthrough in understanding the so-called "pseudogap" in quantum ph.....»»
Culture Capital: A documentary series spotlighting community-oriented entrepreneurs
Comcast RISE In a world where business success is increasingly intertwined with social impact, a new documentary series explores the stories behind the innovators shaping the communities of tomorrow. Culture Capital, is a three-part docuseries that d.....»»
Female elephants rumble to say "let"s go!" Namibian study shows males do too, a sign of unexpected social bonds
In elephant family groups made up of related females and their young, it is clear that the animals produce vocal sounds to coordinate action. This happens when it's time to leave a waterhole, for example. The matriarch or dominant female steps away f.....»»
Research proposes theory to model interplay of personal and social beliefs
The beliefs we hold develop from a complex dance between our internal and external lives. Our personal-level cognition and our relationships with others work in concert to shape our views of the world and influence how likely we are to update those v.....»»