ScienceDaily: Popular Culture News

Common myths about digital piracy busted

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

The results of a large-scale, analysis of BitTorrent file-sharing of computer games, focusing on using open methodologies, bust some of the common myths about digital piracy.

Openly gay: Does it affect performance appraisal?

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

Although knowing an actor is gay significantly affected ratings of his masculinity, there was no significant effect on ratings of his acting performance, researchers say.

Internet content is looking for you

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:17 EDT

"Contextual search" is improving so gradually the changes often go unnoticed, and we may soon forget what the world was like without it, according to a technology expert.

Teen girls who exercise are less likely to be violent

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Regular exercise is touted as an antidote for many ills, including stress, depression and obesity. Physical activity also may help decrease violent behavior among adolescent girls, according to new research.

Camaraderie of sports teams may deter bullying, violence

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

As schools around the country look for ways to reduce violence and bullying, they may want to consider encouraging students to participate in team sports, according to a new study.

Experts to focus on the science of gun safety

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:32:32 EDT

Pediatric leaders and researchers tackled the complex and often politically charged subject of gun violence.

Violent video games have lower effects on highly-exposed teens

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:50:50 EDT

Teenagers who are highly exposed to violent video games —- three or more hours per day -— show blunted physical and psychological responses to playing a violent game, reports a new study.

Gamers recognize college football players in video games

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:29:29 EDT

Paying college athletes is a contentious issue and the subject of a lawsuit challenging the use of their likenesses in video games. A new study found that many video gamers recognize athletes in the video games.

Link between school climate and violence confirmed

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:14:14 EDT

Schools may be a step closer towards the development of effective strategies to prevent violent behavior. New research shows that there is a direct link between school climate and school violence.

'How' often is more important than 'why' when describing breakups

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:39:39 EDT

Maybe rocker Greg Kihn was being prophetic in his 1981 hit, "The Breakup Song," with its chorus, "They don't write 'em like that anymore." A professor's new article looks at how people write to break up today, including through texts, emails and social media.

Video games: Bad or good for your memory?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:47:47 EDT

After the horrific shooting sprees at Columbine High School in 1999 and Virginia Tech in 2007, players of violent video games, such as First Person Shooter (FPS) games, have often been accused in the media of being impulsive, antisocial, or aggressive.

Taking the pulse of the crowd

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:47:47 EDT

If everyone in the crowd at a sports event or concert or even the players had wireless heart monitors fitted, commentators and those behind the sound desk could get a real measure of the sense of the collective excitement on each side and in the case of sport share the enthusiasm or for a concert adjust the set list to keep up the excitement. The same technology might also perhaps be used to help reduce panic should there be a fire or other scare at such events.

Tourist's trust is based on social media and the web

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:59:59 EDT

Does social media and internet based information sources such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs and many more influence our decision on where we travel to and how we share our experiences with others?

Doctors urged to 'pause before posting' and not 'friend' patients

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:23:23 EDT

New recommendations offer physicians ethical guidance for preserving trust in patient-physician relationships and the profession when using social media.

Relationships: Team women versus distant men

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:28:28 EDT

Women immerse themselves in their romantic relationships, while men place their best friendships and romantic partners on an equal but distant footing.

Public support can influence soldiers' mental health, bug killing study suggests

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:45:45 EDT

Can events supporting troops reduce the risk of soldiers experiencing combat-related stress disorders? A new study suggests so.

'Miracle foods': Can they decrease the risk of cancer?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:06:06 EDT

Cancer is a disease that invokes fear, so it is not surprising that the public is eager to identify ways to decrease the risk. The media often features information on "Miracle Foods" and publicizes whether these foods can actually decrease the risk of cancer. A new commentary calls on both researchers as well as media sources to consider the validity of multiple studies as opposed to singular studies before assuming that media information is factual.

Only fifteen minutes of fame? Not so

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:55:55 EDT

True fame isn’t fleeting, according to new research. They studied all the names mentioned in over 2,000 English-language newspapers from the U.S., Canada and the U.K. over a period of several decades. What they found was that, contrary to popular belief (and scholarly research up to now), the people who become truly famous stay famous for decades.

Violent video games are a risk factor for criminal behavior and aggression, new evidence shows

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:16:16 EDT

New evidence demonstrates a link between video games and youth violence and delinquency. The research shows a strong connection even when controlling for a history of violence and psychopathic traits among juvenile offenders.

Study explores gang activity on the internet

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Gangs are not using the Internet to recruit new members or commit complex cybercrimes, according to a new study.

Amateur parody videos can make the originals more popular and profitable

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:29:29 EDT

Amateur parody videos on YouTube can lead to increased views and popularity for the original, research has found.

Media coverage of mass shootings contributes to negative attitudes towards mental illness

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:51:51 EDT

News stories about mass shootings involving a shooter with mental illness heighten readers' negative attitudes toward persons with serious mental illness, according to a new report. The researchers also examined how such news stories impact support for policies to reduce gun violence. Compared to study respondents who did not read a story about a mass shooting, reading a news article describing a mass shooting raised readers' support for both gun restrictions for persons with serious mental illness, and for a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines.

Different camera angles may evoke emotion in audiences

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Camera angles may play a significant role when organizations are trying to convince TV viewers to support a cause, according to a new study.

Do we forgive television characters for their bad actions?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

When watching a television show, the bad decisions that characters make are more likely to be forgiven if you think they have a good reason for their behavior, according to a new study.

Knowledge of the game is not an advantage in sports gambling

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

Scientist have found that neither betting experience nor knowledge of the details of the game provides an advantage to strategic sports gamblers. He says that they operate under an illusion of control and power unrelated to real-life outcomes.

Why Irish people feel they have no alternative but to celebrate St Patrick's Day

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Research into why Irish people feel they have no alternative but to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Some biologists shun new media

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:38:38 EST

An online survey of neuroscientists in Germany and the United States found that, although in both countries researchers believe "new media" such as blogs and online social networks are important in influencing public opinion and political decisions, the researchers make little use of new media themselves.

Celebrity endorsement encourages children to eat junk food

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:40:40 EST

Celebrity endorsement of a food product encourages children to eat more of the endorsed product, new research shows. It also found that children were prompted to eat more of the endorsed product when they saw the celebrity on TV in a different context.

Limiting access to alcohol reduces violence, experts say

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:07:07 EST

Amending existing laws or adopting additional regulations to limit the availability of alcohol would reduce community violence, experts say.

Aggressive advertising makes for aggressive men

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:33:33 EST

Does advertising influence society, or is it merely a reflection of society's pre-existing norms? Where male attitudes are concerned, a new study implicates magazine advertisements specifically aimed at men as helping to reinforce a certain set of views on masculinity termed "hyper-masculinity."

Camera inside spiraling football provides ball's-eye view of field

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:20:20 EST

Researchers have shown that a camera embedded in the side of a rubber-sheathed plastic foam football can record video while the ball is in flight that could give spectators a unique, ball's-eye view of the playing field. They developed a computer algorithm that converts the unwatchable, raw video into a stable, wide-angle view.

New technology for animation film experts

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:19:19 EST

Hollywood devotes great effort to chasing monsters through realistic-looking environments. Researchers have now developed a technology that greatly simplifies the production of such scenes. Actors' movements are captured with a few cameras in a real scene and then transferred extremely realistically to virtual characters. This will not only simplify the work of cartoon makers, but also assist doctors and sportsmen with motion analysis.

Scrap 'unwinnable' drugs war and divert funds into curbing global antibiotic misuse, experts say

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:49:49 EST

Governments around the world should stop squandering resources fighting an "unwinnable war" against illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Instead, they should use the cash to curb antibiotic misuse, which poses a far more serious threat to human health, claims a leading ethicist.

Trustworthy mating advice deepens bond between straight women and gay men

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:32:32 EST

A new psychology study suggests the glue that cements the unique relationship between gay men and straight women is honest, unbiased relationship advice.

It may be educational, but what is that TV show really teaching your preschooler?

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:21:21 EST

Most parents carefully select what television programs and movies their children can watch. But a psychologist says educational shows could come with an added lesson that influences a child’s behavior. Children exposed to educational programs were more aggressive in their interactions than those who weren't exposed.

Could a computer on the police beat prevent violence?

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:41:41 EST

As cities work to reduce violence in tight budget times, new research shows how they might be able to target their efforts and police attention on areas prone to violence – with the help of high-powered computers and loads of data on crime, alcohol availability and drug markets.

'Foodie' movement gains momentum

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:21:21 EST

The line between specialty and mainstream foods continues to blur due to the escalating foodie movement. In the February issue of Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Contributing Editor A. Elizabeth Sloan highlights the latest statistics on the foodie phenomenon in the United States.

Marketing technique: Activating gender stereotypes just to knock 'em down

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:10:10 EST

A new study looks at the issue of product perception of consumers through the lens of gender stereotypes. The researchers conclude that while traditional gender stereotypes can still have a significant influence on consumer behavior in the 21st century, there are ways that firms can activate these stereotypes solely to transcend them.

Teaching teens that people can change reduces aggression in school

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:05:05 EST

In eight studies involving more than 1,600 diverse 8th-10th grade students, researchers show that teenagers who believe people can't change react more aggressively to a peer conflict than those who think people can change. Following these studies, researchers developed a brief intervention that taught teens that people have the potential to change. The intervention reduced the teens' tendency to see the offense as having been done on purpose, and reduced their desire for aggressive revenge.

Romantic delusions allow online dating scams to flourish

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:04:04 EST

As international criminal gangs increasingly target online dating and social networking sites, as a means of extorting money from unwary victims, research suggests that new strategies are needed for tackling the crime and supporting its victims.

Gun violence prevention experts call for more physician involvement

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:20:20 EST

A new commentary calls for more physician engagement in the current gun policy dialogue.

Cupid's arrow: Light shed on laws of attraction

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:28:28 EST

A sociologist's research offers new insights into why and when Cupid's arrow strikes.

Physicians' belief about obesity causes impacts advice and care

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST

A new study indicates that physicians who believed overconsumption of food to be a major contributor to obesity were significantly more likely to counsel their patients to modify nutritional habits.

Blowing hot and cold: U.S. belief in climate change shifts with weather

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

A study of American attitudes toward climate change finds that local weather -- temperature, in particular -- is a major influence on public and media opinions on the reality of global warming.

Peer pressure trumps 'thin' ideals in the media

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:36:36 EST

Peers exert a greater influence on teenage girls' dissatisfaction with their bodies than do thin ideals in television or social media use, according to new research.

Majority of Americans support dozens of policies to strengthen U.S. gun laws

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:39:39 EST

The majority of Americans support a broad array of policies to reduce gun violence, according to a new national public opinion survey.

No link found between facial shape and aggression

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:41:41 EST

There is not significant evidence to support the association between facial shape and aggression in men, according to a new study.

Fantasy sports users spend more time in front of television on gamedays

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:39:39 EST

As the weekend approaches, you may notice your household’s fantasy sports user paying more attention to the television, according to a new study.

'Cool' kids in middle school bully more, psychologists report

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:07:07 EST

Bullying boosts the social status and popularity of middle school students, a new psychology study shows, and popular students engage most in bullying.

New study examines on/off relationships and 'sex with an ex' among teenagers and young adults

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:24:24 EST

A new study finds that nearly half of older teenagers and young adults break up and get back together with previous dating partners and over half of this group have sex as part of the reconciliation process.

Public acceptance of climate change affected by word usage

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:24:24 EST

Public acceptance of climate change's reality may have been influenced by the rate at which words moved from scientific journals into the mainstream, according to an anthropologist.

Portrayal of spring break excess may be stereotypes gone wild

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:54:54 EST

The popular perception that college students are reaching new levels of self-indulgence and risky behavior during spring break excursions may be based on media coverage and scholarship that oversimplifies what has become an annual rite for many young adults, according to researchers.

Youth attitudes about guns: Sixty percent of high school and college students consider gun ownership in future

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:20:20 EST

Sixty percent of high school and college students consider gun ownership in the future. Key findings revealed in poll based on personality traits, video games, gender, race, and political affiliation.

Prior relationship experiences shape romantic partnerships, says psychologist

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:09:09 EST

Partners each bring a suitcase of prior experiences to a relationship, which may influence what happens in their current relationship, says a professor of psychology and education.

E-games boost physical activity in children; Might be a weapon in the battle against obesity

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:57:57 EST

Video games have been blamed for contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. But a new study by researchers suggests that certain blood-pumping video games can boost energy expenditures among children who are at high risk for unhealthy weight gain.

Violence against teachers spurs urgent call to action

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:13:13 EST

Teachers across the United States report alarmingly high rates of personally experiencing student violence and harassment while at school, according to an article published by the American Psychological Association that presents comprehensive recommendations to make schools safer for school personnel as well as students.

Comprehensive public health approach urged to curb gun violence in U.S.

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:09:09 EST

In the wake of the horrific school shootings in Newtown, Conn. in December, three experts say the best way to curb gun violence in the U.S. is to take a broad public health approach, drawing on proven, evidence-based strategies that have successfully reduced other public health threats like smoking, car crashes, and accidental poisonings. The authors make the case for a comprehensive public health approach to gun violence in an article published online Jan. 7, 2013 in JAMA.

Online science news with user comments fraught with unintended consequences, study suggests

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:32:32 EST

A science-inclined audience and wide array of communications tools make the Internet an excellent opportunity for scientists hoping to share their research with the world. But that opportunity is fraught with unintended consequences. New research shows the tone of comments posted by other readers can make a significant difference in the way new readers feel about the article's subject. The less civil the accompanying comments, the more risk readers attributed to the research described in the news story.

Broader background checks and denial criteria could help prevent mass shooting catastrophes, experts say

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:47:47 EST

A gun violence prevention expert and emergency medicine physician, believes broader criteria for background checks and denials on gun purchases can help prevent future firearm violence, including mass shooting catastrophes such as those that occurred at Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech and Columbine.

People with mental disorders more likely to have experienced domestic violence

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:30:30 EST

Men and women with mental health disorders, across all diagnoses, are more likely to have experienced domestic violence than the general population, according to new research.