All posts tagged: sheds

New psychology research sheds light on the dark side of “wine mom” culture

New psychology research sheds light on the dark side of “wine mom” culture

Recent research has illuminated how the “wine mom” phenomenon, prevalent on social media and television, influences mothers’ attitudes towards alcohol. This study found that the portrayal of mothers consuming alcohol as a stress-relief mechanism on platforms like Instagram and Facebook could encourage risky drinking behaviors by shaping social norms around alcohol consumption among mothers. The findings have been published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media. The “wine mom” phenomenon promotes the idea that alcohol is a necessary coping tool for motherhood’s challenges, often via humorous memes, hashtags like #winemom, or groups like “Mommy Drinks Wine and Swears.” The researchers were concerned that this social media discourse could adversely affect health outcomes, as increased alcohol consumption heightens the risk of developing physical and mental health disorders. “As a mother, I frequently see memes and discourse on social media about the need to drink alcohol to survive the challenges of motherhood. The messages often uses humor. As a scholar, I was curious about the effects of seeing this type of ‘wine mom’ messaging and I realized …

Psilocybin for chronic pain? Preliminary research sheds light on psychedelic’s potential

Psilocybin for chronic pain? Preliminary research sheds light on psychedelic’s potential

Scientists have recently discovered that psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” can significantly reduce chronic pain in rats. Notably, this pain relief was related to pain from touch, but not pain from heat. The study was published in Current Biology. Psychedelic drugs have recently gained attention for their potential to treat various psychiatric disorders. Psilocybin, in particular, has been the subject of research for its therapeutic effects on treatment-resistant depression as well as alcohol and tobacco abuse. Led by Nicholas Kolbman, researchers from the University of Michigan set out to explore the possibility of psilocybin as a treatment for chronic pain, an area that had not been systematically studied before despite the growing evidence for it. The team utilized a rat model where chronic pain was induced using intravenous formalin injections, which is a compound known to cause long-lasting pain sensitivity. In this study, two types of pain responses were analyzed. Mechanical hypersensitivity, which is increased sensitivity to pain from physical touch that wouldn’t normally be painful, was measured in the rats using a …

New study sheds light on its surprising role in adult sexuality

New study sheds light on its surprising role in adult sexuality

Tickling can also play a surprising role in adult sexuality. Researchers from have conducted a first-of-its-kind study, revealing that tickling can serve as a sufficient sexual stimulus for many, with some individuals even experiencing orgasms from tickling alone. This study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, suggests that our understanding of what can provoke sexual pleasure might be broader than traditionally thought. Tickle fetishism, also known as knismolagnia, refers to a sexual arousal or gratification that some individuals derive from tickling or being tickled. This fetish can involve various dynamics, such as the exchange of power, the sensation of touch, and the emotional reactions elicited by tickling. “We were interested in this topic for several reasons,” said study author Sarah Dagher, a PhD candidate at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. “Our lab is working on the neurobiological basis of tickling in a playful context particularly in rats. While tickling is a common human experience, it is rarely studied in the scientific field.” “Tickling has been studied as a tactile sensation in …

New study sheds light on the role of non-verbal communication during sex

New study sheds light on the role of non-verbal communication during sex

Sexual communication is vital for a fulfilling relationship, yet it remains a complex and often awkward topic for many. A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has shed light on this issue. The findings suggest that people are more likely to communicate during sex with partners they trust and feel comfortable with, primarily using non-verbal methods to avoid disrupting the intimacy of the moment. Prior research has highlighted a link between sexual dissatisfaction and poor communication, suggesting that enhancing dialogue about sexual preferences and desires could bolster relationship satisfaction. While much is known about verbal communication on sexual topics outside the bedroom, less is known about communication that occurs in the midst of sexual activity, particularly non-verbal forms. This gap in research provided the basis for the current study. “My primary area of focus is researching intimate sexual relationships, so this topic falls squarely into my areas of interest,” said study author Alicia M. Walker, an associate professor of sociology at Missouri State University and author of Chasing Masculinity: Men, Validation, and …

New research sheds light on how legally purchased firearms end up in crime scenes

New research sheds light on how legally purchased firearms end up in crime scenes

In recent years, the question of how legally purchased firearms end up being used in crimes has garnered significant attention from researchers and policymakers alike. A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) sheds light on this issue by tracking the journey of firearms from their legal purchase to their eventual use in crimes within California. The study’s findings reveal that guns reported lost are three times more likely to be used in a crime, and stolen guns are almost nine times more likely to be used, highlighting the critical role of theft and loss in the illegal firearm market. The research was published in the journal Injury Epidemiology. The motivation behind this extensive research was to update and expand the understanding of the factors contributing to firearms being used in criminal activities. With over 5.2 million handguns and almost 2.9 million long guns legally purchased in California between 1996 and 2021, and 45,247 of these guns recovered from crime scenes between 2010-2021, the study aimed to …

What I Believe sheds light on the values driving today’s leading humanist thinkers

What I Believe sheds light on the values driving today’s leading humanist thinkers

Another major nonfiction book on humanism is on its way. What I Believe, an inspiring collection of interviews with over thirty different humanists in the public eye, originally for the Humanists UK podcast of the same name, will be released in November 2024. Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson speaks to actors, authors, activists, and more to find out what they believe and the values, convictions, and opinions they live by. It includes conversations with Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig, and Alice Roberts, among many, many more. Inspired by the What I Believe essays of two humanist greats – the philosopher Bertrand Russell and the novelist E M Forster – this book opens a window to different humanist perspectives of today. All ideas, values, and beliefs are open to question and in this book readers have the opportunity to reflect on the human experience and find guidance and solace in the complexities of modern life. The collection originates in conversations from Humanists UK’s popular podcast of the same name, What I Believe, which since 2020 has …

A new report sheds light on the problems behind our imported shrimp

A new report sheds light on the problems behind our imported shrimp

Thailand has long been the face of the shrimp industry’s troubled track record. A series of investigations between 2014 and 2015, including bombshell reporting from The Guardian and The Associated Press, revealed that slavery and other labor abuses were widespread in processing facilities and fishing operations that provided feed to shrimp farms, leading governments to issue warnings and many companies to end relationships with Thai suppliers. As the Thai industry’s reputation was ravaged by these allegations, and poor overall aquaculture practices put its shrimp stocks under constant threat of disease, the country made a pledge to clean up its human rights performance — and its shrimp farms. Shrimp is by far the most popular seafood in the U.S., and the U.S. is the largest shrimp importer in the world; more than 90% of the shrimp we eat is farmed overseas. So when costs of Thai farmed seafood inevitably went up, the U.S. began looking elsewhere to satisfy its demand for cheap product. As Nathan Rickard, a lawyer for the Southern Shrimp Alliance, explained on a 2022 episode of “What You’re Eating,” the longstanding “Thai dominance” had …

Chinese researchers use DNA to reconstruct Emperor Wu’s face as study sheds light on his death | Science & Tech News

Chinese researchers use DNA to reconstruct Emperor Wu’s face as study sheds light on his death | Science & Tech News

Researchers have used DNA to reconstruct the face of a Chinese emperor and shed light on what might have caused his death. Emperor Wu was a ruler of the Northern Zhou dynasty in ancient China, reigning from 560 AD until 578, defeating the Northern Qi dynasty and unifying the northern part of the country. The emperor belonged to a rarely-studied nomadic group called the Xianbei that lived in modern-day Mongolia and northern and northeastern China. Almost 30 years after his tomb was discovered in northwestern China, researchers at Shanghai’s Fudan University used DNA and his nearly-complete skull to reconstruct his face in 3D. It shows the emperor had brown eyes, black hair and “dark to intermediate” skin. Researchers said the emperor “possessed a typical East or Northeast Asian appearance”. Pianpian Wei, the paper’s co-corresponding author at Fudan University, said: “Our work brought historical figures to life. “Previously people had to rely on historical records or murals to picture what ancient people looked like. “We are able to reveal the appearance of the Xianbei people directly.” …

New research sheds light on the global impact of problematic pornography use

New research sheds light on the global impact of problematic pornography use

A comprehensive international study involving tens of thousands of participants from dozens of countries suggests that problematic pornography use might have a prevalence rate as high as 16.6%. The findings, published in the journal Addiction, shed light on how problematic use of pornography is affecting people in different parts of the world, and across various genders and sexual orientations. Problematic pornography use refers to a condition where individuals experience an uncontrollable urge to consume pornography, leading to significant distress or impairment in their daily functioning. This might manifest in various aspects of life, such as personal relationships, work, and mental health. The frequency of use alone does not determine problematic use; rather, it’s the compulsive nature of the behavior and its negative repercussions that are diagnostic of problematic pornography use. The advent of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder in the latest International Statistical Classification of Diseases has brought problematic pornography use into greater focus. Despite extensive research spanning over two decades, critical gaps remained, particularly concerning the experiences of women, gender-diverse individuals, and people from …

New neuroscience research sheds light on the mystery of mind blanking

New neuroscience research sheds light on the mystery of mind blanking

Neuroscientists have taken a step closer to understanding those moments when our thoughts seem to vanish into thin air, a phenomenon known as “mind blanking.” A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience reveals that when people report having no identifiable thoughts — mind blanking — there is a marked reduction in brain activity across several key regions. This intriguing discovery contributes to broader conversations about consciousness and our ability to report experiences. The authors behind the new study sought to better understand a relatively understudied area of cognitive neuroscience: the phenomenon of mind blanking, where individuals find themselves unable to recount their immediate-past mental content. Unlike mental states with reportable content, such as daydreaming or engaging in a task, mind blanking represents a unique state of consciousness that lacked thorough neural characterization. “In the past 10 years, I have researched human unconscious states where communication is restricted (post-comatose disorders),” said corresponding author Athena Demertzi, a tenured research associate of the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research and director of the Physiology of Cognition Lab at …