Social Justice How Learning Artistic Skills Alters the Brain New research finds neural changes not only reflecting increased technical capacities, but also enhanced creativity. Tom Jacobs
News in Brief Ideology Often Trumps Science, Especially Among Conservatives Two carefully couched studies parse how our political views impact the way we respond to scientific findings. Tom Jacobs
Economics We Prefer Merlot With a Hint of Altruism New research finds consumers like products more if the companies that produced them are perceived as morally good. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Threaten My Group, and I’ll Belittle Your Science New research from Germany helps explain why people attempt to discredit scientific findings in online comments. Tom Jacobs
Economics Time-as-Money Mindset Decreases Green Behaviors New research finds paying people an hourly wage, or otherwise getting them to think in time-as-money terms, makes them less likely to act in environmentally friendly ways. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Childhood Exposure to Good Food Inspires Healthy Eating Later in Life A study finds college kids like foods they were served as children—even if they hated them at the time. Tom Jacobs
Economics Americans Overestimate Class Mobility New research finds we believe class boundaries are more porous than they are in reality. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Drinking Stimulates Consumption of High-Fat Foods Why did you eat that whole bag of chips? Blame the alcohol you used to wash them down. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice To Heighten Creativity, Take a Good Look at Your Selves Pondering your various social roles can stimulate innovative thinking. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Placebo Power: The Superior Efficacy of ‘Expensive’ Fake Drugs New research finds people suffering from Parkinson’s responded more strongly to a placebo if it was described to them as an expensive drug. Tom Jacobs