quick studies
Americans' Attitudes Toward Suicide Are Softening
But as with so many social issues, the liberal-conservative divide has grown wider over time.
Women Are Superior Wordsmiths From an Early Age
By fourth grade, girls are better than boys at reading and, especially, writing. New research finds this gap then increases as they get older.
Women in STEM Benefit From Same-Sex Support
Fewer females drop out of doctoral programs if they have a significant number of same-sex peers.
Won't You Be My Climate-Conscious Neighbor?
New research suggests social comparison can be an effective way to reduce energy consumption.
Are Trump's Tweets Self-Defeating?
New research finds incivility decreases politicians' public approval, even in a hyper-partisan environment.
Americans Are Reading Fewer Novels, but More Poetry
New National Endowment for the Arts research finds arts attendance is rising, but remains below 2002 levels.
Research Suggests Black Women Are More Likely to Be Objectified and Dehumanized
Serena Williams is not alone in having grounds to suspect bias.
Did Inclusiveness, a Core Value of Democrats, Lead to Their 2016 Loss?
New research argues Republicans' us-vs.-them attitude gave the GOP an advantage by heightening party solidarity.
More Evidence That Green Space Helps Develop Young Brains
Access to nature appears to provide kids with a specific cognitive advantage.
New Research Debunks the Upward Mobility Myth
You're far more likely to hold a high-status occupation if your parents did the same.
Desegregated Playtime Gives Heart Health a Boost
It's less likely you'll expand your waistline if you're expanding your horizons.
Social Networks Can Boost Knowledge, Even on Polarizing Issues
But only if they are structured in a way that deemphasizes users' partisan identities.
In the Latest Effort to Replicate Scientific Studies, Only 62 Percent Hold Up Under Scrutiny
Nevertheless, scientists see some progress on the problem of reproducibility.
The Latest Poll Results—From 1932
The rediscovery of a Depression-era survey reminds us that assumptions about what drives voters can be very mistaken.
Beauty Is, Mostly, in the Eye of the Beholder
A new analysis finds a few widely shared aesthetic preferences, and a whole lot of individual and cultural variation.
The Militarization of Police Does Not Reduce Crime
New research finds it does reduce public support for law enforcement.
Hit Movies Have More Female Characters—and Stronger Ones Too
New research finds females still make up a minority of the onscreen population, but they are depicted more often in leadership roles.
Fracking Operations Are Using More and More Water
A new study suggests that future fracking practices will require far more water than previously estimated.
Moral Outrage Can Backfire When It Goes Viral
As negative comments accumulate, they start to come across as bullying—even if they're justified.
Here's More Evidence Facebook Is Harming Democracy
A second study links use of the social media platform with lower political knowledge.
Racism May Extend to Robots
A new study finds a robot's color affects how people react to it.
Black Cops Are Just as Likely as White Cops to Kill Black Suspects
New research suggests a culture of bias is a bigger problem than individual racist officers.
Music Reduces Pain—Even in Newborns
A two-day-old is apparently not too young to benefit from listening to the Moonlight Sonata.
'I Pledge to Vote' Gets People to the Polls
Recent research identifies a promising way to get first-time voters to cast a ballot.