The Myth of Promiscuous Males & Choosy Females
Scientists think that a study, which has been a cornerstone in evolutionary biology for the last five decades, could be wrong. Ecologist and evolutionary biologist…
Behavioral Science News
Darcin in Mice Urine Attracts Other Mice
Mice seem to be addicted to the scent of urine and repeatedly go back to spots where they found the excretions. Researchers have discovered that…
Orangutans Learn Tool Use Through Social Observation
A new study concludes that even very young Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) start forming ideas about their world, and how and when to use certain…
Curing Boredom
Many normal situations have the potential to be unbelievably boring. Boredom is more than just one of life’s minor irritations; it has been linked to…
The Reasons Why Rock & Pop Stars Die Young
According to a new report, rock and pop stars die young. Many of them die from drug overdoses, AIDS, or drunk-driving accidents. The study found…
Why People Like Watching the Same Thing Over and Over Again
There’s a reason why people are spending money on television show DVDs and Blu-rays that are essentially reruns, but this behavior is more complicated than…
Why Narcissists Seem More Attractive
While most people don’t consider narcissism or psychopathy desirable qualities in their romantic partners, many are still drawn towards people with these traits, which have…
Homosexual Behavior Among Fish Increases Attractiveness to Females
In many species, females are attracted to large, conspicuous males. But among animals that mate with many partners, males that manage to mate with more…
Lonely People Experience Vasoconstriction Making Them Colder
When people feel lonely, or when someone is being excluded by others, the person’s skin becomes colder. This is how people respond to exclusion and…
European Catfish Learn to Catch Pigeons
A group of European catfish in Southwestern France has learned to catch pigeons, as they get close to the River Tarn. European catfish (Silurus glanis)…
Urban Birds Use Cigarette Butts to Get Rid of Pests
A team of ecologists discovered that city birds may be inserting cigarette butts into the lining of their nests in order to repel arthropods. The…
Eurasian Jays Aware When Others Are Listening
A new study indicates that Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius) are aware that others may be watching them while they hide away nuts and seeds for the…
Humans Are a Greater Disturbance to Elk Than Natural Predators
A new study has shown that elk become more fearful when people are around because they perceive humans as predators. The scientists published their findings…
Drunken Larvae Learn Just As Well as Sober Larvae
Many studies suggest that the behavioral effects of alcohol in humans can be modeled in fruit flies and other animals. Scientists that were trying to…
Body Language Is a Better Indicator of Intense Emotions Than Facial Expressions
Intense emotional experiences are more easily read in body language than in watching facial expressions. Facial clues in most studies rely on a set of…
Survey Shows Great Apes Also Have Mid-Life Crisis
Chimpanzees and orangutans experience a mid-life crisis just like humans, according to a survey of 508 great apes in captivity shows. The scientists published their…
‘Healthy Neuroticism’ Lowers Risk of Chronic Disease
Neurotic people, such as anxious worriers, depressives, and those who have a temper, might not be very healthy, especially when compared to people who demonstrate…
Aversion to Clashing Harmonies Is Due to Mathematical Relationships of Overtones
There are many people who dislike clashing dissonances of some modernist composers. It’s been long thought that dissonant musical chords contain acoustic frequencies that interfere…