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Men think they're better liars

A study by Dr Brianna Verigin found that nearly half of all lies are told by a small number of prolific liars, who use their charm and words to deceive others. These expert liars prefer face-to-face interactions and often lie to close family members and colleagues.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 20, 2019

Australian desalination plant attracts fish

A large desalination plant in Sydney, Australia, has been found to attract certain species of fish, increasing their abundance at the discharge site. The researchers suggest that turbulence caused by high-pressure release of salty solution may be responsible for this effect.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 18, 2019

Unveiling a new map that reveals the hidden personalities of jobs

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has created a data-driven 'vocation compass' that suggests different occupations tend to have distinct personality profiles. The research used Twitter data to group similar jobs together, revealing that software programmers and scientists are often open to exp...

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2019

Social media use and disordered eating in young adolescents

Research found that social media use is associated with disordered eating behaviors and thoughts in young adolescents, especially girls. The study also identified strict exercise and meal skipping as common practices among adolescents with disordered eating.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateDec 4, 2019

Teens must 'get smart' about social media

A recent study found that platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are linked to disordered eating behaviors in young girls and boys. The research suggests that social media use is associated with a higher likelihood of disordered eating thoughts and behaviors, particularly among those who spend more time on these platforms.

SourceFlinders University·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateDec 4, 2019

Survey: Most teenagers in legalized states see marijuana marketing on social media

A study found that 94% of adolescents in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington reported exposure to marijuana marketing on social media. This exposure is linked to recent marijuana use by adolescents. The researchers suggest that current restrictions on social media content are not effective in preventing exposure.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateNov 21, 2019

Putting a conservation finger on the internet's pulse

Scientists from the University of Helsinki have created a computer algorithm that measures online discussions about endangered species, such as rhinos. The method successfully identified major events, including the death of the last northern white rhino, and highlights the importance of public sentiment in conservation.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalBiological Conservation·DateNov 11, 2019

STD crowd-diagnosis requests on social media

Researchers analyzed Reddit postings to understand the demand for crowd-diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. The study found that a significant proportion of requests were made after consulting with healthcare professionals, raising questions about the role of social media in healthcare decision-making.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateNov 5, 2019

Cynical social media voices can erode trust in news media

A Rutgers study found that cynical online views are the most influential on a person's trust in news media, while face-to-face interactions with like-minded people have a stronger impact. The study suggests that social media can make it harder to separate opinion from fact and bias from well-reasoned arguments.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Communication·DateNov 4, 2019

What Reddit's basketball fans can tell us about online discourse

A recent study on Reddit's basketball fans reveals that mixing fans of different teams can lead to a backfire effect, resulting in more negative comments and hate speech. The researchers found that when fans interact with opposing groups online, their language patterns deteriorate, becoming increasingly negative and confrontational.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateNov 1, 2019