Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

People's motivations bias how they gather information

A new study suggests people stop gathering evidence earlier when it supports their desired conclusion than when it opposes it. This bias is driven by a tendency to weight favorable evidence more heavily than opposing evidence, leading individuals to prematurely conclude in favor of their preconceived notion.

Farmer researchers reap more benefits than just increased crop production

A recent study published in Agronomy Journal found that farmers' primary motivation for participating in on-farm research is the opportunity to collaborate with university faculty and other farmers, leading to increased confidence in results and improved economic outcomes. The study also highlights the importance of peer-learning and f...

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Perceived union support buoys 'meaningfulness of work' measures

Research by University of Illinois professor M. Teresa Cardador found that employees perceive their labor unions as supportive, leading to enhanced work meaningfulness and psychological benefits. This association persists even among those who don't strongly identify with the union.

The perils of a leader who is too extroverted

A new study suggests that overly extroverted leaders can come across as pushy or annoying, while a moderate amount of assertiveness and warmth may be more effective. However, prosocial motivation can help highly extroverted leaders receive better marks from their peers.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Keeping fit is more than physical: It's a state of mind

A new study in Heliyon reveals that individuals who engage in solo or group exercise activities are more motivated by social connectedness than those exercising alone. Exercise motivation, self-control styles, and personality traits also predict participation frequency, with CrossFit participants ranking highest in intrinsic motivation.

Research finds pregnant women feel pushed out of their jobs

Research from Florida State University finds that pregnant women are more likely to feel 'pushed out' of their workplaces, leading them to opt-out. The study confirms inherent biases against expectant mothers and highlights the need for employers to provide equal career support to both men and women with children.

People turn to consumerism to confront problems, grief and feelings

A new study reveals that consumers are actively choosing to visit certain places to confront their feelings, grief or worries in a safe space. Therapeutic Servicescapes like Lourdes' marketplace offer emotional expression and vulnerability acceptance, leading to improved well-being.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New to college? Spend some time alone

A new study finds that first-year students who value and enjoy their alone time tend to display greater psychological health. The researchers argue that a healthy motivation for solitude is essential, particularly for those who don't feel they belong in college.

Towards new indicators of vulnerability to psychotic disorders

A study by SISSA investigated the decision-making processes of healthy subjects with sub-clinical psychotic episodes, finding alterations similar to those in schizophrenia patients. The research highlights reduced motivation, emotional dysregulation, and delusions as possible indicators of vulnerability to psychosis.

Animal-assisted therapy improves social behavior in patients with brain injuries

A clinical trial found that animal-assisted therapy can foster social competence and increase emotional involvement in patients with brain injuries. The study showed that patients exhibited more active social engagement, expressed positive emotions, and reported higher satisfaction when an animal was present during therapy sessions.

Handshakes or contracts?

A new study found that improvements in property damage and casualties differ for fire departments with informal, formal, or contract-based collaborations. Formal contracts improve performance on goals firefighters are motivated to achieve, but may negatively impact motivation for other important goals.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Marylene Gagné named SIOP Fellow

Dr. Marylene Gagné has been named a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) for her pioneering work in self-determination theory and work motivation. She is recognized for her outstanding contributions to the field of industrial-organizational psychology.

Attitudes about health affect how older adults engage with negative health news

A study by North Carolina State University found that older adults are more willing to engage with negative health information when they have a positive attitude towards their health. Participants who completed a checklist designed to make them feel good about their lifestyle choices read more than 50% of the negative articles, compare...

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Dopamine modulates the reward experiences elicited by music

Researchers found that dopamine precursor levodopa increased hedonic experience and motivational responses, while dopamine antagonist risperidone reduced both. These results suggest that dopamine modulates the reward experiences elicited by music, challenging previous evidence in animal models.

Dopamine modulates reward experiences elicited by music

A new study published in PNAS reveals a causal link between dopamine and the reward responses in humans when listening to music. Researchers found that dopamine manipulation led to opposite effects on musical pleasure and motivation, with levodopa increasing hedonic experience and risperidone reducing both.

Study looks at ranger motivation in dangerous African park

A new WCS study examines the job satisfaction of front-line conservation rangers working in challenging conditions at Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The research reveals that rangers' motivation decreases over time, but provides suggestions for improvement, including better salaries, recognition, and security guarantees.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

What makes rats relapse

A recent study published in JNeurosci found that activation of the anterior insular cortex is a key predictor of relapse after abstinence in male rats. This finding has implications for understanding the neurobiology of relapse and may inform preventative strategies for alcohol use disorder in humans.

Vapers do not undermine desire to quit smoking

A recent study by University College London found that smokers who regularly spend time with vapers are more likely to try quitting smoking. The study discovered no evidence that vaping discourages smokers from quitting, alleviating concerns about the public health impact of e-cigarettes.

Moving the motivation meter

Two novel drugs have been found to restore normal behavior in rats lacking motivation by stimulating a build-up of dopamine in the synapses. This discovery holds promise for treating apathy and fatigue in humans, particularly those suffering from depression or caused by chronic diseases.

Altruism can be trained

Scientists discovered that specific mental trainings can improve prosocial behavior over several months. Affect Module, consisting of daily practices, boosted altruistic behaviors, making it a potential step towards a caring society.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

People can die from giving up the fight

Researchers describe five stages of give-up-itis, a condition characterized by progressive psychological decline and apathy, leading to potentially life-threatening consequences. The condition is triggered by severe trauma and affects the anterior cingulate circuit, governing motivation and goal-directed behavior.

The warm glow of kindness is real -- Sussex study confirms

A major study from University of Sussex confirms that acts of kindness activate the brain's reward network, regardless of personal benefit. The research found distinct neural responses to altruistic and strategic kindness, with some areas more active during pure altruism.

Adoption of green stormwater infrastructure rises after floods

Researchers found that residents and property owners are more likely to adopt green stormwater infrastructure practices if they have experienced flooding or erosion. The study suggests a flexible approach to encourage effective stewardship of these practices across diverse populations and landscapes.

When refugees are barred from working, long-term integration suffers

Research from the Immigration Policy Lab found that EU countries' temporary employment bans for refugees hinder their long-term integration. Refugees who faced shorter wait times to work had higher employment rates, while those with longer bans struggled to find jobs and were more likely to be demotivated.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Is the key to sparking climate action a game?

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that a role-playing game called World Climate increases motivation to combat climate change by 81%, even among Americans who support free market policies. The game simulates UN climate talks and provides immediate feedback on the expected climate impacts of participants' decisions.

Resistance training and exercise-motivation go hand-in-hand

A nine-month resistance training intervention improved exercise motivation and planning in older adults, with nearly half continuing independently. Participants who increased intrinsic motivation and confidence maintained twice-a-week training

Patient motivations behind cosmetic procedures

The study discovered that patients' primary motivations behind cosmetic procedures are physical health, psychological well-being, and aesthetic appearance. Patients primarily pursue these procedures to look younger, fresher, and more confident.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

The love lives of fruit flies

Research at Harvard Medical School reveals that fruit fly courtship is influenced by the convergence of motivation, perception, and chance. The study found that dopamine levels play a crucial role in directing courtship behavior, with high levels leading to persistent pursuit.

Team sports have ancient roots

Researchers found evidence of coalitional play fighting among hunter-gatherer societies, suggesting it was a universal feature of human psychology. This type of play involved coordinated action and non-lethal physical force, mirroring skills used in lethal raiding.

It's about time: Immediate rewards boost workplace motivation

New Cornell research finds that immediate rewards increase intrinsic motivation by increasing positive experience of a task. This can lead to improved persistence and motivation, with important implications for employee motivation and loyalty programs.

Study examines tax compliance behavior in small business owners

A new study surveyed 330 UK micro-business owners, finding that internalised motivation (fair fiscal system) and extrinsic motivation (severe penalties) predict self-reported tax compliance. Internalised motivation but not extrinsic motivation predicts tax compliance when considered together.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Dance aids healthier aging

A three-month project by Queensland Ballet and QUT found participants experienced higher energy levels, greater flexibility, improved posture, and enhanced sense of achievement. Ballet participation was also linked to a general feeling of wellbeing and social connections.

How to deal with embarrassing situations

Researchers discovered that people who are self-conscious in public may feel more embarrassed when watching ads with embarrassing content. However, adopting an observer's perspective can reduce feelings of embarrassment and increase willingness to take action. The study suggests devising strategies to overcome embarrassment avoidance i...

Phishing success linked to incentives and sticking to an effective strategy

A new study on attacker motives identifies successful phishing strategies, including authoritative tone and shared interest, which can be used to develop detection tools. The study also found that incentives, such as quicker and larger rewards, motivate attackers to apply more effort in constructing persuasive emails.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Personality: Where does it come from and how does it work?

The theory proposes that personalities develop around three basic psychological needs: predictability, competence, and acceptance. These needs form the basis of personality and drive behavior. The article also highlights the role of temperament in shaping personality, particularly in children.

Studying outdoors is better

A study by TUM researchers found that outdoor instruction enhances students' basic psychological needs, particularly autonomy and competence. This leads to increased motivation in science subjects, with a positive impact on overall learning experience.

Study of 3,000 drinkers' attempts to cut down produces sobering results

A study of nearly 3,000 drinkers found that only a small percentage successfully reduced their alcohol consumption over six months. Despite good intentions, motivation alone is insufficient for reducing intake, with structural support and tools like smartphone apps potentially being effective.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Friend or foe? How the unconscious mind picks out faces in a crowd

A new study by Hebrew University researcher Ran Hassin reveals that our unconscious mind quickly registers faces associated with power and potential threat, while ignoring those deemed trustworthy. The findings have implications for understanding mental disorders such as autism and PTSD.

Recurring nightmares could reflect your daily frustrations

Research suggests that people's daily frustration with life can lead to recurring nightmares, where they experience falling, failing, or being attacked in their dreams. The study found that those whose psychological needs were not met reported more negative dream themes and struggled to interpret their dreams positively.

A fear of getting dumped kills romance and commitment

Researchers found that perceived risk of a romantic relationship ending influences the intensity of love and commitment, leading to reduced feelings when facing high or low risks. Commitment is strongest when there's only a moderate chance of break-up.

What helps international students to adapt

Research at National Research University Higher School of Economics found that international students with internal motivation and autonomy experience less culture shock and higher subjective well-being. Conversely, those driven by external factors struggle to adapt. The study's findings can inform preparation strategies for students s...

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Now you like it, now you don't

Brain stimulation reveals that fronto-striatal circuits are essential for enjoying music. Researchers used TMS to manipulate these circuits, increasing or decreasing participants' liking of music and motivation to listen again.

Study: Mental health mobile apps are effective self-help tools

A study by Brigham Young University researchers found that 90% of users reported increased motivation and confidence using mental and emotional health apps. The app-based interventions promote behavior change and can be an inexpensive way to increase self-efficacy for mental health.