Seratonin levels have been found to affect animal’s sexual choices.
There’s a new peer-reviewed research paper out this week that purports to show a link between an animal’s levels of serotonin—a brain chemical probably best known for its association with happy feelings—and who that animal chooses to be its sex partners…
Continue reading… “Low Serotonin Levels Make Mice More Bisexual”
A rabbi is suing the US Army for refusing to let him serve unless he removes his beard. The US military, as well as many police forces across America, require recruits to be clean shaven. But what is wrong with sporting a beard in the line of duty?
Chin straps, goatees, stubble, soul patches, mutton chops or just the old-fashioned full version.
There are many ways to grow a beard, but if you’re serving in the US military, getting creative with your chin furniture is not an option.
The different branches of the US insist that recruits are clean shaven. Those later in their career are permitted to go as far as growing a moustache. But even that facial freedom comes with caveats…
Continue reading… “Should Men in Uniform be Forced to Shave?”
You can throw away the stress balls, prayer helps.
Suffering from excessive anger or aggression? Well, throw away your stress balls. A series of studies conducted at three universities show that praying helps dissipate your anger, whether or not it helps the person you are praying for.
Continue reading… “Prayer Helps Dissipate Anger, Even if You Don’t Believe In It”
Consumers would wave their phones instead of swiping credit cards at the checkout counter.
The cellphone has been more than a cellphone for years, but soon it could take on an entirely new role — standing in for all of the credit and debit cards crammed into wallets. Instead of swiping a plastic card at the checkout counter, consumers would merely wave their phones.
According to an article on the National Geographic website, nearly half the primate species are in danger of becoming extinct from destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial bush-meat hunting.
Continue reading… “Half Of All Primates Threatened With Extinction”
Hispanics are currently the fastest growing group.
In a surprising show of growth, Hispanics accounted for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the last decade, exceeding estimates in most states. Pulled by migration to the Sun Belt, America’s population center edged westward on a historic path to leave the Midwest.
What makes movie popcorn so gosh darned expensive? What’s in that strange yellow liquid they call butter anyhow? And while we’re at it – what are in those popcorns anyhow?
Well, it’s all a secret and theater owners are fighting the FDA to keep it that way…
Continue reading… “What’s In Movie Theater Popcorns?”
The top spot as the laziest state in the union is Tennessee
In the earliest days of the U.S., the frontier was a tough place to live. Surely more than one pioneer, upon reaching the rushing and roiling Mississippi River, turned to his wagon-mates and said, with a wave of his hand, “Yeah, this looks like a nice place to settle, let’s call it a day.”
Continue reading… “Top 10 Laziest States in America”
Percentage religiously unaliated versus time in four regions: (a) the autonomous Aland islands region of Finland, (b) Schwyz Canton in Switzerland, (c) Vienna Province in Austria, (d) the Netherlands
A study recently released by a team from Northwestern University and the University of Arizona shows that religion and religious affiliations may be on the verge of extinction in the nine countries studied. Utilizing a mathematical model of nonlinear dynamics, the team analyzed data from censuses taken in nine different countries dating as far back as a century.
Continue reading… “Study: Religion on the Verge of Extinction in Some Countries”
Are buses less safe today? Yes, according to the Federal Transit Authority, because of … fat people. So it’s rewriting the rules to ensure bus safety:
The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) proposes raising the assumed average weight per bus passenger from 150 pounds to 175 pounds, which could mean that across the country, fewer people will be allowed on a city transit bus.
Continue reading… “Bus Safety Rules to be Rewritten Because of People are Now Too Fat”
Bill McKibben has a fantastic column up today in which he details the numerous times that the US Chamber of Commerce has been wrong throughout American history — they opposed the New Deal, policies to support the Allies against Hitler in WWII, and on down the line to blocking action to prevent climate change. So why does anyone still listen?
Everybody needs a little help every now and then. Give2gether is banking that non-profits want a little help from economic professors applying their years of study towards making online giving more efficient.
The site itself is similar to other philanthropy-enabling platforms like Kickstarter, Crowdrise or even Jumo. Non-profits can set up a page on give2gether and use it to share news and raise money…
Continue reading… “Is Give2gether a Google Analytics for Philanthropy?”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.