ScienceDaily: Living Well News

Terrible at remembering names? Blame it on the music, not the memory Posted: 11 Feb 2015 12:39 PM PST A study challenged younger and older people to look at faces and names while either listening to non-lyrical music or nothing at all. The college-aged participants had no problems -- the music didn't affect their performance. But the older adults remembered 10 percent fewer names when listening to background music or musical rain (as compared to silence).

How much sleep do we really need? Posted: 11 Feb 2015 10:21 AM PST An expert panel that examined data from 320 studies is recommending new guidelines on how much sleep people should get. The guidelines are based on age, ranging from newborns (who need 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day) to adults aged 65 and up (7 to 8 hours per day).

Love online is about being real, not perfect Posted: 11 Feb 2015 10:19 AM PST How you fill out an online profile makes a big difference in how you're seen by others. New research shows it is better to be real with your information than trying to be perfect.

Largest ever genome-wide study strengthens genetic link to obesity Posted: 11 Feb 2015 10:18 AM PST While diet and exercise are important, new findings sharpen the role genetics play in people’s tendency to gain weight and where the fat is stored. This work is the first step toward finding individual genes that play key roles in body shape and size.

New evidence on risks of advanced maternal age Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:40 AM PST Many of the risk factors associated with pregnancy are more harmful when the expectant mother is over 35. According to an extensive, register-based study, the risks associated with overweight, smoking, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia are higher in advanced maternal age than in younger expectant mothers. dvanced maternal age refers to women giving birth at the age of over 35.

Want to save the planet? Neighbors better allies than family Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST Socializing with neighbors leads to more planet-friendly behaviors than spending time with friends or family, research finds. That's due to the diversity of neighbors and overwhelming similarity of loved ones, researchers say. So be kind to your neighbors: they may hold the secret to greater action on climate change.

Babies can identify complex social situations and react accordingly Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:20 AM PST In the social world, people constantly gather information through visual cues that are used to evaluate others and interact. A new study determined that babies can make sense of complex social situations, and that they expect people to behave appropriately.

Will your partner stay or stray? Look at finger length Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:29 AM PST Both men and women may be genetically inclined to be either promiscuous or faithful according to new research. The study analysed individual attitudes relating to non-committed sex and the length of the ring finger compared to the index finger.