ScienceDaily: Science & Society News

The sound of intellect: Job seeker's voice reveals intelligence Posted: 20 Feb 2015 11:26 AM PST A new study found that when hypothetical employers and professional recruiters listened to or read job candidates' job qualifications, they rated the candidates as more competent, thoughtful and intelligent when they heard the pitch than when they read it.

Ancient and modern cities aren't so different Posted: 20 Feb 2015 11:26 AM PST Despite notable differences in appearance and governance, ancient human settlements function in much the same way as modern cities, according to new findings.

Education 'experts' cited in news stories may lack expertise, study finds Posted: 20 Feb 2015 10:33 AM PST A study of education experts cited in news stories and blogs during 2013 finds that some lack background in education policy and research.

Draft report analyzes policy options for hydraulic fracturing in Michigan Posted: 20 Feb 2015 07:14 AM PST Researchers have released a detailed draft analysis of policy options for hydraulic fracturing, the natural gas and oil extraction process commonly known as fracking.

Teens from single-parent families leave school earlier Posted: 20 Feb 2015 06:42 AM PST Individuals who live in single-parent families as teens received fewer years of schooling and are less likely to attain a bachelor's degree than those from two-parent families, a study concludes.

Women back idea of more breast screens for those at high risk of cancer Posted: 20 Feb 2015 05:39 AM PST Most women (85 percent) would back the idea of more frequent breast screening if they are at higher genetic risk of developing breast cancer, according to research.

Hydropower completes greening of Norway Posted: 20 Feb 2015 05:39 AM PST The Norwegian energy supply can be sustainable by 2030, according to new research, as long as politicians keep their promises, authors say, after analyzing the development potential of the Norwegian energy system to find out how it could be made more sustainable.

Powder vs. Crack: Study identifies arrest risk disparity for cocaine use Posted: 20 Feb 2015 05:34 AM PST Crack users are much more likely to experience arrest than powder cocaine users, and being poor is the true overwhelming correlate, not being black or a minority, a new study concludes.

Leader of the pack: Study of voles and owls show rise of individuals with greatest influence on collective group behavior Posted: 18 Feb 2015 07:27 AM PST Who takes charge during a disaster or at an accident scene? The question has intrigued sociologists since Gustave Le Bon first studied "herd behavior" in nineteenth-century France. The question of an individual's influence over the activity of a collective have perplexed researchers, in countless studies of this behavior, ever since.

How income fraud made the housing bubble worse Posted: 18 Feb 2015 06:30 AM PST New research reveals that, in low-income zip codes, IRS-reported incomes and earnings reported on mortgages in fact differed wildly from 2002 to 2005. The researchers place the blame for falsified earnings listed on mortgage applications -- which the researchers call "buyer income overstatement" -- on brokers producing mortgages intended to be sold as securities.

Use of 'digital badges' in schools would motivate students, research shows Posted: 13 Feb 2015 01:47 PM PST The blend of digital technology and traditional merit badges, such as those earned by Boy and Girl Scouts, would provide an opportunity to both motivate and measure learning, according to new research.

Obese black and white women differ in how they view weight Posted: 12 Feb 2015 08:42 AM PST Perceptions about weight differ between low-income obese white and black women, according to research by Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University.