ScienceDaily: Living Well News

Screen name matters with online dating: One starting with a letter in top half of alphabet makes a difference Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:21 PM PST Choosing a screen name with a letter starting in the top half of the alphabet is as important as an attractive photo and a fluent headline in the online dating game, reveals an analysis of the best ways of finding love in the digital world.

Stopping at red lights exposes drivers to high levels of air pollution Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:20 PM PST UK commuters spend an average of about 1.5 hours a day at the wheel. Road vehicles in particular are known to emit polluting nanoparticles which contribute to respiratory and heart diseases. Now, researchers have found that where drivers spend just 2% of their journey time passing through traffic intersections managed by lights, this short duration contributes to about 25% of total exposure to these harmful particles.

Research defines more behaviors that reveal romantic attraction Posted: 12 Feb 2015 12:46 PM PST Jeffrey Hall coded 36 verbal flirting behaviors -- such as making compliments, asking questions and revealing information -- and nonverbal flirting behaviors --such as leg-crossing, palming, leaning forward, playing with objects and nodding. The research team found different verbal and nonverbal cues indicated underlying physical attraction for each style.

People value resources more consistently when they are scarce Posted: 12 Feb 2015 10:18 AM PST We tend to be economically irrational when it comes to choosing how we use resources like money and time but scarcity can convert us into economically rational decision makers, according to new research.

Looking for love? Some use Reddit to give Cupid tech support Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:24 AM PST A new study finds that users on OKCupid and mobile-based Tinder aren’t able to determine social norms or effective match-making techniques on the services, so they use Reddit to learn tips about online dating. Once there, they also find ways that allow them to “cheat the system” to interact with more potential dates.

Caution concerning the possible health benefits of alcohol: Beneficial only for women over 65? Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:20 PM PST Any health benefits from alcohol may be limited to women aged 65 and over -- and even then may have been exaggerated by existing studies. High alcohol consumption has been associated with more than 200 acute and chronic conditions. Globally, more than three million deaths each year are attributed to alcohol.

Protein linked to longevity and enhanced cognition protects against Alzheimer's symptoms in mice Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:20 PM PST Scientists report that raising levels of the life-extending protein klotho can protect against learning and memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

The benefits of voluntary work for the working population Posted: 10 Feb 2015 02:06 AM PST Gainfully employed people who volunteer in their spare time are healthier and more satisfied with their work-life balance than people who do not engage in voluntary work.