Having habits can either be good or bad. A good habit helps get you through your daily routine. But a bad habit can hold you back, and even endanger your health. If you’re like most people, that can be a struggle. If you always find yourself losing, could science offer some solutions? Science does offer
When faced with a major decision, like marriage or a career change, how do you go about it? The time-tested, logical way is to make a list of pros and cons. That can work well, but is there a better, more scientific way of decision-making? See if these ideas help — One approach is to
I grew up on a sheep and chicken farm, so naturally there were lots of smells. One of the most interesting was what I sensed before a rain. It was if I could actually smell the rain coming. Was it just me? No, according to the article “Why You Can Smell Rain” by Tim Logan
The end of summer may be a bit late to think about this, but have you ever wondered why plants don’t get sunburned? Actually, they’ve already thought of that. Plants can make their own sunscreen to protect from harmful solar radiation and yet not interfere with photosynthesis. Specifically, in 2011 a team of scientists reported
My best friend is a psychologist in private practice, so any news about behavior catches my eye. For example, a new study on self-esteem, which analyzed 191 research articles covering almost 165,000 people, suggests this is one trait that gets better with age. Data suggest self-esteem first begins to rise between ages 4 and 11. Levels
Now that I’m into my seventh decade, the simple question of how to feel younger is taking on a renewed urgency. So the article “This May Be the Secret to Feeling Younger and Living Longer” by Jamie Ducharme quickly caught my eye ( http://time.com/5363984/how-to-feel-younger-aging/? ). The answer may be simpler than you think. We really have
It’s happened to all of us (especially Disney collectors!). You hear a song, or maybe a couple of bars, and it’s stuck in your head forever. At least it seems like forever. And it doesn’t have to be the actual song; it could simply be a memory trigger, like a movie poster. Your nemesis is
While the music world mourns the death of Aretha Franklin, I was reminded of a recent story about a woman who was lured into impersonating the Queen of Soul. Mary Jane Jones of West Petersburg, Virginia was blessed with a remarkable voice and cursed with a difficult life. Married at 19, her first husband died
I try to support as many charities as I can, particularly with regard to veterans. But unfortunately, one always has to do some “due diligence” before donating. One of the best sources I’ve found for checking a charity is the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance ( https://www.give.org/ ). Recently I’ve received an email from
For my generation, “Bob” was a very popular name. Almost every organization I worked in had another Bob or Robert or Bobbi. But now, when I take a substitute teaching job, it’s unusual to have a Robert or Bob in the class. Or John or James for that matter. I’m not imagining this. A Goldman
