In the 14th century, Venice was in many ways still a world power in its own right. The days when it could topple kingdoms using commerce were behind it, but it was still an important trade…

Dsillusioned churchgoers may find it increasingly difficult to remain associated with their church, yet many also find it difficult to leave.  They have not only a moral identity crisis but…

This is an exciting field which developed over just the last six years or so. There are many academic papers - but I haven't been able to find a good overview of the field in non technical language.…

Parents are more likely to be concerned with strong violence than smoking in a movie. Daniel Imfeld/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA By Simon Chapman, University of Sydney In an era when cinema attendance is in…

Do you feel sadder watching a documentary about war or a drama about a young person dying of cancer? If you poll most people, they will say there are stronger emotional reactions when stories are…

How did our ancestors raise so many kids, while modern parents struggle with the fast pace of life? It's unclear, but to help solve such First World problems, many businesses now offer traditional…

In the world of mixed environmental and social problems, such as global warming policy, there is a tug of war between social authoritarian forces that want top-down laws and regulations and behavior…

The world's fastest sprinters have unique gait features that account for some of their ability to achieve fast speeds, according to two new studies which indicate that the secret to elite sprinting…

Some epidemiological papers have linked an increased risk of autism in children with women who took antidepressants during pregnancy. Suggestions have been that antidepressants or severe maternal…

A new analysis suggests the planet can produce much more land-plant biomass – the total material in leaves, stems, roots, fruits, grains and other terrestrial plant parts – than previous estimates…