-
Are You Dreaming of a ‘Mall World’? You’re Not Alone
... Dylan Selterman, a scientist who works as an associate teaching professor at the Johns Hopkins University department of psychological and brain sciences, and studies dreams, said there was no scientific research that backed any of those Mall World theories. “If people are reporting very similar specific physical features of the mall in their dreams, we don’t have any evidence for the collective subconscious or some kind of telepathy that would explain that,” Dr. Selterman said in an interview. “It could be a coincidence.
-
RFK, Jr., Says Tylenol Use for Circumcision Causes Autism. Here’s Why That Claim Is Flawed
Today, in a cabinet meeting, U.S. secretary of health and human services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., claimed that there is a link between autism and circumcision. “There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,” he stated, without citing the studies. Kennedy was probably referring to a 2013 study of eight countries and a 2015 study from Denmark, both of which claimed to show a link between circumcision and autism rates.
-
Your Genes Are Simply Not Enough to Explain How Smart You Are
Seven years ago, I took a bet from one of the most controversial figures in the scientific world. Charles Murray, the political scientist who—along with the late psychologist Richard Herrnstein—wrote The Bell Curve in 1994, wagered that one of his core ideas about genetics and intelligence would be proved true by 2025. He emailed me some time after I’d helped stoke an online furor about his insistent defense of The Bell Curve’s main points, which he’d recently reiterated on a popular podcast and which I, along with two other psychologists and intelligence researchers, had denounced in Vox. I took the bet because I was confident I would win.
-
My Sense of Taste is Dulling as I Age. Can I Stop It?
All senses decline with age, but taste loss is surprisingly common. A 2016 study estimated that about three-fourths of older adults have taste issues — more than any other sensory deficit. ... While short-term issues like congestion can usually be addressed, doctors often can do little to reverse taste or smell loss, said Linda Bartoshuk, a research professor at George Washington University. People often try zinc supplements and acupuncture, but the evidence that they help is so low quality that Dr. Bartoshuk doesn’t recommend them. Some people also try B12 and iron supplements, but they help only if you’re deficient, Dr. Joseph said.
-
First-of-its-Kind Trip Brings CUNY SPS Psychology Students to National Conference
In a first-ever initiative made possible by a $70,000 grant from Empire State Development (ESD), the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) BA in Psychology program brought 32 undergraduate psychology majors to Washington, D.C. this past May for the 2025 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention. ... Faculty members Dr. Isabelle Elisha, the associate director for the Psychology program, and Dr. Chelsea Hansen joined Dr. Marquez-Lewis in leading the trip. Looking back afterwards, Dr. Elisha noted the effort required to coordinate such a large group.
-
Doing Almost Anything Is Better With Friends, Research Finds
Social interactions are essential for our well-being and happiness, research has shown. And now a large study supports that finding and suggests there are many ways to squeeze in more companionship — and happiness — into our busy lives. ... “What we see is that participants consistently rate every common daily activity as more enjoyable when they’re interacting with somebody else,” said Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia and senior author of the study, published in August in Social Psychological and Personality Science. ...
