Can love “ACTUALLY” make the world more beautiful? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Ah, love – it makes us see everything through “rose-colored glasses.” At least, according to the movies. We feel great and life just seems…well, lovelier! But wait – does love REALLY
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Nap or Play?
Playtime – seventeen minutes! Naptime – thirty minutes! Are we on schedule? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Kids need sleep AND sports. But how much of each should go into a healthy recipe? Emily Ng from University of South Australia and colleagues set out
Continue readingRAP Club
Welcome to the RAPP-iest place on earth! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, talking about RAP club!. No, not rap MUSIC club — R-A-P intervention! RELAX, be AWARE and do a PERSONAL rating. It’s a stress-management program for kids, led by counselors and community members.
Continue readingPiano, Man
Sing us a song, you’re the piano man! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Watching feel-good movies like Pitch Perfect can put us in happy mode. And that emotion creates signals in certain parts of the brain. Vesa Putkinen and colleagues from the University of
Continue readingWorld Smiles Back
Smile, and the world smiles back? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying… Cheer up! You look so much better when flaunting those pearly whites. But does smiling REALLY lift our spirits? Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos from the University of South Australia and colleagues wondered. Does
Continue readingKindness Ripples
Like Grandma said, doing good makes you feel good! But can you PROVE it? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Selfless acts like feeding the hungry warm your heart. But do they influence your FUTURE actions? Kristin Layous and colleagues from California State University, East
Continue readingOpen Com-MOO-nication
Do cows com-MOO-nicate? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Dr. Dolittle can talk to the animals – why can’t we? This would be great for dairy farmers tending their cows. Because happy cows make happy milk! Alexandra Green from University of Sydney and her team
Continue readingSad Crow(d)
Does a sad emoji make you feel sad too? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with The Loh Down on Science. Good times, bad times – friends share it all! And sometimes, we unconsciously match the mood of those around us. This effect is called EMOTIONAL CONTAGION. Even our dogs seem
Continue readingMan’s Best Friend
Does your pooch truly understand your feelings? Or is Spot’s nuzzling just learned behavior? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and on compassionate canines. Dogs often show a strong emotional connection to humans. But can they really understand what we’re feeling? Researchers at the University
Continue readingSynchronized Serenity
Fight, flight, freeze and… breathe?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on science. Meditation and yoga are known to help with fear, anxiety, and panic attacks. Why is breathing so tightly connected to our emotions? At the University of Pennsylvania, Minghong Ma is hoping to find out.
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