For a gesture so natural and so universal, there is surprisingly little research into the science of the hug. Most of what exists reveals the immunity-boosting health benefits of embracing and affectionate touch. (Which puts into context the relationship between 

We tend to think of the canoodling couple on a park bench as a decidedly “Western” phenomenon, in that is more culturally acceptable to showcase affection publicly. And while Hollywood movies have perhaps made some other cultures increasingly comfortable with 

The health benefits of yoga have been known for centuries by yogis and practitioners, but science is only beginning to catch up to providing proof — or, in the case of ‘hot’ yoga, busting a myth wide open. A new 

A study recently published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry suggests a new and unusual source for a male birth control pill: ouabain, a plant extract that African warriors and hunters traditionally used as a heart-stopping poison on their arrows. (First there 

New research is shedding light on how empathy develops through the brain activity of 7-month-olds, suggesting parenting might be less about instilling empathy from scratch than teaching children how to use their biological instincts. “Long before babies acquire spoken language, 

What new parent has stared at their speechless child in utter befuddlement? But now we have a peek into what’s going on inside that freshly baked mind: Practice. Enough practice that babies often amaze us by seeming to pick up 

One of the primary targets of the gender-neutral parenting movement has been toys. Parents have issued a strong challenge to how toys are categorized and what colours they come in — so strong as to have effected large-scale changes by 

Telling a little girl she’s tough isn’t just an effort in gender-neutral parenting anymore — it’s fact. All around the world, women’s life expectancy tend to be longer than men’s (in some countries by more than a decade). For years, 

A new study has found that half of parents are starting babies on solids sooner than they should be. Babies who were never breastfed or breastfed for less than four months were most likely to be introduced to foods too 

There’s a new secret to coping with stress, and, if you can get past the initial, reflexive distaste, it actually might be helpful, or at least explain some of our habits: A new study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social 

A new study from the University of Montreal explored the question of whether aggression in children is a result of nature or nurture. To look for an answer, Stéphane Paquin, a PhD candidate in sociology, led a study on 555 

Scientists at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Portugal, and Indiana University, USA, have found there is a specific mood associated with religious celebrations, a “loving mood” that can influence human reproductive behaviour. The research team, led by Joana Goncalves-Sa and 

Organizations most commonly study the impact of child marriage as one of childbearing age, and its ramifications. But a new study of four South Asian countries reveals complex associations between early marriage and women’s education, health and nutrition that go beyond 

We’ve already explored how to choose the best book for a toddler; now, just in time for Christmas, a primer on what to read to the pre-verbal. Books that clearly name and label people and objects promote learning the most 

Fertility technology has opened avenues to women that weren’t previously available, leading to increased choice, autonomy, and empowerment for women around childbearing… Or has it? A new report in the journal Just Reproduction, “Freezing Eggs and Creating Patients: Moral Risks of 

Physical fitness has long been linked to better health and improved mood. But now research is suggesting its benefits actually extend to kids’ brain structure, which in turn may have an influence on their academic performance. More specifically, researchers from 

In a new study, researchers at the University of Illinois explored possibly the most realistic scenario in the history of the world: to what degree stressed mothers are able to support their children’s stress while they handle their own. Research 

Understanding intelligence doesn’t feel like it takes much, well, intelligence. “When we say that someone is smart, we understand intuitively what that means,” said University of Illinois psychology professor Aron Barbey, the author of a new paper published in Trends in Cognitive