Orion Jones

Understanding how science uses certain key concepts can make the difference between parroting pure speculation and taking an evidence-based approach.

Scientific studies show that people like gifts that contradict the holiday giving etiquette.

Knowing what is acceptable to say creates predictability, and predictability frees group members from worry of possibly offending those around them.

Using technology to soften the effects of climate change may soon become a reality.

Gross abundance of money and power, or the extreme lack of both, lie at the root of many mental disorders, according to a group of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. 

If something in the pit of your stomach is uneasy about the commercialization of the holiday season, spiritual leaders recommend you go a little easier on yourself.

Friendly people tend to lead happier lives because they dwell more on positive experiences, defying the strong negativity bias found in humans.

Occupying a place of higher social status keeps you healthier and more resistant to disease, even without the trappings of wealth and power which we normally associate with status.

Torturing a suspect because he or she has knowledge of an imminent attack has more to do with feelings of retribution than the cool-headed utilitarian calculus normally supposed.

Like Odysseus who asks his crew to tie him to the mast as they pass the seductive and deadly Sirens, we sometimes need external constraints to triumph over temptations that run counter to our self interest.

The future of creativity may depend on younger generations being taught computer coding skills just as they are taught foreign languages, mathematics, and science. 

Driving while tired creates the most likely conditions for a road accident, especially when drivers are on the road between 2am and 5am or received fewer than five hours sleep the night before driving.

Working longer hours eventually stops being helpful in terms of labor productivity, says a Stanford economist who found hard and fast limits on what an additional hour of work can achieve.

At a foundational, psychological level, putting off your responsibilities for what seems like innocent short-term pleasure is a powerful emotional coping mechanism.

How parents talk to their children about sex helps them understand what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. In the United States, that conversation, about the, um, birds, and the, um, bees, is famously awkward.

Cell phone apps that track a woman’s body temperature over time are making natural contraception feel more like a 21st century option.

Psychologists and behavioral therapists have begun integrating cooking into their treatment strategies, extending the benefits of meal preparation far beyond satisfying hunger.

Associate degrees in fields like healthcare, technology, and skilled labor have higher earning potential than some four-year college degrees.

Jeremy England explains how simple physical laws make complex life more likely than not. In other words, it would be more surprising to find no life in the universe than a place like Earth.

To have original ideas, you don’t need to be cantankerous. But having a disagreeable personality can help you get your ideas implemented, according to a new study of workplace psychology.

Numerous studies have determined that the open office, while creating a sense of camaraderie among employees, is harmful in nearly every other respect.

Somewhere between Guitar Hero and the do-it-yourself ethos of Rock ‘n’ Roll sits Rock Band Class, a ten-week course offered to anyone who wants to test their big dreams in front of a live audience.

Continuous advances in digital technology have made the world more efficient than ever before. Yet many of us suffer the stress of simply maintaining a social and professional life.

As a country, we find ourselves promoting marriage as an unequivocal social good yet failing to provide to the conditions under which marriage can thrive.

Scientists concluded that forty percent of our motivation to be proactive is derived from our genes and sixty percent is derived from environmental circumstances. 

Endlessly honing your resume and cover letter isn’t the best way to land a job. You’re much better off knowing someone on the inside.

More emotional cues are communicated by the tone of your voice than by the words you are saying, and these emotional cues can make all the difference.

A scientific legend in his own time, James Watson was awarded the Nobel Prize for helping discover the structure of DNA. Tomorrow he will sell the medal for income at a Christie’s auction.

Engineers at Stanford University have created a material that could cool buildings to a comfortable temperature without the use of air conditioning.

Knowing how to pitch a tent, cook over a campfire, and sell cookies door-to-door are fine community-building skills to have, but so is knowing how to be a digital entrepreneur.