Skip to main content
Scientific American

July 6, 2010

Editor’s Selections: Color, Magic Mushrooms, Empathic Ravens, and Gratitude

Here are my Research Blogging Editor’s Selections for this week: TwoYaks at the GeneFlow blog effectively criticizes the hypothesis that girls like pink and boys like blue because of evolved sex differences in hunting and foraging behaviors.

By Jason G. Goldman

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Here are my Research Blogging Editor's Selections for this week:

  • TwoYaks at the GeneFlow blog effectively criticizes the hypothesis that girls like pink and boys like blue because of evolved sex differences in hunting and foraging behaviors. Thankfully, a disclaimer is included so that evolutionary psychology isn't totally destroyed by the criticism: "Evo-Psych can be a good tool for exploring behaviour, when employed properly, and in a comparative context." My field thanks her.

  • The effects of magic mushrooms on the brain, via fMRI? Well, sort of. More like the effects of fMRI on the brain, via magic mushrooms. A scanner made of wood. Confused? NeuroKuz explains everything.

  • GrrlScientist at Living the Scientific Life explains how it came to be that ravens were added to the list of species that appear to have some form of empathy. Ravens apparently console their friends after an aggressive conflict with a flockmate.

  • Finally, because we all need a reminder every once in a while, eHarmony Labs explains the importance of saying "thank-you" in relationships.

Jason G. Goldman is a science journalist based in Los Angeles. He has written about animal behavior, wildlife biology, conservation, and ecology for Scientific American, Los Angeles magazine, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the BBC, Conservation magazine, and elsewhere. He contributes to Scientific American's "60-Second Science" podcast, and is co-editor of Science Blogging: The Essential Guide (Yale University Press). He enjoys sharing his wildlife knowledge on television and on the radio, and often speaks to the public about wildlife and science communication.

More by Jason G. Goldman