UBC Media Coverage Summary – 02/12/2016
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Fear of a vengeful God may explain humanity’s global expansion
New research out of UBC that shows fear of vengeful gods enabled humanity’s formation of large communities and institutions. The scientists conducted research in eight communities around the world and found that participants who believed in a moralistic God acted much more fairly towards virtual strangers, paving the way for humanity’s global expansion. Sources: Washington Post, Wired UK, Daily Express, Tech Times, Psych Central, ABC Australia, Science News
Why you can’t get that top 40 song out of your head
UBC music professor David Metzer says certain songs like Adele’s Hello are so catchy because they employ the power ballad formula. The song starts with a slow build and then switches to intense release about three quarters of the way through. The formula goes all the way back to Barry Manilow tunes that peaked in the ’70s and early ’80s, says Metzer. Source: Huffington Post
CBD is the chemical medical marijuana is buzzing about
In medical marijuana circles, the buzz nowadays is about cannabidiol (CBD), not THC, according to Huffington Post. CBD doesn’t cause a high and has a wide range of medical benefits, as well as being abundant in the marijuana plant. Jonathan Page, an adjunct professor of botany at UBC, said a growing number of patients are turning to CBD as treatment for seizures. Source: Huffington Post
