Techno Youth

A study of “aggressive” social behaviors in adolescents revealed that not only is the social order in teenagers very complex, but the kids who are “almost” popular are far more likely to engage in bullying behaviors than those in the lower or higher echelons of high school society.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis published the findings in the February issue of American Sociological Review, and say that kids in the top 98th percentile of coolness are 40% more aggressive than their even cooler peers, the top 2%. Co-author of the study Robert Faris commented on why the most popular kids were viewed as kind by their classmates:

“We really don’t know why they are less aggressive, but we think they simply don’t have a need for it,” Faris says. “Being kind probably cements their position.”

The data reviewed did, however, suggest that only a third of kids engaged in the aggressive behaviors. But Faris pointed out that the behaviors proliferate due to acceptance or encouragement of the bullying by non-participating peers:

“The majority of kids who witness this, either give it tacit approval or outright encouragement,” says Faris. “Those are the ones who give these kids their status. We need to change their minds.”

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/08/do-popular-kids-bully-more/#ixzz1DTM8Fx78

Who knew that the folks at NASA were so cool. I mean you gotta admit the idea of taking some of the really high resolution images of Mars’ surface, taken by NASA’s HiRISE orbiter, combine them with some really cool music to create a beautiful video.

via io9

A new study from Brigham Young University’s School of Family Life claims that videogames can help parents and kids bond – particularly fathers and daughters.

For her study, author Sarah M. Coyne Ph.D. polled 287 kids aged between 11 and 16 and their parents, asking them questions about various videogame, behavioral, and family-related issues. The goal? To see how co-playing games affected child/parent relationships. Turns out, games can help a parent/child relationship really blossom! Especially if we’re talking dads and daughters.

While boys showed no dramatic improvements in positive behaviour, girls who played games with Dad were better behaved, less aggressive, and demonstrated decreased levels of internalizing, a process that can lead to depression.

“When parents play video games with their daughters, they may be sending a myriad of messages. First, parents may show that they are willing to engage in an activity that is important to daughters. Second, playing video games can represent quality time between a daughter and a parent, especially when such play involves conversation between parent-child.”

Coyne goes on to argue that boys may not be as strongly influenced by parental involvement because they play more games, and more often than not with friends. But why dads? Well, one reason is that not many mothers admitted to playing games. Co-author Laura M. Padilla-Walker attempts to explain:

“We’re guessing it’s a daddy-daughter thing, because not a lot of moms said yes when we asked them if they played video games. Co-playing is probably an indicator of larger levels of involvement.”

Also of interest: the good vibes were only felt with adolescent females when the parents joined in on games aimed at younger players, such as Mario Kart, Mario Brothers, Wii Sports, Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

[Journal of Adolescent Health [PDF], via Kotaku]

NASA scientists have once again pushed the envelop of what we previously thought possible, using the Hubble Telescope to find a new galaxy that’s 13.2 billion light years away.

Technically the galaxy was first discovered in 2009, however various tests needed to be completed and computations studied to verify that it actually exists and is actually a galaxy.

Now confirmed, the galaxy is 150 million years older than the oldest previously discovered galaxy and is made up of blue stars.

NASA officials say the new galaxy is very small, in fact it would take hundreds of the galaxy’s star clusters just to make up our own milky way.

You can see the galaxy highlighted inside the box shown in the picture above.

Originally posted to reddit I found this excellent video via Geeks are Sexy and it might not be an official NASA commercial but damn, it should be. Take the three minutes needed and enjoy.

The BBC in England produces some of the best nature shows in the world but these two videos show that it isn’t as easy as it looks, especially when the polar bears keep beating up on your expensive cameras.

Doesn’t matter how they are disguised either: a giant snowball, a moving snowdrift, or a floating chunk of ice – they all get caught in the end.

via io9