psychology research WEIRD samples universal behavior

Psychology studies use an unusually narrow slice of humanity

A large share of psychology research studies people from Western, educated, rich, industrialized, and democratic societies. People in these groups are not a random sample of humanity, so findings from them cannot automatically be assumed to describe everyone.

A jellyfish turns a blue flash into green light

In the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, calcium makes a protein called aequorin give off a short blue flash. Another protein, green fluorescent protein, absorbs some of that energy and gives it off again as green light.

Sumerian rulers canceled rural debts

Rulers in ancient Sumer periodically canceled rural debts, but not commercial debts, and let people held in debt service return home. The policy aimed to keep peasants from losing the land they needed to live on and becoming bound workers on a scale that could threaten the state's fighting force.

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psychology research WEIRD samples universal behavior

Psychology studies use an unusually narrow slice of humanity

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