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The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
These are the states where psychopaths are most likely to live
A new study claims to have identified the U.S. states where you are more likely to find yourself living next to psychopaths, narcissists, and sadists. Data on 1.8 million people in 183 countries, including 144,000 people in the U.S., was analyzed as part of the study, published in the scientific journal PNAS, and linked with information on adverse social conditions, such as poverty, inequality, and violence. The study aimed to explore why some people are more inclined to cheat, manipulate, or harm others for their own gain, revealing that one contributing factor is the societal conditions in which they grow up. Researchers used World Bank data for countries, while for U.S. states, data sets were gathered from Census Bureau statistics on inequality and poverty, Justice Department corruption convictions, and FBI homicide rates. Ingo Zettler, one of the researchers behind the study, told the University of Copenhagen that where these conditions were observed, people behaved accordingly: 'The more adverse conditions in a society, the higher the level of the 'Dark Factor of Personality' among its citizens. This applies both globally and within the United States.' He added: 'In societies where rules are broken without consequences and where the conditions for many citizens are bad, individuals perceive and learn that one should actually think of oneself first.' The study reveals that countries such as Indonesia and Mexico, as well as U.S. states like Louisiana and Nevada, exhibit higher 'Dark Factor' levels compared to countries like Denmark and New Zealand, or states like Utah and Vermont, which experience better societal conditions characterized by lower corruption, inequality, poverty, and violence. As to which states had a higher number of 'dark' personalities, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, South Dakota, and New York came out on top. If you are planning to move soon, you are less likely to encounter psychopaths, narcissists, and sadists in Utah, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, and Alaska. Researchers acknowledged that the study has some limitations, notably that the data does not include how long participants have lived in certain countries or states before personality tendencies developed — a sadistic neighbor in New York may have only recently arrived from Oregon. Although there is only a moderate link between social conditions and the development of disagreeable personality traits, the findings support the idea that personality is not something you are born with; it is also shaped by the society in which you live. As to whether anything can be done to address this, Zettler notes: 'Aversive personality traits are associated with behaviours such as aggression, cheating, and exploitation – and thus with high social costs. Therefore, even small variations can lead to large differences in how societies function.' He adds that if reforms can reduce corruption and inequality, they could not only improve living conditions now but also prevent the development of 'dark' personalities in the future.
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Shocking! We share DNA with our closest friends, reveals study-- More details here
Your best friend might share your DNA, new study finds The next time you tell your besties, 'I feel like we're related,' or "You're family" science might back you up! A groundbreaking study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2018 finds that our friends are genetically more similar to us than strangers— even if they're unrelated-- and this could play a surprising role in how we choose our friends. While it's long been known that people tend to marry or befriend others with similar interests, values, or lifestyles, researchers are now digging deeper into how much of that connection might be because of similar genetics. The study, conducted by researchers from Stanford University, Duke University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, looked at over 5,000 pairs of adolescent friends using data from Add Health— this is a long-term U.S. study that has tracked students from grades 7 to 12 since the 1994–1995 school year. What researchers found Interestingly, researchers found that friends were more genetically similar to each other than to random individuals in the same population. In fact, the genetic similarity between friends was about two-thirds as strong as that between the average married couple. According to study author Benjamin Domingue, an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education, this genetic similarity is not as strong as that seen in siblings, but it is still statistically significant as compared to strangers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: Losing a Hanging Tummy Comes Down To This 1 Thing Health Wellness Journal Watch More Undo Why do we befriend people who have DNAs similar to ours? One possible reason is a concept called social homophily. This theory suggests that people naturally form connections with others who are like them— including traits that may be influenced by genetics. For example, personality traits, energy levels, and even tendencies toward certain habits could be inherited, and that could subtly draw similar people together making them friends. But there's another angle too— social structuring. This is the idea that people form relationships within the environments they inhabit, which themselves may be influenced by genetics. For instance, traits like educational achievement or body mass index (BMI) have both social and genetic reasons. The study found that friends often shared these traits. On the other hand, characteristics like height— which is also genetic— didn't show strong similarities among friends, likely because height doesn't influence our social choices in the same way as education or lifestyle might do. When studying schoolmates, the researchers also discovered something interesting: Even among students who weren't friends, genetic similarities were present— but it was to a lesser degree. Schoolmates were about half as genetically similar as friends, but still more similar than strangers. This indicates that just being part of the same school environment creates genetic clustering. According to Domingue, this finding reinforces how deeply intertwined our genes and our social environments really are, reported the TIME. 'Are individuals actively selecting to be around people who are like them, or is it due to impersonal forces, such as social structures, that we all are affected by?,' Domingue asked. His team believes the answer lies more in the structure— the schools we attend, the neighbourhoods we live in, and the families we grow up in. Kathleen Mullan Harris, co-author and professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, adds that the genetic similarity among schoolmates could be driven by a lot of factors-- from geographic location to parental choices about education. 'It's a complicated equation, and one that researchers need to pay more attention to,' she said. In fact, the researchers believe this study should serve as a wake-up call for geneticists. When studying the influence of genes on traits like educational attainment, it's crucial to consider the social environment. What may appear as a purely genetic effect might actually reflect the shared environment of a school or community. In a nutshell, your friendships may be about more than shared interests— they could be written in your genes, shaped by your surroundings, and driven by the invisible forces of both biology and social structure. Intriguing, right? Tell us your views on this in the comments section below. Prince Harry's 'Peace' Talk Masks Royal War | SHOCKING Move Sparks Secret Clash With King Charles One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Study identifies where psychopaths are most likely to live
(NewsNation) — People with so-called 'dark' personalities — including psychopaths, narcissists and sadists — are more common in U.S. states with the most adverse conditions, new research found. The comprehensive study, published in the scientific journal PNAS, analyzed data on 1.8 million people in 183 countries and 144,000 people across the United States. It linked averse social conditions, including poverty, inequality and violence, with 'The Dark Factor of Personality.' Watch: Guest sits on 'Van Gogh chair' at Italy museum, breaking it Researchers used World Bank data for worldwide corruption estimates, while the U.S. was formulated using Census Bureau data on inequality and poverty, Justice Department corruption convictions and FBI homicide rates. Ingo Zettler, one of three researchers behind the study, told the University of Copenhagen that where these conditions were observed, people behaved accordingly. 'In societies where rules are broken without consequences and where the conditions for many citizens are bad, individuals perceive and learn that one should actually think of oneself first,' Zettler said. Some of the standout states for 'dark' personalities included: Louisiana Mississippi Texas Nevada South Dakota New York The least were observed in: Utah Vermont New Hampshire Maine Oregon Alaska Countries that topped the list included Indonesia, Mexico and the U.S. Man finds out he was married without his knowledge, ex arrested Researchers acknowledged that the study has some limitations. It's impossible for them to know how long participants have lived in certain countries or states before personality tendencies developed, and some data was collected using self-selection services, which could result in inaccurate answers. But Zettler said their work shows a connection between personality and circumstance and could prove important in shaping the world. 'This means that reforms that reduce corruption and inequality not only create better living conditions just now – they may also contribute to mitigating aversive personality levels among the citizens in the future,' he told the university. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
First methane-powered sea spiders found crawling on the ocean floor
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Heat-trapping methane may be best known for the dangers it poses to humans and Earth's atmosphere, but in the dark depths of the ocean, the greenhouse gas is a nourishing meal for some of the world's most mysterious creatures, new research suggests. Scientists say they have discovered three previously unknown, unnamed species of sea spider off the US West Coast that could be teaming up with bacteria to thrive off gas bubbling from the seafloor in sparsely studied marine habitats known as methane seeps thousands of feet below the ocean's surface. In this symbiotic relationship, bacteria take up real estate on the spider's exoskeletons, and in return, the microbes convert carbon-rich methane and oxygen into sugars and fats the spiders can eat, according to a study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 'Just like you would eat eggs for breakfast, the sea spider grazes the surface of its body, and it munches all those bacteria for nutrition,' said Shana Goffredi, a professor and chair of biology at Occidental College in Los Angeles and the study's principal investigator. This unique nutrition strategy has never been observed in sea spiders before, she said. Other species of sea spider share more in common with their terrestrial cousins, using large tubelike fangs to capture, immobilize and suck the fluids from soft-bodied prey, such as jellyfish, Goffredi explained. But lab observations of the newfound species, part of the Sericosura genus, revealed they lack the necessary appendages to capture prey, making them more akin to farmers harvesting methane-fueled bacteria from their own bodies. It's possible the spiders and their hitchhiking microbes play a crucial role in preventing methane — a natural gas thought to exacerbate global warming — from reaching Earth's atmosphere, according to Goffredi. 'While the deep sea feels really far away, all organisms are interconnected. Even though they're small, these animals have a big impact in that environment,' Goffredi said. 'We can't ever hope to sustainably (use) the oceans if we don't really understand the oceans.' Light from the sun doesn't reach the deep-sea ecosystem where the newly described Sericosura spider species make their home. To survive in this dark environment, microbes evolved to use chemicals — instead of sunlight — for energy, explained marine biologist Nicole Dubilier, a professor and director of the department of symbiosis at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany. Dubilier was not involved in the study. After marine life dies, it sinks to the seafloor and becomes buried, Dubilier said. In the process of decomposition, methane gas is released, escaping through the cracks of sediment as bubbles. Instead of floating away with the whims of the water column, the microbes that feed on the methane attach themselves to sea animals to remain among the bubbles. By analyzing isotopes in the spiders' tissues, the scientists determined the bacteria weren't just hitching a ride from an eight-legged friend — they were also being eaten. 'This is really the beauty of the symbiosis between the two: The bacteria get that perfect Goldilocks zone with everything they need,' Dubilier said. 'Even if 80% of the population are eaten (by the spiders), it's worth it for the 20% to keep surviving and reproducing.' While these Sericosura species are the first sea spiders caught feeding on the methane-fueled microbes, other deep-sea animals such as tube worms and sponges are known to share the rare diet, Dubilier noted. Since the deep-sea ecosystem likely plays such a key role in keeping methane away from Earth's atmosphere, Goffredi said one day, the same type of microbes found on the Sericosura spiders could be cultured to reduce water contaminants elsewhere. The newly discovered Sericosura spiders are translucent and only span about 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in length, so they likely can't travel very far, Goffredi said. In fact, each of the three sea spider species collected for the study were from different areas off the coast of Southern California and Alaska — a clue that the populations are highly localized. Since the spiders are so small, many of their organs are found inside of their appendages. To mate, the female spiders shoot hundreds of eggs from their kneecaps, which the male spiders collect into saclike bundles looped around their legs like bracelets, the study found. Once the eggs hatched, Goffredi's team noticed bacteria living on the father spiders attached itself to the hatchlings, providing them with an early source of food. Studying microbiome inheritance in animals could potentially help scientists understand more about how humans' gut bacteria, for example, is passed between mothers and newborn children, Dubilier said. Further exploration of the seafloor could also uncover additional, similar sea spider species, Goffredi said. 'People tend to think of the deep sea as a kind of homogeneous ecosystem, but that's actually untrue. There's a lot of biodiversity by region and animals are very localized to specific habitats on the seafloor,' Goffredi said. 'You have to be very careful if you decide to use the seafloor for mining, for example. We don't want to cause any kind of irreparable harm to very specific habitats that aren't found anywhere else.'
CNN
3 days ago
- Science
- CNN
First methane-powered sea spiders found crawling on the ocean floor
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Heat-trapping methane may be best known for the dangers it poses to humans and Earth's atmosphere, but in the dark depths of the ocean, the greenhouse gas is a nourishing meal for some of the world's most mysterious creatures, new research suggests. Scientists say they have discovered three previously unknown, unnamed species of sea spider off the US West Coast that could be teaming up with bacteria to thrive off gas bubbling from the seafloor in sparsely studied marine habitats known as methane seeps thousands of feet below the ocean's surface. In this symbiotic relationship, bacteria take up real estate on the spider's exoskeletons, and in return, the microbes convert carbon-rich methane and oxygen into sugars and fats the spiders can eat, according to a study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 'Just like you would eat eggs for breakfast, the sea spider grazes the surface of its body, and it munches all those bacteria for nutrition,' said Shana Goffredi, a professor and chair of biology at Occidental College in Los Angeles and the study's principal investigator. This unique nutrition strategy has never been observed in sea spiders before, she said. Other species of sea spider share more in common with their terrestrial cousins, using large tubelike fangs to capture, immobilize and suck the fluids from soft-bodied prey, such as jellyfish, Goffredi explained. But lab observations of the newfound species, part of the Sericosura genus, revealed they lack the necessary appendages to capture prey, making them more akin to farmers harvesting methane-fueled bacteria from their own bodies. It's possible the spiders and their hitchhiking microbes play a crucial role in preventing methane — a natural gas thought to exacerbate global warming — from reaching Earth's atmosphere, according to Goffredi. 'While the deep sea feels really far away, all organisms are interconnected. Even though they're small, these animals have a big impact in that environment,' Goffredi said. 'We can't ever hope to sustainably (use) the oceans if we don't really understand the oceans.' Light from the sun doesn't reach the deep-sea ecosystem where the newly described Sericosura spider species make their home. To survive in this dark environment, microbes evolved to use chemicals — instead of sunlight — for energy, explained marine biologist Nicole Dubilier, a professor and director of the department of symbiosis at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany. Dubilier was not involved in the study. After marine life dies, it sinks to the seafloor and becomes buried, Dubilier said. In the process of decomposition, methane gas is released, escaping through the cracks of sediment as bubbles. Instead of floating away with the whims of the water column, the microbes that feed on the methane attach themselves to sea animals to remain among the bubbles. By analyzing isotopes in the spiders' tissues, the scientists determined the bacteria weren't just hitching a ride from an eight-legged friend — they were also being eaten. Related video Researchers capture elusive squid on camera 'This is really the beauty of the symbiosis between the two: The bacteria get that perfect Goldilocks zone with everything they need,' Dubilier said. 'Even if 80% of the population are eaten (by the spiders), it's worth it for the 20% to keep surviving and reproducing.' While these Sericosura species are the first sea spiders caught feeding on the methane-fueled microbes, other deep-sea animals such as tube worms and sponges are known to share the rare diet, Dubilier noted. Since the deep-sea ecosystem likely plays such a key role in keeping methane away from Earth's atmosphere, Goffredi said one day, the same type of microbes found on the Sericosura spiders could be cultured to reduce water contaminants elsewhere. The newly discovered Sericosura spiders are translucent and only span about 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in length, so they likely can't travel very far, Goffredi said. In fact, each of the three sea spider species collected for the study were from different areas off the coast of Southern California and Alaska — a clue that the populations are highly localized. Since the spiders are so small, many of their organs are found inside of their appendages. To mate, the female spiders shoot hundreds of eggs from their kneecaps, which the male spiders collect into saclike bundles looped around their legs like bracelets, the study found. Once the eggs hatched, Goffredi's team noticed bacteria living on the father spiders attached itself to the hatchlings, providing them with an early source of food. Studying microbiome inheritance in animals could potentially help scientists understand more about how humans' gut bacteria, for example, is passed between mothers and newborn children, Dubilier said. Further exploration of the seafloor could also uncover additional, similar sea spider species, Goffredi said. 'People tend to think of the deep sea as a kind of homogeneous ecosystem, but that's actually untrue. There's a lot of biodiversity by region and animals are very localized to specific habitats on the seafloor,' Goffredi said. 'You have to be very careful if you decide to use the seafloor for mining, for example. We don't want to cause any kind of irreparable harm to very specific habitats that aren't found anywhere else.'
