Stock markets tend to rise in the week after a blockbuster movie opens
Blockbuster movie releases were followed by significantly higher US stock market returns the next week, along with lower expected volatility and risk aversion, and the pattern also appeared in international markets.
Awe-inspiring ads make limited edition products less appealing, nine studies show
Across nine studies, ads that evoke awe cut interest in limited edition products. In a Facebook campaign, an awe-filled ad for a limited-edition wine drew a 1.04% click-through rate versus 3.07% for a plain one.
Self-described narcissists are more likely to actually run for political office
A large nationally representative US survey found that people who call themselves narcissists show more political ambition and are more likely not only to want office but to actually run for it.
When ChatGPT went down, US stock trading slowed, revealing how investors lean on it
During eight ChatGPT outages in 2023, US stock trading volume fell by about 10% of its average, with larger drops for firms with fresh news and for stocks held by short-term institutional investors.
Study of up to 1.14 million people finds 1,260 genetic variants tied to personality
A Nature meta-analysis of 46 cohorts identified 1,260 variants linked to the Big Five traits, 824 new. Common variants explain 4.8% to 9.3% of trait differences, effects hold across countries and raters, and family background barely confounds them.
Ant jaws inspired surgical needle holders that grip up to 433% harder
Copying three features of the red wood ant’s mandibles, researchers redesigned a keyhole-surgery needle holder; 3D-printed models showed force transmission up to 433% of the original without making the tool bigger.
Virtual tours lift home prices by about 1%, but the edge faded once everyone had one
In nearly 200,000 Vancouver home sales, adding a virtual tour raised sale prices by about 1% on average, but the boost shrank after COVID-19 doubled their use, and it helped most in hot markets and for less experienced agents.
Drivers want self-driving cars for others but not themselves, thinking they drive better
In a representative sample of 580 Americans and two follow-up studies, people preferred less vehicle automation for themselves than for others, because they rated themselves safer and more trustworthy drivers than everyone else.
Skilled players come out of a violent shooter calmer, not angrier
In two experiments with 405 students playing Call of Duty in pairs, players with more experience and higher scores reported less hostility and better mood. Experience lowered hostility mainly by improving performance.