In Brief: Resilient Cowboys to Aging Pooches

A Skeptical Eye For Workplace Fun

A company that has relay races or scavenger hunts instead of staff meetings may sound like the perfect office—that is, until you work there. Peter Fleming, a University of Cambridge researcher, found that instead of increasing productivity, a workplace that institutes a "culture of fun" actually breeds rampant cynicism. Half of the workers he interviewed doubted the "fun" program's authenticity, suspecting the real goal was the company bottom line, not employee satisfaction.

Putting ADHD to Bed

While many children take pills for attention problems, the root of their trouble may be difficulty sleeping. A study found that for kids with ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing, tonsillectomies can cure both problems. One year after the operation, most children had improved in measures of attentiveness, hyperactivity and sleepiness. In fact, half of kids who had ADHD before the surgery no longer qualified for the diagnosis.

Beware the Grumpy Shopper

Retailers, be careful when sizing up your customers, or risk losing a sale. A study finds that cheerful shoppers prefer peppy salespeople, but cranky customers spend more money with someone who mirrors their own mood.

The Mediterranean Way

When putting together salad, don't forget to throw in some tomatoes and a few dashes of olive oil. A diet that includes the combination of healthy fats and the antioxidant lycopene, found abundantly in tomatoes, improves one's cholesterol and triglyceride levels more than a low-fat diet.

3 Percent

Three percent of adults describe themselves as below average in attractiveness.

Bucking The Pain

Is physical toughness a matter of mindset? After suffering whiplash in a car accident, rodeo cowboys recovered twice as quickly as non-cowboys, report University of Alberta scientists. Bull riders have a higher tolerance for pain. But researchers also suspect that in normal folks, the expectation of pain may actually bring it on.

His Master's Mug

Don't just tell Rover to stay. You may need to show him as well. When issued a command, dogs respond not just to words, but to body language and facial expressions. When canines can't see their owners' eyes, or can only hear their voices, they are less likely to respond to orders like "sit" and "come."

Canine Retirement

Advancing dog years mean gray snouts, slower strolls and—dementia? As pooches age, they often develop a kind of senility—characterized by aimless pacing and lapses in memory—that bears a striking resemblance to Alzheimer's disease. Ontario veterinarian Gary Landsberg says that some 75 percent of canines experience at least one symptom of senility by the age of 7. Some adverse behaviors that tend to come with senility, such as incontinence, often weaken the relationship between the dog and owner. But most often, says Landsberg, "Nothing's going to break that bond."

Rude Intrusions

Think twice before interrupting a face-to-face conversation by answering your cell phone. Wireless intrusions ruin conversational rapport, say people who must put up with a preoccupied companion. Distracted cell-phone users, however, tend to be oblivious to the negative effects of wireless disruptions.