Ok maybe not “better looking” but a new study has shown that people who spend 2 or more hours per week reading science blogs are smarter and happier than people who don’t!
Dr. Phil Theelier conducted research on over 1200 people (blog readers of various interests and non-blog readers.) He measured their smartiness and happiness based on both self-evaluation, psychological, physiological and written evaluations. In the end, science blog readers tested the highest in braininess and happiness.
“This is certainly a crushing blow for the sterotype that scientists are all old and curmudgeonly.” Theelier said in a recent interview. “I think we may see a jump in hits to sites like Pharyngula and Bad Astronomy. But, as fantastic as those sites are, visiting them is not what makes a person happy and smart. The people who scored the highest were those who already had an interest in science based blogs. The appreciation can be learned but it cannot be forced upon a blogophile.”
Other results from this study showed that political readers were more cynical and came in 2nd for smarts. Celebrity gossip readers are the most easily distracted. Financial blog readers are surprisingly only #3 for richest, falling behind poetry blog readers and advice column readers. Those who did not read blogs at all or only read their friends’ Myspace blogs were reported to be the least happy, and those who read blogs rating other people’s attractiveness scored the lowest on the intelligence portion.
Theelier concluded that “if you want to be happy, the most important thing is just to read blogs that interest you. If you like science you’re in for a real treat.”
Yeah… so Be smart, read Skepchick, be happy.
That doctor’s name sounds familiar.
Oh, wait. I see what you did there. Nice. =)
Cute, but still probably true! At least as far as the smartiness goes!
I knew it!
Not that skepchicks could get any better-looking, of course :D
good point.
beware of “findings” that confirm your beliefs.
Or, always remember to read the URL in the status bar before clicking on links.
I choose to believe this for at least the next 12 hours. :)
That must explain my recent string of good hair days! It’s probably because the intelligent posts and commentary are stimulating my brain cells, which strengthen my hair by their mere proximity. I’d do a study on it, but I prefer to just believe it on faith. ;)
I undoubtably am better looking since reading Skepchick and various other science based blogs. Is not my avatar proof enough!