Live Longer: Be Conscientious

Study finds that flawed personalities make for better leaders

(NEWSER) - Positive personality traits like being outgoing and decisive are often touted as the right stuff for leaders, but being a jerk helps, too, according to a new study. Researchers followed 900 officer cadets at West Point over a 3-year period and found that so-called "dark side" personality traits like being petty, arrogant, and inflexible helped boost the cadets' leadership abilities, the Telegraph reports. More»

But moderate drinkers tend to live longest

(NEWSER) - Bad news for teetotalers: Drinking may be good for you, sort of. A new study suggests that drinkers, even heavy drinkers, tend to outlive those who abstain. "Moderate" drinkers, defined here as those who drink one to three glasses a day, were found to live longest, notes Time . The study followed 1,824 people between the ages of 55 and 65 for 20 years: In that time, 69% of those who never drank died, compared to 60% of heavy drinkers and 41% of moderate drinkers. More»

Having a big butt helps—seriously

(NEWSER) - Sure, diet and exercise keep you healthy. And yes, smiling will extend your life . But the secrets of aging aren't all so straightforward. Here, courtesy of The Week, are 9 unusual ways to live longer:

• Win the Nobel Prize: Winners live 1.4 years longer than those who were nominated. If you aren't a genius, that's OK. Just try to make people like you; social status is good for your health.
• Live through a recession: In the 20th century, recessions led to longer lifespans, as people gave up expensive vices and fewer people died in workplace and car accidents.

Subjects less likely to die of any cause over set period

(NEWSER) - Women 50 and up who see the glass as half full have a lower risk of getting heart disease—or dying of any cause—than their half-empty peers, a study suggests. Researchers found that over 8 years, the most optimistic subjects in their 97,000-woman-strong study faced a 9% lower risk of heart disease and a 14% lower risk of death than the most pessimistic, Health.com reports. More»

People are extra sensitive these days, and science knows why

(NEWSER) - From Larry David to John McCain, we’re all getting a little touchy these days, writes Emily Yoffe in Slate: “People are like tuning forks, ready to vibrate with indignation.” While economists argue humans are rational, “it seems we live in a culture devoted to retribution on behalf of the thin-skinned,” writes Yoffe, who delves into the science behind our over-active tempers. More»