ScienceDaily: Living Well News

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• Multiple genes manage how people taste sweeteners
• Social giving makes us happier
• Divers willingness to pay for biodiversity could help conservation efforts
• Anthropologists study the genesis of reciprocity in food sharing

Multiple genes manage how people taste sweeteners Posted: 20 Aug 2013 10:50 AM PDT Genetics may play a role in how people's taste receptors send signals, leading to a wide spectrum of taste preferences, according to food scientists. These varied, genetically influenced responses may mean that food and drink companies will need a range of artificial sweeteners to accommodate different consumer tastes.

Social giving makes us happier Posted: 20 Aug 2013 10:50 AM PDT People usually feel good when they make a charitable donation, but they feel even better if they make the donation directly to someone they know or in a way that builds social connection. New research investigates for the first time how social connection helps turn generous behavior into positive feelings on the part of the donor.

Divers willingness to pay for biodiversity could help conservation efforts Posted: 20 Aug 2013 06:46 AM PDT New research shows divers were willing to pay to improve the reef's attributes and were able to differentiate and rank their preferences of biodiversity, numbers of fish and corals, coral species richness, fish species richness, coral size, coral abundance, and fish abundance. Respondents ranked biodiversity as the most desirable value, while fish abundance was the least important.

Anthropologists study the genesis of reciprocity in food sharing Posted: 20 Aug 2013 06:46 AM PDT When you share your lunch with someone less fortunate or give your friend half of your dessert, does that act of generosity flow from the milk of human kindness, or is it a subconscious strategy to assure reciprocity should you one day find yourself on the other side of the empty plate?

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