Middle schoolers who’d like to increase their popularity have a new trick to try: Being nice. Scientists from the University of California/Riverside and the University of British Columbia studied 19 classrooms of kids between the ages of 9 and 11, dividing them into two groups: Kids in one group were asked to perform a variety of good deeds, ranging from vacuuming the floor to giving parents’ a much-needed hug. These good deeds translated into higher popularity with their peers—even if these random acts of kindness didn’t involve their peers at all. Why? Researchers believe kinder people tend to be happier people and that innate happiness translates into higher confidence and more positive interactions with friends and schoolmates. (Los Angeles Times)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and two children. Follow him on Twitter.