New study demonstrates that certain incised stone artefacts from the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic, specifically from Manot, Qafzeh, and Quneitra caves, were deliberately engraved with geometric patterns, indicating advanced cognitive and symbolic behaviour among early humans. In contrast, artefacts from Amud Cave, with shallow and unpatterned incisions, are consistent with functional use. This research highlights the intentionality behind the engravings, providing key insights into the development of abstract thinking and the cultural complexity of Middle Palaeolithic societies.

Young adults are at higher risk for crashes due to inexperience, risk-taking, and impaired driving. A study examines the link between commuter college students’ mental health and crash risk, highlighting the added impact on their education, especially in transit-limited South Florida.

María Gorosarri, a researcher at the Faculty of Social and Communication Sciences of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has analysed the most important publications in the print and audio-visual media in Spain over the last five years for the purpose of drawing attention to the journalistic practices that perpetuate sexism, and formulating a definition of feminist journalism. The analysis found that objective professional journalism reproduces bad journalistic practices, such as the overrepresentation of men as the main protagonists and sources (up to 74% in the Spanish media, according to GMMP monitoring for 2020), and the failure to apply deontological documents on gender-based violence.

DNA analysis, forensic ballistics, chemical and physical crime scene analysis, psychiatric and neurological assessments, and much more: in criminal trials, decisions often rely on complex scientific evidence. However, this information can be difficult to understand for those—such as jury members, randomly selected from the general population—who do not have a specific academic background. Crucial decisions are often made based on a brief oral explanation provided in court by an expert witness, which does not always ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject. What communication tools can help jurors better evaluate this information, which has direct consequences on people’s lives? A study published in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) analyzed the effectiveness of comics as a tool for scientific communication in the courtroom, demonstrating that this approach improves jurors’ comprehension of forensic science.