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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 06:15 ET (21-Jun-2026 10:15 GMT/UTC)

What did people eat and drink in the Bronze Age South Caucasus?

University of Bonn
Peer-Reviewed Publication

What culinary practices prevailed in the South Caucasus during the Bronze Age? The cuisine was remarkably diverse. This is what an international research team from the Universities of Bonn and Bari, along with other scientific institutions such as the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences report. The new evidence highlights a multi-ingredient cuisine alongside the central role of dairy products, fruit, and grape-based beverages in Kura-Araxes communities. The findings have now been published in the journal PNAS.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Pediatric investigation study reveals urbanization shapes mental health of youth in China

Pediatric Investigation
Peer-Reviewed Publication

While the effect of urbanization on mental health has gained traction, no network analysis studies have investigated the disparity in psychological health of children in rural and urban areas. Now, researchers have conducted network analysis to compare the mental health of students from rural and urban areas of China. They found that rural children were more prone to emotional issues, while urban children showed more behavioral problems. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions.

Journal: Pediatric Investigation

Recordings of local forest soundscapes help to improve wellbeing

University of Surrey
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Listening to one-minute-long audio recordings of forest soundscapes has positive effects on people’s short-term wellbeing, new research finds. Improvements to wellbeing were found to be more significant when soundscapes came from local temperate forests, compared to more exotic tropical forests.

Journal: Journal of Environmental Psychology

Species and languages worldwide threatened by the consequences of European colonialism

University of Vienna
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Human activities have always shaped both biological and cultural diversity. An international team led by the University of Vienna has now investigated the link between the threat to species and that to languages. Linguists and biodiversity researchers identified a common key factor: European colonialism. The study has recently been published in the journal People and Nature.

Journal: People and Nature

Terrence Sejnowski wins inaugural World Digital Technology Academy Award

Salk Institute
Grant and Award Announcement

Salk scientist Terrence Sejnowski will receive the inaugural World Digital Technology Academy Scientific Breakthrough Award alongside Nobel Laureate Geoffrey Hinton for their foundational development of the Boltzmann machine—a precursor to modern AI tools. The WDFT Awards were launched in 2025 at the United Nations World Summit for Social Development in Doha to celebrate “groundbreaking contributions across science, engineering, societal impact, and global collaboration in the era of digital technologies.”

Low screen time alone not associated with better language skills without active conversation

Estonian Research Council
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Young children who spend more time on screen-based activities and less time talking with adults tend to have weaker language skills, according to a recent study from the University of Tartu. The findings highlight that daily interaction – rather than screen limits alone – plays a key role in early language development.

Journal: Frontiers in Developmental Psychology
Funder: Estonian Research Council

Toddlers’ pretend play ability linked to better mental health

University of Sydney
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Stronger pretend play ability at ages two to three linked to fewer mental health difficulties in early primary school

Links remained after accounting for family income, mother’s mental health, language ability and parent-child attachment

Mental health difficulties affect about 14 percent of Australian children, yet prevention efforts focus on later childhood or adolescence.

Journal: Early Childhood Education Journal
Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council, Serpentine Foundation

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