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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 09:16 ET (21-Jun-2026 13:16 GMT/UTC)

For some Americans, their accent isn’t just related to where they live

Ohio State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

For people living in some parts of the United States, their accent might not just indicate where they live – but also who they think they are.

Journal: American Speech

Disabled parrot is undefeated alpha male of his group thanks to novel “beak jousting”

Cell Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A study reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on April 20 shows how physical disabilities in the animal world can be overcome through behavioral innovation. The report features an endangered kea parrot in captivity at New Zealand’s Willowbank Wildlife Reserve named Bruce who is missing his entire upper beak. While earlier reports had described his unique use of pebbles as self-care tools, the new findings show how he uses a novel beak jousting technique to turn his disability into social dominance.

Journal: Current Biology

University of Houston psychologist reveals how distraction breaks memory

University of Houston
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Why is it so easy to remember the lyrics to an old song—but so hard to recall something you just heard or read seconds ago? A University of Houston professor examines how the brain briefly stabilizes new information and why switching tasks too quickly can make it vanish.

Journal: Attention Perception & Psychophysics

Using a new online mental health tool just once boosts teenagers’ hope and emotional wellbeing

University of Bath
Peer-Reviewed Publication

- Research finds that one-time use of a free online tool can positively support young people’s mental health and wellbeing

- The Action Brings Change (ABC) UK wellbeing activity has been developed by psychologists and health researchers at the University of Bath in partnership with the Lab for Scalable Mental Health in the USA

- A one-off, brief, self-guided online mental health support tool has been shown to meaningfully improve young people’s sense of hope and control over their lives.

- The tool’s evidence-backed activities provide an accessible additional option to traditional mental health services, paid-for mental health apps or AI

Journal: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Funder: National Institute for Health Research, National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Mental Health Research Group at the University of Bath

Global study shows how data can drive climate action through education and communication indicators

ECNU Review of Education
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new international paper shows how global indicators for climate communication and education (CCE) can support stronger climate policies and more effective action. Through extensive collaboration, researchers developed 15 global indicators that translate complex climate education data into actionable insights. These indicators help governments and organizations track progress, identify gaps, and strengthen climate responses worldwide.

Journal: ECNU Review of Education

Emoji’s have feelings too, new study reveals

Bournemouth University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study might make people re-think every WhatsApp or email they send. Researchers at Bournemouth University have found that the brain reacts to emojis in a similar way that it reacts to seeing real human faces.

Journal: Psychophysiology

The naming of mollusks evolves at a snail's pace

University of Tokyo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The way scientists name and classify organisms is often seen as neutral, but it’s shaped by the cultural and intellectual traditions of the scientists themselves. A new study introduces the concept of “taxonomic Graecism,” the preference for names based on ancient Greek, and provides the first comprehensive etymological analysis covering all 773 families within the phylum Mollusca. Analysis reveals a strong dominance of Greek over Latin, particularly among European scientists, along with broader patterns such as limited use of personal names and a tendency to honor individuals from the same country. These findings suggest taxonomy reflects not only biological knowledge, but also historical biases and social structures within science.

Journal: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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