Inequality
People Think Minority Groups Are Bigger Than They Really Are
Overestimating minority populations can lead to reduced support for diversity and inclusion programs
Stories by Emily Willingham
Inequality
U.S. Records Reveal Bias against Muslim and Black Citizenship Applicants
The likelihood of attending a naturalization ceremony is lower for Black people, men and people from Muslim-majority countries
Artificial Intelligence
Humans Find AI-Generated Faces More Trustworthy Than the Real Thing
Viewers struggle to distinguish images of sophisticated machine-generated faces from actual humans
Sexuality
People Have Been Having Less Sex—whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings
Among the young, social media, gaming and “rough sex” may contribute to this trend
Behavior
This Protein Could Boost Brain Function without Exercise
An exercise pill might one day produce health gains without the exertional pain
Evolution
Physical Activity Could Be an Evolutionary Adaptation for Grandparenting
It may force energy shifts to repair and maintenance, which could slow aging and make us more available to care for younger generations
Neuroscience
Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Is Linked to Child Anxiety, Hyperactivity
Changes in the activity of immune system genes in the placenta could explain the association, researchers speculate
Vaccines
COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function
The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women
Epidemiology
Masks Are a Must-Have to Go Back to School during the Delta Variant Surge
Face coverings are essential to protecting children, keeping schools open and slowing the highly contagious coronavirus variant, experts say
Public Health
‘Breakthrough’ Infections Do Not Mean COVID Vaccines Are Failing
Getting flu again postinoculation is more common than a return case after a COVID shot
Neuroscience
New Brain Implant Transmits Full Words from Neural Signals
No spelling out of letters is needed for a paralyzed person to use the first-of-a-kind neuroprosthesis
Biology
Why Scientists Tweak Lab Viruses to Make Them More Contagious
Some “gain of function” studies explore how a dangerous pathogen might cross species barriers to start an outbreak. They are not without controversy
Physiology
Humans Could Live up to 150 Years, New Research Suggests
A study counts blood cells and footsteps to predict a hard limit to our longevity
Evolution
Genes Linked to Self-Awareness in Modern Humans Were Less Common in Neandertals
Brain networks for memory and planning may have set us apart from Neandertals—and chimps
Behavior
A Smile at a Wedding and a Cheer at a Soccer Game Are Alike the World Over
A survey of six million videos from 144 countries suggests facial expressions are nearly universal
Evolution
When Same-Sex Mating Makes Reproductive Sense
Under the right circumstances, indiscriminate mating with both males and females can enhance animals’ evolutionary success
Behavior
In the Early Americas, Female Hunters Pursued Big Game, Study Suggests
Millennia-old burial sites show equal-opportunity hunting roles might have been commonplace
Behavior
Mountain Peaks Seem to Shape Personality Traits in the American West
Topography may contribute to the formation of regional temperament
Biology
Cells Solve an English Hedge Maze with the Same Skills They Use to Traverse the Body
A study reveals the Pac-Man-like strategies adopted by different cell types when making long journeys through an organism
Behavior
Penis Size Has Nothing to Do with Masculinity
Mocking men who tote big guns or drive fast cars as “compensating” for their presumably inadequate endowment is sexist and toxic
