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Residential environment linked to subjective well-being through life-domain satisfaction

A new study by Keio University researchers explores the association between residential environments and subjective well-being, finding that better living conditions are linked to higher satisfaction with important life domains, which in turn is associated with greater overall well-being. The study suggests that housing design and poli...

SourceKeio University Global Research Institute·JournalJournal of Happiness Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 1, 2026

Ancient DNA reveals web of marriage and migration in Peru

A new study analyzing ancient DNA alongside archaeological data suggests that population movement along Peru's Pacific coast began at least 800 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire. Genetic evidence reveals mixed ancestry between people from different coastal regions over subsequent generations.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2026

Monkeys learn to self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists’ junk food

In a unique behavior, monkeys on Gibraltar have learned to eat dirt to help them digest the junk food consumed by tourists, which disrupts their gut microbiome. The researchers found that geophagy is socially learned and has become part of the macaques' culture, with different troops having preferences for certain types of soil.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2026

Whale hunting began 5,000 years ago in South America, a millennium earlier than previously thought

New research reveals that Indigenous communities in southern Brazil hunted large whales 5,000 years ago, long before previously thought. The study provides strong evidence of active hunting and sheds light on the economies, technologies, and lifeways of postglacial societies along the Atlantic coast of South America.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2026

Unique protein signatures linked to ethnicity and changes in physical activity observed in new study

A new study has identified unique protein signatures linked to ethnicity and changes in physical activity, which may influence cardiometabolic health. The research found that South Asian individuals may face a higher risk of cardiometabolic disorders due to distinct immune, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 8, 2026

Some people could sound angrier when complaining, new study finds

Researchers found that speakers from different cultures convey emotions differently when complaining. Complainers use specific vocal expressions to convey negativity, with Québécois sounding more angry and French speakers sounding sadder. The study highlights the importance of tone of voice in social interactions and may have implicati...

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Communication·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 22, 2025

Cross-cultural differences in the socio-cognitive abilities of non-autistic and autistic individuals

Researchers from Japan conducted a cross-cultural analysis to compare mentalizing difficulties in British and Japanese autistic and non-autistic adults. They found that Japanese autistic participants outperformed both groups of British participants, suggesting cultural differences in interpreting social cues.

SourceWaseda University·JournalMolecular Autism·TypeObservational study·DateMay 30, 2025

Modelling the demography of agricultural transitions

A new study models the demography of agricultural transitions, finding that population dynamics played a crucial role in the adoption of farming. The researchers used an ecological model to analyze interactions between farmers and hunter-gatherers, highlighting the impact of factors such as group migration and cultural assimilation.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 2, 2025

Cultural differences account for starkly different responses to COVID-19

The study highlights cultural defaults, such as individualism and social choice, which led to divergent COVID-19 responses in the US and East Asian countries. These cultural factors contributed to massive variations in COVID-related deaths, with East Asian countries experiencing significantly lower death tolls.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science in the Public Interest·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 19, 2024

Gourds made by Indigenous women supplied the European luxury market in the 18th century

Indigenous women in the Amazon region of Brazil created varnished gourds with complex decorations inspired by local flora and fauna as well as European and Asian embroidery patterns. The craft was recognized at the beginning of the 18th century and was mainly produced for the European market, participating in a process of globalization.

First ever Hispanic thrifty food plan published

The new Hispanic Thrifty Food Plan (H-TFP) is a cost-neutral alternative to the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, respecting traditional Hispanic eating patterns while adhering to established nutritional guidelines. The H-TFP aims to preserve cultural food preferences while promoting healthy eating at the same cost.

SourceNational Pork Board·JournalNutrients·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 21, 2024

Coral reef destruction a threat to human rights

A human rights-based approach to coral reef protection could ensure governments are held accountable for safeguarding marine ecosystems. An estimated one billion people rely on healthy coral reefs globally for food security and income, highlighting the catastrophic impact of their loss on human health and economic wellbeing.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeNews article·DateSep 30, 2024

Tradition meets transformation for Maasai women

A new study reveals that Maasai women are gaining access to household decisions through livelihood diversification, education, and secure land tenure. This research contributes to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal of Gender Equality, highlighting the value of empowering decision-making for women in pastoralist communities.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Rural Studies·DateAug 5, 2024

Introducing co-cultures: When co-habiting animal species share culture

Co-cultures refer to mutual cultural sharing between distinct animal species, influencing each other in substantial ways. These relationships have been observed between humans and nonhuman animals, as well as between different species of nonhuman animals, driving evolutionary adaptations and preferences.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 11, 2024

Evolution might stop humans from solving climate change, says new study

A new study by University of Maine researchers reveals that human evolution's core processes might prevent humans from resolving global environmental problems like climate change. The study found that cultural adaptation to the environment, which has driven human evolution, accelerates due to a positive feedback process, making it chal...

SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateJan 2, 2024

Reforms needed to expand prescribed burns

Prescribed fire can improve forest health and reduce catastrophic wildfires, but barriers hinder its use. Four strategies can overcome these obstacles: fostering a supportive culture, providing dedicated funding, building capacity and cooperation, and implementing monitoring and adaptive management.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 15, 2023

UMaine, UVM researchers conduct first-ever study of cultural adaptation to climate change

A team of researchers from UMaine and UVM have conducted the first-ever study of cultural adaptation to climate change in US crops. They found that farmers are already adapting their practices to better match crops to recent changes in climate, with some regions showing significant changes in crop selection.

SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateOct 30, 2023

Culture-friendly therapies for treating anxiety and depression in Japanese youth

Researchers found that culturally adapted Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT) are effective in treating anxiety and depression in Japanese youth. The studies highlight the importance of cultural adaptation, user-centered design, and careful implementation of CBT programs to improve learning and treatment outcomes.

SourceDoshisha University·JournalClinical Child and Family Psychology Review·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 7, 2023

University of Minnesota-led study shows Hmong stroke patients are younger, other unique stroke patterns

A University of Minnesota-led study identified higher incidence of brain hemorrhage, hardening of the arteries, and small vessel disease in Hmong stroke patients. Risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes are prevalent among this community.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 1, 2023

Water-scarce cultures value long-term thinking more than their water-rich neighbors do

Cultures from water-scarce environments tend to prioritize long-term thinking and less indulgence compared to their water-rich counterparts. This finding is supported by four studies examining the effects of water scarcity on decision-making processes, including a natural test case in Iran's Yazd and Shiraz cities.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2023