EurekAlert! News by Subject: Social & Behavior

Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 24-Oct-2026 16:15 ET (24-Oct-2026 20:15 GMT/UTC)

22-Jul-2026

Singapore has the world’s longest, healthiest lives — but also more years in poor health

National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A global study found that Singapore ranked first in the world in 2023 for both life expectancy, at 85.4 years, and healthy life expectancy, at 74.1 years. However, the gap between the two widened to 11.2 years, up from 8.9 years in 1990, with women living longer than men but spending more years in poor health.

Journal: The Lancet Public Health

21-Jul-2026

Are penalties a deterrent or a “price”?

Ehime University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

We examine whether penalties for long ground delays with passengers kept on board (i.e., lengthy tarmac delays) deter airline violations or are simply treated as a cost of doing business. Using severe-weather cases as a quasi-natural experiment, we compare penalized and non-penalized airlines with difference-in-differences methods. We find modest and inconsistent improvements. Deterrence is weaker when penalties are small relative to airlines’ net incomes, suggesting that some carriers may view them as routine business costs.

Journal: Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

21-Jul-2026

Try a little tenderness - new study into humans' closest ape relatives suggests physical touch can promote social harmony

Durham University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Physical touch may be an important evolutionary tool to help manage social tension and keep the peace.

That is according to a new study led by Durham University in the UK, analysing behaviours of our closest ape relatives, the bonobos and chimpanzees.

Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
Funder: Templeton World Charity Foundation

21-Jul-2026

Most Salt Lake County residents concerned about Great Salt Lake decline

University of Utah
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers surveyed more than 500 Salt Lake County residents and found that 69% are concerned about the shrinking lake, with habitat loss and dust-related health risks emerging as the top worries. The study also found that concern varies significantly by age, gender, race and ethnicity, birthplace, and people's personal experiences with the lake. Researchers say the findings show how lived experience and background can shape views about rapid, environmental changes, and that policies for the Great Salt Lake will gain stronger public support if they are framed as actions needed to protect wildlife or other key values rather than actions to stabilize water levels.

Journal: Environment and Behavior
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

21-Jul-2026

UT Arlington names Hollywood director to film professorship

University of Texas at Arlington
Business Announcement

As North Texas continues to expand its film and television industry, The University of Texas at Arlington is bringing accomplished Hollywood television director Rachel Raimist into the classroom this fall.

21-Jul-2026

PLOS Aging and Health publishes its first issue

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New journal PLOS Aging and Health publishes its first papers on July 21, 2026. The first issue includes research findings on a range of key topics focused on human aging.

21-Jul-2026

“Fictional” chatbots help explain popularity of artificial intelligence

University of Exeter
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The huge popularity of AI chatbots can be explained by their accepted role as fictional characters in people’s lives – in the same way as those found in films, TV and books, a new study shows.

Journal: Philosophical Studies