The more often we see information, the more likely we are to believe it is truthful. This has been known for 50 years. Researchers in Bochum have now demonstrated that this “truth effect” becomes stronger when we select the information ourselves: All it takes is clicking a headline to give its contents more credence later. This effect greatly impacts the perceived reliability of true and false information in digital media. The team working around Dr. Moritz Ingendahl – from the Social Cognition Lab at the Ruhr University Bochum Faculty of Psychology – reports its findings in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General from January 8, 2026.

Researchers tested what factors improve or worsen the quality of sleep in mice. A team including researchers from the University of Tokyo placed mice in two environments, one where they could see and sense other mice without physical contact, and one in complete isolation. They found that mice higher in their social hierarchy likely benefited from isolation, while those lower did not. However, the specific impact on the amount of REM sleep varied depending on the genetic background of the mice. The team hopes to investigate the relationship between social connections and sleep in humans.

New research from the University of St Andrews has found that the social spread of group bubble-net feeding amongst humpback whales is crucial to the success of the population’s ongoing recovery.

How do feral horses maintain inter-group boundaries in an open field without territories?

Researchers used drones to observe groups in Portugal. They discovered that horses actively shift group shape to maintain inter-group spacing in shared spaces. Randomization analysis confirmed this avoidance was not random but likely to be intentional. However, a unique "friendly pair" of groups was found frequently mixing, suggesting a rare social bond.

Women who receive continuous care from community-based midwives have a significantly reduced risk of preterm birth in comparison to those who receive standard care. This care model also significantly reduced risks of preterm births in women who are at greatest social risk of adverse outcomes.