Different countries have different cultures, and social scientists have developed theories about which values are most important in differentiating the world’s cultures. Abhishek Sheetal and colleagues used the power of machine learning to identify the crucial distinguishing characteristics of the world’s national cultures in a theory-blind manner, extracting the top 60 most predictive survey questions

A new review study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development shows that nearly one in three people choose to avoid medical information about serious health conditions if they fear they may be affected. One of the main reasons driving this behavior is a lack of trust in the medical system. The study has been published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 

In a major step toward realizing memory systems that works as flexibly as the random-access memory (RAM) in today’s classical computers, researchers at ICFO have developed an array of ten individually controllable quantum memories that can store multiple qubits simultaneously and recall them when needed.

This solid-state system, reported in Physical Review X, is based on a previous configuration that held 250 available “slots” to potentially store a photon —the current world record for a solid‑state device with on-demand retrieval. The system brings us closer to the quantum equivalent of a RAM, and could serve as a building block for generating large-scale entangled states —a key resource for quantum computing— or dramatically boost the efficiency of entanglement distribution across long distances —a foundational task for future quantum communication networks.

A new Genomic Press Interview published in Psychedelics reveals how Dr. Harriet de Wit has revolutionized the study of psychoactive drugs through her unique approach connecting animal behavior to human consciousness. Her laboratory at the University of Chicago has demonstrated that MDMA enhances feelings of social connectedness during interpersonal interactions, findings with profound implications for PTSD treatment globally. The interview explores her remarkable trajectory from Canadian graduate student to internationally acclaimed scientist whose work influences therapeutic applications of psychedelics worldwide.