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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Apr-2026 18:16 ET (27-Apr-2026 22:16 GMT/UTC)

New study reveals spatial patterns of crime rates and media coverage across Chicago

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A spatial analysis of crime in Chicago suggests that certain environmental and socioeconomic factors, such as building density, are linked with crime rates, but these relationships differ between neighborhoods. The study also reveals discrepancies between media coverage and actual crime patterns, with coverage disproportionately concentrated in certain areas. Yuxuan Cai of the University of Chicago, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on November 26, 2025.

Journal: PLOS One

First-of-its-kind 3D model lets you explore Easter Island statues up close

Binghamton University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

You can now explore Rano Raraku, one of the major quarries on Easter Island, from the comfort of your home. A research team including faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York has created the first-ever high-resolution 3D model of the quarry, providing people worldwide with a glimpse of the island, including almost 1,000 of its iconic moai statues.

Journal: PLOS One

'Exploitative' online money gaming in India causing financial, health and social harm, analysis shows

University of Exeter
Peer-Reviewed Publication

“Exploitative” online money gaming in India is harming people’s financial and mental health and causing deep social problems, a new study shows.

Journal: Gaming Law Review

New DNA study unlocks origins, social structure of Neolithic Shimao civilization

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study published in Nature on November 26 has shed light on the origins, population structures, and kinship systems of the people of Shimao—one of China's most significant late Neolithic settlements. Analyses of ancient DNA from individuals who inhabited the site reveal genetic links to southern settlements, while also providing evidence of male mass burials associated with human sacrifice.

Journal: Nature

Do children imitate communication manners of machines? Experiment on children's response to polite vs. commanding robot

SWPS University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The presence of robots in schools is no longer surprising. How do elementary school children treat humanoid robots? Are they polite to them, and willing to attribute human-like qualities to them? Researchers from SWPS University have shown that in most cases, children treat robots politely, and younger children and girls are more likely to perceive them as possessing human-like qualities.

Journal: Computers & Education

Public trust in science eroded by UN climate change language, study finds

University of Essex
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The United Nations’ climate change body may unintentionally be eroding public trust in science because of the way it communicates risk, new University of Essex research shows.

The study of more than 4,000 UK residents found language used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) could make the public think scientists are divided and that predictions are extreme or implausible.

Journal: Nature Climate Change

The most affected regions of the brain identified in patients in early stages of schizophrenia spectrum disorders

University of Seville
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the University of Seville report that schizophrenia-spectrum disorders may originate in specific brain regions showing early structural damage. Using MRI-based MIND networks, they found reduced structural similarity—especially in temporal, cingulate and insular lobes—linked to worse symptoms. Affected areas showed high astrocyte and neurotransmitter presence, pointing to potential biomarkers and personalized treatments.

Journal: Nature Communications