Many experts believe that social isolation is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. But a new study, led by UC San Francisco and Boston University, examined the social habits and genetic data of half a million Britons whose average age was 56, and found that the disease may make them more sociable rather than less – at least in the early stages. 

A new survey conducted by researchers from the Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University reveals broad public support among Israeli Jews for the ongoing military campaign against Iran, with 83% backing the strike and a majority expressing confidence in Israel’s security institutions, emotional resilience, and preparedness for prolonged conflict. In contrast, Arab Israelis overwhelmingly oppose the campaign (only 12% support it), favor diplomacy over military action (73%), and report significantly higher levels of fear and despair. The study highlights a deep divide between the two communities not only in terms of policy preferences and emotional response, but also in perceptions of national unity, trust in institutions, and willingness to continue the campaign without U.S. backing. While Jewish Israelis largely see the Iran strike as unifying and justified even at high cost, Arab Israelis view it as divisive, dangerous, and diplomatically unjustified — underscoring a profound gap in public sentiment across Israeli society.

In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers studied minority influence in fire ants—highly social insects—and discovered a surprising genetic underpinning to the phenomenon. The research offers insights into how social interactions shape individuals and groups.

Early online research in journals of the American Meteorological Society features topics including the relationship between hot, dry air and gun violence in New York City; the importance of NOAA research flights to improve hurricane track forecatss; lightning-initiated wildfires; and studies on how personal experience of extreme weather interacts with political preferences to shape views on climate change.

Fostering shared understanding between romantic partners may be a powerful way for people to navigate uncertainty and build a more meaningful life, a study by McGill researchers suggests.

The history of the Boston Bruins’ failed move to New Hampshire in the early 1980s demonstrates that residents and politicians can fundamentally alter deals related to team locations and venues, according to a report by Aaron Bonsu, doctoral candidate in kinesiology at Penn State.