A genomic analysis of over 1,200 people from across South Africa reveals how colonial-era European, Indigenous Khoe-San peoples, and enslaved people contributed to the modern-day gene pool in South Africa. Publishing September 23 in the Cell Press journal The American Journal of Human Genetics, the study found that genes inherited from both colonial Europeans and enslaved people are most common in Cape Town and become less frequent with distance from the colony’s epicenter. The results also show that European ancestors were more likely to be male, whereas Indigenous Khoe-San ancestors were more likely to be female.  

A pair of researchers from the University of Minnesota analyzed years of Taylor Swift’s recorded interviews to track how her dialect has evolved. Their results were published in JASA on behalf of the Acoustical Society of America by AIP Publishing, and show that studying high-profile dialect shifts like Swift’s can help scientists better understand the scope of these dialects, not just in terms of geographic area but also in terms of social group, age, and leadership status.

Speed limits on German highways are a major point of contention, seen as a restriction on personal freedom by some, and as life-saving by others. But what is actually true? One scientist at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, has compiled new, reliable data for the first time in about 50 years. The results show that a speed limit of 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour) would reduce the number of crashes with severe injuries by 26 percent, and the number of traffic fatalities by 35 percent. The study has been published online in the journal Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice from August 5, 2025. 

A new study out of the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) reveals that, over 170 years of economic history, the transformation of U.S. cities follows a surprisingly stable rule: while cities evolve and diversify, they on average maintain a constant level of “coherence”—a measure of how well their economic activities fit together.

A new doctoral dissertation from the University of Vaasa, Finland, yielded surprisingly positive results about the long-term effect of an international childhood. Moving abroad can be a challenging and emotional experience for a child, but in the long run, adjusting to a new culture at a young age develops skills that become useful in future studies and career. In professional life, this is reflected by an ability to seamlessly integrate into diverse teams and cultures, and seeking roles with an international dimension.

Study reveals workplace decision-making crisis: Professionals overconfident but undertrained

Summary: New research from the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists reveals a critical gap between confidence and competence in workplace decision-making. While 91% of professionals believe they have above-average decision skills, 45% lack structured decision habits and 85% never received formal training. The study of 105 professionals across sectors identified 24 specific decision-making challenges and found widespread organizational barriers. Co-led by behavioral decision scientists from University of East Anglia, London School of Economics, and Warwick Business School, this first-of-its-kind workplace decision research shows strong demand for evidence-based training, with 84.8% wanting decision-making development from employers.

Key Finding: The "decision paradox" - high confidence paired with poor processes and poor preparation - suggests organizations are expecting sound decisions without providing the tools or training to make them.

Implications: Results challenge the assumption that experience alone builds decision expertise and highlight urgent need for systematic decision science education in professional development.

Institution: Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists (GAABS), Zurich, Switzerland