Shared houses are redefining urban living in Tokyo. By analyzing 1,374 supplier-written property listings through text-mining, researchers identified 11 key promotional themes highlighting safety, community, and convenience as the main selling points. The study uncovers how shared houses are promoted not as low-cost options but as lifestyle-oriented spaces that foster social connection and urban comfort, reflecting Japan’s shifting housing values and evolving notions of city living.

What do hake fillet, port wine from 1890, and Azorean pineapple have in common? At some point, these dishes were served as part of diplomatic dinners hosted in Portugal. But is there a deeper meaning behind these choices? Portuguese researchers have examined menus from dinners hosted over the last 100 years. They found the dishes served at those dinners are vital parts of the execution of Portugal’s foreign policy and that national cuisines can be strategically used to strengthen a country’s global standing.

A University of Massachusetts Amherst study has found that gerrymandering in North Carolina resulted in reduced access to healthcare services. As states across the country grapple with politically charged redistricting efforts, the finding could ultimately offer a new strategy to fight gerrymandering in the courts, the researchers say.