Girls as young as nine are navigating a culture that tells them to be authentic while quietly punishing them for failing to look perfect, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. Researchers found that influencer culture pulls girls into a constant balancing act between fitting in and being themselves.

Christopher Koliba, a governance scholar at the University of Kansas, has published a study documenting the politicization of the pandemic response and election crises of 2020 and 2021 and how they mark "critical events" in the decline of democratic accountability standards. He employs techniques used by historians to document the events and argues the weaponization of falsehoods and other approaches used in the twin crises violate several standards of accountability that mark strong democracies and show the need for commitment to democracy.

AI's greatest strength—removing friction from work and relationships—is also a liability. Prioritizing outcome over process, it eliminates desirable difficulties that drive growth. By subtracting effort from life, AI risks removing the struggles that teach us, the loneliness that connects us, and the labor that makes life meaningful.

By signing the Diversity Charter, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is underlining its commitment to an appreciative, respectful working culture in which diversity is recognised, promoted and utilised. The signing on 20 January 2026 also marks the start of the “Year of Diversity” at the BfR. “The diversity of people with their different abilities, experiences and perspectives opens up opportunities for good cooperation and innovative solutions. The Diversity Charter provides a framework for this, which we at the BfR will continue to fill with life,” says BfR President Professor Andreas Hensel.

Whether people follow a general trend when choosing a partner or consciously decide against it has a noticeable impact on the diversity of phenotypes to choose from. This is shown by a new study by the University of Würzburg.