Heavy Social Media Use Linked to Believing and Spreading Fake News

Summary: Individuals who experience high levels of distress and functional impairment from excessive social media use are significantly more likely to believe fake news and interact with it. Researchers found…

Moral Outrage Goes Viral, But Doesn’t Drive Action Online

Summary: A new study analyzing over a million posts linked to online petitions found that while moral outrage boosts a post’s virality, it doesn’t significantly increase petition signatures. Emotional and…

Seeing Is Believing: How We Judge AI as Creative or Not

Summary: New research shows that people perceive AI systems as more creative when they observe not just the final product, but also the creative process and the robot in action.…

Bigger Brains and Strong Immunity Linked to Longer Lifespans

Summary: New research reveals that mammals with larger brains and more robust immune systems tend to live longer lives. By studying 46 species, scientists found a clear link between maximum…

Legal Cannabis Linked to Less Problematic Use, Better Mental Health

Summary: The Weed Care study in Switzerland is investigating how legal access to cannabis affects users’ consumption and mental health. In the first randomized trial of its kind, participants buying…

Knowing Alzheimer’s Risk Lowers Anxiety, But Motivation Fades

Summary: A new study shows that learning about amyloid beta buildup — a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease — does not increase emotional distress, but motivation to maintain healthy habits…

Emotional Regulation Offers a New Path to Relief

Summary: A new study shows that improving emotional processing can significantly reduce chronic pain and improve quality of life. Researchers developed Pain and Emotion Therapy, an online intervention teaching emotional…

Teens With Mental Health Conditions Use Social Media Differently

Summary: Adolescents with mental health conditions report distinct and often more negative experiences on social media compared to their peers. Those with internalising conditions like anxiety and depression were more…

Stressful Neighborhoods May Numb Kids’ Brains to Joy and Loss

Summary: Children raised in disadvantaged neighborhoods may show blunted brain responses to rewards and losses, especially if they have a family history of depression. New research reveals that community-level stress,…

Two Key Signals Shape Brain Structure Early, Varying by Person

Summary: A new study has revealed how two morphogens, WNT and Sonic Hedgehog, act as molecular “traffic cops,” directing early human brain development. Using a custom device and stem cell-derived…