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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-May-2026 06:15 ET (14-May-2026 10:15 GMT/UTC)

Too hot to handle? Study explores how heat is reshaping US population shifts

Florida Atlantic University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As temperatures rise across the U.S., are Americans really packing up and leaving? New research reveals a more complex story. Analyzing nationwide county-level data, the study finds that jobs, housing costs and quality of life – not heat alone – drive migration decisions, at least for now. While extreme temperatures may deter newcomers, they aren’t triggering mass departures. Instead, climate subtly shapes where people choose to live, working alongside economic and social forces rather than leading the way.

Journal: Sustainability

Overreliance on AI programs may undermine confidence at work

American Psychological Association
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Relying on AI to complete work duties may not be diminishing our cognitive abilities, but it can undermine confidence in our own independent reasoning and perceived ownership of ideas, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Journal: Technology Mind and Behavior

Feeling lonely? Try a walk in the great outdoors

Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Even a solitary walk in the woods or by water provides a sense of connectedness. Simply spending time in natural environments can help prevent loneliness.

Journal: Health & Place

How gut bacteria and acute stress are linked

University of Vienna
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The gut microbiome influences numerous physiological processes. Researchers at the University of Vienna have now demonstrated for the first time that, in healthy adults, the diversity of gut bacteria and their capacity to produce certain metabolites are associated with the acute stress response - particularly stress reactivity. Higher microbial diversity was associated with stronger hormonal and subjectively perceived stress reactivity. The results suggest that the gut microbiome may play a role in regulating the acute stress response. The study was published in Neurobiology of Stress.

Journal: Neurobiology of Stress

Study demonstrates: Gifted men exhibit lower levels of conservatism compared to their average-intelligence counterparts

Saarland University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Individuals with high intellectual ability frequently occupy leadership roles across business, science and politics. To date, it has not been definitively established whether a high intelligence quotient correlates with specific political orientations. However, recent research reveals a significant gender-specific distinction: Intellectually gifted men tend to be less conservative than men of average intellectual ability. This study, authored by Maximilian Krolo and Jörn Sparfeldt, was published in the journal Intelligence.

Journal: Intelligence

Simple menu tweak boosts vegetarian choices and cuts carbon, study finds

University of Oxford
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Replacing just one meat dish with a vegetarian option in workplace cafeterias can significantly shift what people eat - cutting both calories and carbon emissions - according to a new study from researchers at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford.

Economic hardship tied to increased violence across California

University of California - San Diego
Reports and Proceedings

Economic instability – including job loss, food insecurity, eviction and homelessness – is strongly associated with higher rates of violence among California adults, according to a new statewide survey led by the University of California San Diego.

Funder: Blue Shield of California Foundation

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