behavioural sciences

Premature births, babies born with birth defects, bad luck, satellite and telecommunications failures… Eclipses are attributed with a wide variety of consequences that have no scientific basis and are largely rooted in cultural traditions and deep-seated misconceptions. With the help of expert sources, in this article we explain why some people believe in them, what the main risks are and how to counter them. 

Permanent splits in chimpanzee groups are extremely rare—an event that occurs once every 500 years, according to genetic evidence. The journal Science reports on the split of the largest known group of wild chimpanzees following 30 years of observations. This involves the Ngogo chimpanzees in Kibale National Park (Uganda). The group shifted from cohesion to polarization in 2015 and eventually split into two distinct groups in 2018. From that point on, violence escalated, and members of one group killed at least seven males and 17 infants from the other. In the 1970s in Gombe (Tanzania), another case of this type was documented, but the chimpanzees had been fed by humans-

A new study published in the journal Patterns investigates the influence of professional networks on positions of power. The authors drew on data from more than 19,000 senior executives across over 700 publicly listed Canadian companies between 2000 and 2022. Using deep learning artificial intelligence models, the team analysed the evolution of each individual’s social and professional networks throughout their career, as well as the factors affecting their likelihood of promotion. The results revealed a "clear 'glass ceiling effect': women on boards must build broader and more influential networks than men in order to reach comparable positions of influence, even when their demographic characteristics and career trajectories are similar".

Bonobos and chimpanzees have the same level of aggression, but among bonobos, more aggression is observed from females towards males, and among chimpanzees, from males towards females, according to a study published in Science Advances. These findings contradict the idea that bonobos are peaceful and chimpanzees are aggressive, the authors write. Their analysis is based on the observation of 22 groups of animals in zoos (189 primates in total).

Speaking to the media in Barcelona, the Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, announced that the ministry will ban the sale of energy drinks to minors under the age of 16 in Spain. The regulation will also apply to minors under the age of 18 when the drinks contain more than 32 milligrams of caffeine per 100 millilitres.

On social network X (formerly Twitter), when users select the ‘for you’ option, the algorithm tends to steer them towards more conservative political options, according to research conducted with nearly 5,000 participants in the United States in 2023. The authors randomly assigned users to either an algorithmic or chronological feed for seven weeks. The switch from chronological to algorithmic feed increased engagement and shifted political opinion towards more conservative positions, especially on political priorities, perceptions of criminal investigations into Donald Trump, and opinions on the war in Ukraine. Conversely, switching from the algorithmic feed to the chronological feed had no comparable effects. ‘Initial exposure to X's algorithm has persistent effects on users' current political attitudes,’ say the authors of the study, published in Nature.

Two researchers from Johns Hopkins University (United States) have shown for the first time, through three experiments, that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, a skill previously thought to be unique to humans. During the study, Kanzi, a 43-year-old bonobo, tasted imaginary glasses of juice and bowls of imaginary grapes. According to the researchers, ‘imagination has long been considered a crucial element of the human condition, but the idea that it is not unique to our species is truly transformative.’ The results are published in Science.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs, used to control obesity and type 2 diabetes, are associated with changes in food purchasing in favour of healthier options. This result, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, was obtained by analysing nearly two million shopping receipts from more than 1,100 participants in Denmark. Those who started treatment with GLP-1 drugs began to make purchases with fewer calories, sugars, saturated fats and carbohydrates, along with a modest increase in protein content. A decrease in the purchase of ultra-processed foods was also observed.

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports reveals an increase in simplicity, negativity, and stress-related words in pop song lyrics in the United States over the last few decades. The authors also conclude that this phenomenon was attenuated in times of social crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which ‘highlights the role of music in both shaping and reflecting moods.’ The data included more than 20,000 songs from the US charts between 1973 and 2023. 

Gilberto and Tomás are two macaques trained to synchronise their movements with the rhythm of a metronome, who were also able to tap to a musical beat, according to a study published in Science. This result contradicts the vocal learning hypothesis, according to which only species capable of complex vocalisations can perceive and follow a musical rhythm.