All Stories by Sujata Gupta
- Science & Society
Not all cultures value happiness over other aspects of well-being
Nordic countries topped the 2024 world happiness rankings. But culture dictates how people respond to surveys of happiness, a researcher argues.
- Science & Society
Social media harms teens’ mental health, mounting evidence shows. What now?
Recent studies suggest a causal link between teen social media use and reduced well-being. Now, some researchers are looking into possible mechanisms.
- Science & Society
Most people say self-control is the same as willpower. Researchers disagree
Psychologists say self-control is about planning ahead to avoid relying on willpower in the moment. Laypeople see things differently.
- Psychology
Here’s how to give a good gift, according to science
Gifting researcher Julian Givi outlines common mistakes gift givers make and how science can help us avoid those costly errors.
- Science & Society
Reindeer herders and scientists collaborate to understand Arctic warming
Siberian reindeer herders and scientists are working together to figure out how to predict rain-on-snow events that turn tundra into deadly ice.
- Science & Society
Why the Thanksgiving myth persists, according to science
The science of collective memory — and a desire for clear origin stories — may explain the endurance of the Thanksgiving myth despite a messier reality.
- Psychology
Why scientists are expanding the definition of loneliness
Feeling detached from animals, places and routines can cause loneliness, researchers are learning, which may expand the list of interventions.
- Math
Non-Western art and design can reveal alternate ways of thinking about math
Focusing on the relationship between math and culture can boost student learning and expand mathematical knowledge, researchers say.
- Science & Society
Curbing pedestrian stops might not reduce police-civilian encounters
In Chicago, traffic stops soared as pedestrian stops fell. Single policy changes therefore don’t tell the whole policing story, researchers say.
- Psychology
An apology to Indigenous communities sparks a mental health rethink
The leading U.S. psychological association pledged to embrace Indigenous approaches to healing, which requires rethinking how to address mental health.
- Climate
Nature’s changing colors makes climate change visible
The world’s color palette is shifting in response to climate change. Seeing these changes in nature firsthand is a powerful communication tool.
- Science & Society
California’s long-standing affirmative action ban hints at what’s to come
Alternative race-neutral polices to affirmative action have fallen short in encouraging diversity in California schools, research shows.
