ScienceDaily: Society - April 08, 2025
Top society research news
Common phrases, not fancy words, make you sound more fluent in a foreign language
Fluency in a foreign language is often thought to be about speaking quickly and using advanced vocabulary. However, researchers reveal that speakers who use common, everyday expressions sound more fluent than those who rely on rare, complex words. The study highlights the importance of mastering familiar phrases to improve fluency perception, suggesting that learners should naturally incorporate common formulaic expressions in spontaneous speech.
Childhood experiences shape the brain's white matter with cognitive effects seen years later
Investigators have linked difficult early life experiences with reduced quality and quantity of the white matter communication highways throughout the adolescent brain. This reduced connectivity is also associated with lower performance on cognitive tasks.
Chatbot opens computational chemistry to nonexperts
A web platform uses a chatbot to enable any chemist -- including undergraduate chemistry majors -- to configure and execute complex quantum mechanical simulations through chatting.
Does teamwork fulfill the goal of project-based learning?
A researcher investigated the impact of the group work environment on motivation in English as a second language classes. The study revealed that the group work environment plays an important role in motivating students.
Is AI in medicine playing fair?
As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly integrates into health care, a new study reveals that all generative AI models may recommend different treatments for the same medical condition based solely on a patient's socioeconomic and demographic background.
'Ugh, not that song!' Background music impacts employees
Have you ever gone to a store or a restaurant where the music was so annoying that you walked right out? Now imagine what it must be like for the employees. In a new study, researchers found that when background music at a workplace is out of sync with what workers need to do their jobs, it can affect their energy, mood -- and even performance.
Home care cooperatives may be key to addressing the critical shortage of caregivers for the elderly
Home care cooperatives may be the key to alleviating the shortage of paid caregivers for older Americans. Participants in cooperatives experienced more respect, control, job support, and compensation than their counterparts in traditional care services.
How can science benefit from AI? Risks?
Researchers from chemistry, biology, and medicine are increasingly turning to AI models to develop new hypotheses. However, it is often unclear on which basis the algorithms come to their conclusions and to what extent they can be generalized. A publicationnow warns of misunderstandings in handling artificial intelligence. At the same time, it highlights the conditions under which researchers can most likely have confidence in the models.
Fear of rejection influences how children conform to peers
The fear of rejection -- familiar to many children and adults -- can significantly impact how kids behave in their peer groups, according to new research.
Speed cameras take six months to change driver behavior, effects vary by neighborhood
New York City's automated speed cameras reduced traffic crashes by 14% and decreased speeding violations by 75% over time, according to new research. The research revealed most cameras achieve their safety purpose within six months, with violations dropping and staying low -- showing drivers have changed behavior to drive more slowly and the cameras are working as intended, to deter speeding.
Existing international law can help secure peace and security in outer space
World leaders should look to existing international law on the use of force to address the threat of space becoming ever more militarized, a new study shows.
Science 'storytelling' urgently needed amid climate and biodiversity crisis
Scientists should experiment with creative ways of communicating their work to inspire action to protect the natural world, researchers say.
When it comes to obesity-related cancers, where you shop for food matters
Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the United States where more than 40% of adults are obese and more than 70% are overweight. One common policy intervention to tackle this urgent issue is to try to improve diet quality by increasing local grocery stores that offer healthy options. However, this is not a silver bullet, but researchers are not sure why. A team of researchers developed a novel tool to help understand consumer behavior at the county level, and to study the relationship between where people shop for their food and the risk of obesity-related cancers.
Dramatically higher loss of GDP under 4°C warming
New projections reveal a 4 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures would cut world GDP by around 40% by 2100 -- a stark increase from previous estimates of around 11%.