Why Are 90% of People Right-Handed, Whereas Other Primates Aren't?
Source: Google News - HealthIt is one of the strangest puzzles in human evolution: About 90% of people across every human culture favor their right hand—with no other primate species showing a population-level preference on this scale. Despite decades of research, the mystery of right-handedness has remained unsolved. Now, a new study suggests that the answer comes down to two features of human evolution—walking on two legs, and the dramatic expansion of the human brain.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesTexas Hospital to Create "Detransition Clinic" After Legal Settlement
Source: United Press International - Health NewsTexas Children's Hospital plans to create the first "detransition clinic" in the U.S. as part of a settlement with the state for providing transgender care, officials announced Friday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement will also require the hospital to pay a $10 million fine and revoke medical privileges of doctors. The clinic will offer free services for its first five years to help children to return to their gender...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesU.S. Education Secretary Defends Dismantling Her Own Department
Source: NPR U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sparred with Democrats on the House education committee Thursday during a hearing to defend the Trump administration's new budget proposal. The lawmakers and education secretary tussled over several key issues that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, including whether new Republican caps on federal student loans will lower the cost of college, and whether the U.S. Department of Education should...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesPope Denounces the Rise of AI-Directed Warfare
Source: NPR Pope Leo XIV on Thursday denounced how investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were leading the world into a "spiral of annihilation," as he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during a visit to Europe's largest university. He called for better monitoring of how AI was being used in military contexts "so that it does not absolve humans of responsibility for their choices and does not exacerbate the tragedy of...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesNative American Kids With Disabilities Held in Wooden Boxes at School
Source: NPR Rumors spread on social media over the winter: School kids with disabilities in a New York School District, including Mohawk children, were being confined by special education teachers in wooden boxes. Local school officials later confirmed that at least two boxes had been built and used by staff. Now, according to a state investigation, it appears that at least five elementary-age students with disabilities were confined in a "wooden box for a...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesIslamic Feminism Growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Source: DW- top storiesUsually, it tends to be Muslim men who go to pray on Fridays in the mosques of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As is customary in Islam, women are not required to go to the mosque to pray on the holiest day of the week. However, more and more, devout Muslim women in the Western Balkan country want to attend the mosque, too. In particular, Bosnian Muslim feminists are part of a broader movement that has been gaining influence in the Islamic world since...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesYour "Um" and Pauses Could Reveal Early Dementia Risk
Source: Science Daily - Top HealthThe little pauses, "ums," and moments when you struggle to find the right word may reveal far more about your brain than anyone realized. New research suggests they are tied to mental systems powering memory, planning, and attention. By using AI to analyze conversations, it's possible to predict cognitive performance with surprising accuracy, potentially allowing simple speech-based tools to detect early signs of dementia long before traditional...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesPoland Registers First Same-Sex Marriage After Court's Ruling
Source: PBS News HourPoland's capital, Warsaw, registered its first same-sex marriage on Thursday, implementing court rulings that require the country to recognize same-sex marriages registered abroad. The European Union's highest court in November ordered Poland to register same-sex marriages from other EU countries even if Polish law doesn't permit them. "This morning we issued the first transcription of a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple," Warsaw's...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesBacklash As Utah Approves Data Center Twice the Size of Manhattan
Source: The Guardian - Climate CrisisA plan to create one of the world's largest data centers—a gargantuan project spanning an area more than twice the size of Manhattan—has provoked a furious public backlash in Utah amid concerns over its vast energy use and impact upon the state's stressed water supplies. The Stratos artificial intelligence data center footprint will cover more than 62 square miles and was approved last week despite thousands of objections lodged by Utah...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesQuebec Law Would Allow People to Obtain Partner Violence History
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - Canadian NewsThe Quebec government has introduced a bill aimed at helping prevent intimate partner violence. The law would allow people to obtain information about the conjugal violence history of their current or ex-partner. The bill has been referred to as the Gabie Renaud law, named after a woman whose partner killed her last year after being arrested dozens of times and convicted at least six times for incidents related to intimate partner violence.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesMedical AI Transcriber "Hallucinated," Generating Errors
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - Health NewsArtificial intelligence note-taking tools intended for use by Ontario doctors provided incorrect and incomplete information or demonstrated AI "hallucinations," a new audit report shows. During a provincial procurement process for AI medical systems that transcribe conversations between doctors and patients, government evaluators found serious errors in transcripts generated by 20 programs, said Ontario Auditor General Shelley Spence.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesFirst Real-Time Brain-Controlled Hearing Device
Source: Google News - HealthResearchers provided the first direct evidence that brain-controlled technology can help listeners isolate a single voice in a crowded setting. The study showed the effectiveness of a "neural extension" that uses real-time brain signals to identify which speaker a person is focusing on and boost that specific voice. This breakthrough addresses the "cocktail party effect," in which it's hard to distinguish between overlapping conversations in...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesEuropean Union May Ban Social Media for Young Children and Teens
Source: United Press International - Health NewsThe European Union is considering a ban on social media for children, EU President Ursula Von der Leyen announced Tuesday. Von der Leyen said that the bloc will take action this fall against the "addictive design" of certain platforms. The EU has created what she called a "Special Panel of Experts on Child Safety Online" and is awaiting findings from its work. "Depending on the results, we could come with a legal proposal this summer," she...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesRainbow Map Delivers Mixed Picture on LGBTQ+ Rights
Source: DW- top storiesSpain has overtaken Malta at the top of Europe's annual LGBTQ+ rights rainbow map. The 2026 ranking, compiled by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, compares laws and policies affecting LGBTQ+ people in 49 countries across Europe and Central Asia. Spain's rise reflects new equality laws, national action plans, and the depathologization of trans identities in healthcare. This year, the lowest ranked country...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesIsrael Legalizes Death Penalty for Those Guilty of Worst Oct. 7 Crimes
Source: United Press International - Health NewsIsrael's Knesset unanimously passed a death penalty law for Palestinians found guilty of genocide in the October 7, 2023, attacks on the country. Lawmakers on Monday voted 93-0 for the legislation, which also establishes a special military court to try about 300 suspects who were alleged to have been involved and were detained by security forces inside Israel. More than a fifth of Knesset Members either abstained or were absent for the vote.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesJailed Immigrants Show Lower Risk of Criminality Than Native-Born Citizens
Source: PsyPostMany politicians paint immigrants as dangerous criminals, but new research reveals the opposite. A comprehensive study shows that immigrants booked into jail possess far fewer behavioral risk factors for crime and shorter criminal histories than native-born citizens. This suggests that policies targeting immigrants as public safety threats are based on inaccurate stereotypes. The findings were published in the journal Psychology, Public Policy,...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesPeace Activists on Trial After Attacking Israeli Arms Company
Source: DW- top storiesA trial has begun against five activists accused of attacking a German branch of Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems in September 2025. Elbit Systems is one of Israel's largest arms suppliers—manufacturing drones, command-and-control, and telecommunications equipment—and Germany is second only to the United States in supplying Israel with weapons. The defendants intend to argue that they were trying to stop Israel from carrying out a genocide...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesParaguay and Taiwan Announce Plan for Huge South American AI Hub
Source: United Press International - Health NewsParaguayan President Santiago Peña announced an agreement with Taiwan to develop one of the world's largest artificial intelligence centers—an initiative aimed at positioning Paraguay as a regional hub for technological infrastructure and digital services. "We are beginning the path to create the world's largest artificial intelligence hub: Taiwanese technology powered by Paraguayan energy," Peña said in a message shared on social media.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesAbraham Foxman, Former Anti-Defamation League Head, Dies at 86
Source: Google News - HealthAbraham Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League from 1987 until 2015, died Sunday at age 86. "Abe understood the power of words. He often said that the Holocaust did not begin with bricks and mortar and gas chambers, but rather, it began with a word," said his successor, Jonathan Greenblatt, in a statement. Foxman was a survivor of the Holocaust, entrusted to a Catholic nursemaid who baptized and raised him as a Christian to hide his...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesWill the U.S.-China AI Competition Lead to a New Strategic Arms Race?
Source: United Press International - Health NewsThe U.S. and China are considering measures to prevent their artificial intelligence competition from escalating into an uncontrollable crisis, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The two governments share concerns that powerful AI models could trigger crises neither side can manage. Officials are discussing whether to formally address the issue as AI competition shows signs of expanding into a strategic arms race between nations.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesAI Is a Top Cause of U.S. Layoffs, Accounting for 26% of April's Job Cuts
Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsOver the past month, artificial intelligence was the leading reason companies cited for layoffs, accounting for more than one in four U.S. job cuts in April, according to a new report. The report found 21,490 AI-related cuts last month, or 26% of the 88,387 total, marking the second straight month the technology has been the top driver of layoffs. Some technology firms also say they're shifting spending away from labor to direct more capital...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesBenevolent Sexism May Buffer Impact of Unequal Chores on Sexual Desire
Source: PsyPostA recent study published in The Journal of Sex Research provides evidence that how couples divide household chores is linked to women's sexual desire, but this connection depends heavily on their personal beliefs about gender roles. The findings suggest that women who prefer equal partnerships tend to experience lower sexual desire when they take on more of the housework, while those who embrace traditional gender roles do not. These insights...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesPsychiatrists Call RFK Jr.'s Views on SSRIs an "Oversimplification"
Source: NPR As Health Secretary Robert Kennedy launches a plan to wean patients off antidepressants such as SSRIs, mental health advocates say that blaming the U.S. mental health crisis on overprescription of psychiatric medications is an inaccurate portrayal of the problem. "It really is an oversimplification," said the president of the American Psychiatric Association. In the past, Mr. Kennedy has also claimed—without evidence—that antidepressants...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesSocial Media Breaks Do Not Improve Mental Health, Large Review Finds
Source: PsyPostMany people attempt to improve their mental health by taking a temporary break from social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. A new comprehensive review of existing data—based on 4,674 participants from 10 different studies—found that fully avoiding social media platforms does not actually make people feel better or worse. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesOne Dose of Psilocybin Changes Human Brain, Study Finds
Source: Google News - HealthResearchers have shown that a single dose of psilocybin—the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms—causes likely anatomical brain changes that last for up to a month after the experience. The study, published in Nature Communications, was based on data from healthy volunteers who had never before taken a psychedelic. The researchers found that a high dose of psilocybin led to increased entropy in the minutes and hours after taking the...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesAssaults Against U.S. Jews Reach 46-Year High
Source: Google News - HealthPhysical assaults against Jewish people in the U.S. last year reached the highest levels since 1979, the Anti-Defamation League announced Wednesday. Last year saw 203 anti-Jewish assaults, up from 196 in 2024. Of these assaults, 32 involved deadly weapons, up from 23 in 2024. In Europe, there have also been a wave of stabbings, arson attacks, and synagogue vandalism, and one recent analysis documented a 34% surge in antisemitism worldwide.
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesClimate Change Affects India's Harvest Festivals
Source: DW- environmentParts of rural northern India are currently exploding in color. Not just from the coming of spring, but from seasonal festivals characterized by folk music, dancing, farmers in traditional dress, and dishes like sweet saffron rice. With the advent of these festivals, however, an unwanted guest has appeared at the table: climate change. What does this change mean for harvests, water, and rural life in the world's most populous country?
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesPennsylvania Sues Character.AI Over Claims Chatbot Posed As Doctor
Source: NPR The state of Pennsylvania is suing Character.AI to stop the company's AI chatbots from posing as doctors and offering medical advice, in violation of state medical licensing rules. State officials said an investigation found that the company's chatbots, which present themselves as fictional characters, have claimed to be licensed medical professionals. "Pennsylvanians deserve to know who—or what—they are interacting with," Governor Josh...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesEducation Department Probing Smith College for Admitting Trans Women
Source: Google News - HealthIn the Trump administration's latest move to limit trans rights, the Department of Education has launched a Title IX investigation into Smith College, an all-women's college in western Massachusetts, for admitting trans women. In a statement Monday, the Department of Education said it was investigating Smith for "admitting biological men and granting them access to women-only spaces, including dormitories, bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology HeadlinesFake Videos Hurt Political Reputations Even When Known to Be Bogus
Source: PsyPostArtificial intelligence can create deceptive videos that rapidly damage a politician's public reputation. A new study reveals that even when voters realize the footage is manipulated, standard fact-checking efforts fail to undo the lingering emotional harm. The study, published in Communication Research, also found that "deepfakes" lower support for targeted candidates, and that standard fact-checking efforts reportedly fail to fully negate the...
Social Psychology Network > Psychology Headlines
