https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/science_society/religion/ Science and religion. Read about scientific studies of religion; the effect of religious beliefs and the social impact of religions and spirituality. en-us Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:14:57 EDT Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:14:57 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/science_society/religion/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260405003937.htm A hidden Roman sanctuary discovered beneath Frankfurt is offering rare clues about ancient rituals, including possible human sacrifice. With major funding secured, scientists are now racing to uncover how this mysterious, multi-god cult site operated. Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:39:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260405003937.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260401071947.htm A mysterious Greek inscription found beneath the Great Mosque of Homs could pinpoint the long-debated location of an ancient sun temple. Scholars now think the mosque sits atop a sacred site that transitioned from pagan worship to Christianity and then Islam. The find supports the idea that religious change in the region happened gradually, with overlapping beliefs rather than sudden shifts. It also reconnects the site to the powerful cult of Elagabalus, whose priest once became a Roman emperor. Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:08:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260401071947.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260313002645.htm In medieval Denmark, people could pay for more prestigious graves closer to the church — a sign of wealth and status. But when researchers examined hundreds of skeletons, they discovered something unexpected: even people with stigmatized diseases like leprosy were buried in these high-status spots. Instead of excluding the sick, many communities appear to have treated them much like everyone else. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:38:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260313002645.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201616.htm A prehistoric mass grave in Serbia reveals that more than 77 people—mostly women and children—were deliberately killed in a brutal act of violence about 2,800 years ago. Genetic evidence suggests the victims came from different communities, indicating the massacre may have been a calculated message during fierce territorial struggles in Iron Age Europe. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:51:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201616.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260225001301.htm More than 40,000 years ago, Ice Age humans were carving repeated patterns of dots, lines, and crosses into tools and small ivory figurines. A new computational study of more than 3,000 of these Paleolithic signs reveals that they were not random decorations but structured sequences with measurable complexity. Surprisingly, their information density rivals that of proto-cuneiform, the earliest known writing system that emerged around 3,000 B.C.E. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:52:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260225001301.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025613.htm Long before agriculture, humans were transforming Europe’s wild landscapes. Advanced simulations show that hunting and fire use by Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers reshaped forests and grasslands in measurable ways. By reducing populations of giant herbivores, people indirectly altered how dense vegetation became. The findings challenge the idea that prehistoric Europe was an untouched natural world. Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:14:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025613.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260209211229.htm Satellite imagery reveals how the 2026 Winter Olympics are spread across northern Italy, from alpine valleys to historic cities. Events are hosted in mountain resorts, while Milan and Verona frame the Games with opening and closing ceremonies. The view includes iconic features like Lake Garda and the Venetian lagoon. Together, they show the vast scale and unique setting of this year’s Olympics. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:12:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260209211229.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208011012.htm New evidence from Neolithic mass graves in northeastern France suggests that some of Europe’s earliest violent encounters were not random acts of brutality, but carefully staged displays of power. By analyzing chemical clues locked in ancient bones and teeth, researchers found that many victims were outsiders who suffered extreme, ritualized violence after conflict. Severed arms appear to have been taken from local enemies killed in battle, while captives from farther away were executed in a grim form of public spectacle. Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:51:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208011012.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231255.htm New research reveals a forgotten side of medieval Christianity—one rooted not in cathedrals, but in fields, forests, and farms. Historian Dr. Krisztina Ilko uncovers how the Augustinian order built its power through “green” miracles: restoring barren land, healing livestock, reviving fruit trees, and taming deadly landscapes once blamed on dragons. Far from symbolic tales, these acts helped rural communities survive and gave the order legitimacy at a time when its very existence was under threat. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:36:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231255.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260131084626.htm Scientists warn that rapid advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness, creating serious ethical risks. New research argues that developing scientific tests for awareness could transform medicine, animal welfare, law, and AI development. But identifying consciousness in machines, brain organoids, or patients could also force society to rethink responsibility, rights, and moral boundaries. The question of what it means to be conscious has never been more urgent—or more unsettling. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:49:46 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260131084626.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260131084622.htm Old Indian poems and folk songs are revealing a surprising truth about the land. Scientists found that descriptions of thorny trees and open grasslands in texts written as far back as the 1200s closely match today’s savannas in western India. This suggests these landscapes are ancient and natural—not ruined forests. The discovery could reshape how conservation and tree-planting efforts are planned. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:28:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260131084622.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074502.htm New research shows Karnak Temple was built on a rare island of high ground formed as Nile river channels shifted thousands of years ago. Before that, the area was too flooded for settlement, making the temple’s eventual rise even more remarkable. The landscape closely mirrors ancient Egyptian creation myths, where sacred land emerges from water. This suggests Karnak’s location was chosen not just for practicality, but for its deep symbolic power. Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:45:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224032351.htm The familiar fight between “mind as software” and “mind as biology” may be a false choice. This work proposes biological computationalism: the idea that brains compute, but not in the abstract, symbol-shuffling way we usually imagine. Instead, computation is inseparable from the brain’s physical structure, energy constraints, and continuous dynamics. That reframes consciousness as something that emerges from a special kind of computing matter, not from running the right program. Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:12:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224032351.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251221043223.htm A philosopher at the University of Cambridge says there’s no reliable way to know whether AI is conscious—and that may remain true for the foreseeable future. According to Dr. Tom McClelland, consciousness alone isn’t the ethical tipping point anyway; sentience, the capacity to feel good or bad, is what truly matters. He argues that claims of conscious AI are often more marketing than science, and that believing in machine minds too easily could cause real harm. The safest stance for now, he says, is honest uncertainty. Wed, 31 Dec 2025 21:23:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251221043223.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251219093317.htm Long before opioids flooded communities, something else was quietly changing—and it may have helped set the stage for today’s crisis. A new study finds that as church attendance dropped among middle-aged, less educated white Americans, deaths from overdoses, suicide, and alcohol-related disease began to rise. The trend started years before OxyContin appeared, suggesting the opioid epidemic intensified a problem already underway. Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:39:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251219093317.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251217082513.htm Traces of opium found inside an ancient alabaster vase suggest drug use was common in ancient Egypt, not rare or accidental. The discovery raises the possibility that King Tut’s famous jars once held opiates valued enough to be buried with pharaohs—and stolen by tomb raiders. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:18:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251217082513.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052222.htm Archaeologists excavating the ancient Roman city of Gabii have uncovered a massive stone-lined basin that may represent one of Rome’s earliest monumental civic structures. Its central placement hints that early Romans were already experimenting with dramatic public spaces centuries before the iconic Forum took shape. The site’s remarkable preservation—made possible because Gabii was abandoned early—offers an unprecedented look at how Romans adapted Greek architectural ideas into powerful symbols of politics, ritual, and identity. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:40:05 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052222.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251129044502.htm Five hundred years ago, a Bible accidentally printed with a backwards map of the Holy Land sparked a revolution in how people imagined geography, borders, and even nationhood. Despite the blunder, the map reshaped the Bible into a Renaissance book and spread new ideas about territorial organization as literacy expanded. Over time, sacred geography evolved into political boundary-making, influencing not only early modern thought but modern attitudes about nation-states. Sun, 30 Nov 2025 09:01:30 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251129044502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251122044340.htm Ideas about Vikings and Norse mythology come mostly from much later medieval sources, leaving plenty of room for reinterpretation. Over centuries, writers, politicians, and artists reshaped these stories to reflect their own worldviews, from romantic heroism to dangerous nationalist myths. Pop culture and neo-paganism continue to amplify selective versions of this past. Scholars today are unraveling how these shifting visions emerged and how they influence identity and culture. Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:34:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251122044340.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121090744.htm Hunter-gatherers at Poverty Point may have built its massive earthworks not under the command of chiefs, but as part of a vast, temporary gathering of egalitarian communities seeking spiritual harmony in a volatile world. New radiocarbon data and reexamined artifacts suggest far-flung travelers met to trade, worship, and participate in rituals designed to appease the forces of nature. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:14:54 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121090744.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251104094150.htm After the collapse of the Chalcolithic culture around 3500 BCE, people in Jordan’s Murayghat transformed their way of life, shifting from domestic settlements to ritual landscapes filled with dolmens, standing stones, and megalithic monuments. Archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen believe these changes reflected a creative social response to climate and societal upheaval. Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:32:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251104094150.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023809.htm New research shows that the rise of Sumer was deeply tied to the tidal and sedimentary dynamics of ancient Mesopotamia. Early communities harnessed predictable tides for irrigation, but when deltas cut off the Gulf’s tides, they faced crisis and reinvented their society. This interplay of environment and culture shaped Sumer’s myths, politics, and innovations, marking the dawn of civilization. Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:38:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023809.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250924012246.htm Æthelstan, crowned in 925, was the first true king of England but remains overshadowed by Alfred the Great and later rulers. A new biography highlights his military triumphs, legal innovations, and cultural patronage that shaped England’s identity. From the decisive Battle of Brunanburh to his reforms in governance and learning, Æthelstan’s legacy is finally being revived after centuries of neglect. Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:12:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250924012246.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250923021204.htm NASA has chosen 10 new astronaut candidates who will train for missions to the Moon and Mars. Their selection represents a powerful blend of talent and ambition, fueling humanity’s next great leaps into space. Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:10:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250923021204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250922075000.htm Meditation apps are revolutionizing mental health, providing easy access to mindfulness practices and new opportunities for scientific research. With the help of wearables and AI, these tools can now deliver personalized training tailored to individual needs. Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:44:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250922075000.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250918225012.htm What started as a frustrating kitchen challenge turned into award-winning science: Fabrizio Olmeda and his colleagues scientifically decoded the secret of creamy cacio e pepe and earned the Ig Nobel Prize. Their research showed how starch can stabilize Pecorino into a smooth sauce, turning a culinary mystery into physics-driven perfection. Fri, 19 Sep 2025 03:04:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250918225012.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250915085344.htm A groundbreaking project is piecing together Leonardo da Vinci’s genetic profile by tracing his lineage across 21 generations and comparing DNA from living descendants with remains in a Da Vinci family tomb. If successful, the effort could reveal new insights into Leonardo’s health, creativity, and even help confirm the authenticity of his works. Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:07:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250915085344.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801020102.htm Scientists have discovered the oldest direct evidence of betel nut chewing in Southeast Asia by analyzing 4,000-year-old dental plaque from a burial in Thailand. This breakthrough method reveals invisible traces of ancient plant use, suggesting psychoactive rituals were part of daily life long before written records. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 03:12:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801020102.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250721223838.htm A surprising discovery from Emory University shows that psilocin, the active metabolite of psychedelic mushrooms, can delay cellular aging and extend lifespan. Human cells lived over 50% longer, and mice treated with psilocybin not only lived 30% longer but also looked and aged better. Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:20:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250721223838.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505170822.htm People living with HIV are less likely to receive potentially lifesaving cancer treatment if they live in communities with lower income levels and educational attainment, according to a new US national study. Mon, 05 May 2025 17:08:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505170822.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250502102702.htm What is the secret to happiness? Does happiness come from within, or is it shaped by external influences such as our jobs, health, relationships and material circumstances? A new study shows that happiness can come from either within or from external influences, from both, or neither -- and which is true differs across people. Fri, 02 May 2025 10:27:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250502102702.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250501122226.htm Many people around the world believe in karma -- that idea that divine justice will punish people who do bad deeds and reward those who good. But that belief plays out differently for oneself versus others, according to new research. Thu, 01 May 2025 12:22:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250501122226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423112639.htm Body appreciation differs between Middle-Eastern and Western societies, a new international study can reveal, highlighting how cultural and family influences shape body image and eating behaviors in young women. The study surveyed over 850 women aged 18-25 in Australia and Lebanon, examining the roles that mothers and sisters play in shaping body dissatisfaction, body appreciation, and eating patterns. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:26:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423112639.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250408121700.htm Just steps from the center of Tikal, a 2,400-year-old Maya city in the heart of modern-day Guatemala, a global team of researchers has unearthed a buried altar that could unlock the secrets of a mysterious time of upheaval in the ancient world. The altar, built around the late 300s A.D., is decorated with four painted panels of red, black and yellow depicting a person wearing a feathered headdress and flanked by shields or regalia. The face has almond-shaped eyes, a nose bar and a double earspool. It closely resembles other depictions of a deity dubbed the 'Storm God' in central Mexico. Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:17:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250408121700.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250319142844.htm Mindfulness, total sleep quality, and alcohol consumption may help explain why people who stay up late have a greater risk of depression, according to a new study. Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:28:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250319142844.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312145740.htm 'Fake it till you make it' might be common advice to climb the corporate ladder, but new research shows that this attitude could also adversely affect job satisfaction and mental health. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:57:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312145740.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123852.htm Large, undisturbed forests are better for harboring biodiversity than fragmented landscapes, according to recent research. Ecologists agree that habitat loss and the fragmentation of forests reduces biodiversity in the remaining fragments. But ecologists don't agree whether it's better to focus on preserving many smaller, fragmented tracts of land or larger, continuous landscapes. The study comes to a clear conclusion. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:38:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250226142219.htm A team of researchers has developed an advanced physics-based AI-driven tool to aid the forensic investigation of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:22:19 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250226142219.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250220164349.htm A team of researchers has outlined a new approach for better understanding the depths of animal consciousness, a method that may yield new insights into the similarities and differences among living organisms. Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:43:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250220164349.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250219105822.htm Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender. Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:58:22 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250219105822.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132158.htm A fragment of 'lost' music found in the pages of Scotland's first full-length printed book is providing clues to what music sounded like five centuries ago. Scholars have been investigating the origins of the musical score -- which contains only 55 notes -- to cast new light on music from pre-Reformation Scotland in the early sixteenth-century. Researchers say the tantalizing discovery is a rare example of music from Scottish religious institutions 500 years ago, and is the only piece which survives from the northeast of Scotland from this period. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:21:58 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132158.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241217201539.htm Economists looked at test scores and school attendance for Chicago-area kids before and after a bug infestation wiped out the city's ash trees. Education outcomes for low-income students went down, highlighting how the impacts of ecosystem degradation are disproportionately felt by disadvantaged communities. Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:15:39 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241217201539.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241212120120.htm A study by a team of scientists finds that AI systems are also prone to social identity biases, revealing fundamental group prejudices that reach beyond those tied to gender, race, or religion. Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:01:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241212120120.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241113160846.htm In a new study, feelings of distress and reduced ability to cope with stress were associated with traditional paranormal beliefs, but not with new age philosophy. Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:08:46 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241113160846.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241113123505.htm Engineers have invented a protective coating for concrete pipes that could help drastically reduce the formation of fatbergs in sewers. Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:35:05 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241113123505.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112123152.htm An interdisciplinary team of researchers has developed a machine learning framework that uses limited water quality samples to predict which inorganic pollutants are likely to be present in a groundwater supply. The new tool allows regulators and public health authorities to prioritize specific aquifers for water quality testing. Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:31:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112123152.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241107193108.htm Encouraging quietness during zoo trips can help visitors better appreciate their inhabitants and lead to more fulfilling, respectful and informative experiences, a new paper argues. Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:31:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241107193108.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021122757.htm Expanded treatment options, increased naloxone distribution and targeted education campaigns likely led to a 37% reduction in overdose deaths from opioids combined with stimulant drugs other than cocaine, according to the results of a large federally funded study. Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:27:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021122757.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010205858.htm On a bright autumn afternoon, a plain wooden box crafted by a local cabinet shop containing skeletal remains was returned to its final resting place during a simple reburial ceremony in Brentwood. Researchers and students from the University of New Hampshire's Forensic Anthropology Identification and Recovery (F.A.I.R.) Lab worked for two years with town officials and the New Hampshire state archaeologist to investigate and document the remains, which were uncovered more than 20 years ago during construction and were identified as being from a farm for paupers during the mid-1800's, commonly known as a poor farm. Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:58:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010205858.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003123124.htm Visitors to vineyards enjoyed their tours more when they heard enhanced sounds of diverse birdsong, new research has found. Thu, 03 Oct 2024 12:31:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003123124.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002154702.htm Global evidence has revealed that women's environmental quality of life is key to their overall quality of life and health, according to a new study. Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:47:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002154702.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240924131217.htm Stranger churches in early modern London had 'eyes everywhere' to hear, spread and dispel gossip in multiple languages, according to new research. Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:12:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240924131217.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162351.htm As urban centers in mountainous regions grow, more people are driven to build on steeper slopes prone to slow-moving landslides, a new study finds. Slow-moving landslides are frequently excluded from estimates of landslide risk, but they could threaten hundreds of thousands of people globally, the researchers conclude. Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:23:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162351.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909113039.htm Out-of-body experiences, such as near-death experiences, can have a 'transformative' effect on people's ability to experience empathy and connect with others, new research explains. Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:30:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909113039.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828114416.htm New research highlights the growing problem of death ideation and the increasing rates of both loneliness and suicidal thoughts among older individuals. The study explores the critical issue of social disconnection and its link to a 'wish to die' among older adults. Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:44:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828114416.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820124443.htm The study highlights the remarkable resilience of older adults (median age 86) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to their routines led many to discover new hobbies like gardening and painting and explore virtual activities such as online yoga. While 51% experienced psychosocial issues such as anxiety and depression, 86% did not see worsening of their medical conditions and supported pandemic precautions. Despite the hardships, including the loss of residents and increased use of antidepressants and telehealth, many found joy and growth in their altered circumstances. Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:44:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820124443.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240805134140.htm An assistant clinical professor developed a specialized dance and movement therapy (DMT) program to meet the unique needs of youth from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to foster a sense of community and connection. Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:41:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240805134140.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240719123825.htm A new essay explores which conditions must be met for consciousness to exist. At least one of them can't be found in a computer. Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:38:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240719123825.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240619143711.htm In low- and middle-income countries, anemia reduction efforts are often touted as a way to improve educational outcomes and reduce poverty. A new study evaluates the relationship between anemia and school attendance in India, debunking earlier research that could have misguided policy interventions. Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:37:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240619143711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113249.htm Rising to power in the wake of the Classic Maya collapse, Chichen Itz was among the largest and most influential cities of the ancient Maya, but much about its political connections and ritual life remain poorly understood. Close kin relationships, including two pairs of identical twins, suggests a connection to the Maya origin myths of the Popol Vuh. Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:32:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113249.htm