https://phys.org/science-news/ en-us The latest science news on archaeology, fossils, mathematics, and science technology from Phys.org Family conditions—specifically, how similar one's social status and background is to one's parents' status—may play a bigger role in determining how easily an individual can shift into a wealthier socioeconomic class than gender inequality, according to a study of 153 countries published June 20, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Khanh Duong from Maynooth University, Ireland. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-family-conditions-impact-upward-social.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Thu, 20 Jun 2024 14:00:02 EDT news638093462 Researchers led by Sophie Bavard at the University of Hamburg, Germany, found that people can infer hidden social preferences by observing how fast others make social decisions. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-behavioral-social-inferred-decision.html Social Sciences Thu, 20 Jun 2024 14:00:02 EDT news638094733 A team of geneticists and archaeologists affiliated with multiple institutions in France has uncovered skeletons in an ancient gravesite not far from Paris that show evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans. The study is published in the journal Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-gravesite-france-evidence-steppe-migrant.html Archaeology Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:31:18 EDT news638094668 A company drilling for natural gas off the coast of northern Israel discovered a 3,300-year-old ship and its cargo, one of the oldest known examples of a ship sailing far from land, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-ship-israel-coast-skills-ancient.html Archaeology Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:05:18 EDT news638089513 The Acropolis of Athens, the rocky hill in the Greek capital that is home to the iconic Parthenon temple, is one of the world's most visited and well-known archaeological sites—but new insights about it are still emerging. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-shepherd-graffiti-acropolis-lost-temple.html Archaeology Wed, 19 Jun 2024 12:29:39 EDT news638018977 Direct reciprocity facilitates cooperation in repeated social interactions. Traditional models suggest that individuals learn to adopt conditionally cooperative strategies if they have multiple encounters with their partner. However, most existing models make rather strong assumptions about how individuals decide to keep or change their strategies. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-cooperation-evolve-limited-payoff-memory.html Mathematics Social Sciences Wed, 19 Jun 2024 10:33:15 EDT news638011991 A first-of-its-kind study, led by a Northeastern University researcher, examined how racial bias and political rhetoric against Asians and other underrepresented groups in the United States impacted their employment status in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-anti-asian-rhetoric-pandemic-negatively.html Economics & Business Political science Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:50:47 EDT news637933844 A white wine over 2,000 years old, of Andalusian origin, is the oldest wine ever discovered. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-world-oldest-wine-rome.html Archaeology Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:54:04 EDT news637926842 Eye-contact has a significant impact on interpersonal evaluation, and online job interviews are no exception. In addition to the quality of a resume, the direction of the interviewee's gaze might help (or hinder) their chances of securing the job. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-camera-scores-simulated.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:21:04 EDT news637921262 An important chapter of the history of human occupation on the coast of Brazil is being rewritten by Brazilian researchers affiliated with the University of São Paulo's Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE-USP). https://phys.org/news/2024-06-hypothesis-occupation-brazil-southern-coast.html Archaeology Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:12:04 EDT news637920721 A joint study conducted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the University of Zaragoza and the University of Strasbourg on the remains of the Chaves and Puyascada caves, both located in the province of Huesca, Spain, yields the first direct proof of the consumption and processing of dairy products in the Pyrenees already at the start of the Neolithic period, approximately 7,500 years ago, as well as the consumption of pig. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-evidence-dairy-consumption-pyrenees-earliest.html Archaeology Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:44:03 EDT news637857841 Each of us individually is the accumulated product of thousands of generations that have come before us in an unbroken line. Our culture and technology today are also the result of thousands of years of accumulated and remixed cultural knowledge. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-cumulative-culture-human-evolution-contributions.html Archaeology Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:00:01 EDT news637845481 A new study sheds light on the crucial role of allies in social movements, showing how their participation can sway public opinion on protests. By positively influencing public perceptions and encouraging participation from both advantaged and disadvantaged groups, allies can play a significant role in addressing structural inequality. This research offers valuable insights for activists and policymakers aiming to foster positive change in society. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-role-allies-advancing-social-movements.html Social Sciences Political science Mon, 17 Jun 2024 11:14:02 EDT news637841641 Archaeologists have been investigating human bones found near the ruins of a bridge in the Three Lakes region of Switzerland. They seek not only to discover what took place, but also to better understand the Celtic heritage of the region. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-victims-tsunami-human-sacrifice-celts.html Archaeology Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:54:04 EDT news637836842 After analyzing the remains of 64 ancient sacrificed individuals, most of whom were children, researchers have revealed new details about human sacrifice at the ancient Maya site of Chichén Itzá. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-secrets-maya-child-sacrifice-chichn.html Archaeology Sun, 16 Jun 2024 12:20:01 EDT news637499474 There's a lot of science news in seven days, so just because a new study isn't cited here on Saturday morning doesn't mean it didn't happen. A lot more has happened. But also, check out these four stories: https://phys.org/news/2024-06-saturday-citations-bacterial-warfare-language.html Other Sat, 15 Jun 2024 09:00:01 EDT news637600172 Using isotope geochemistry, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has uncovered new information about the Barmaz necropolis in Valais (Switzerland): 14% of the people buried 6,000 years ago at this site were not locals. What's more, the study suggests that this Middle Neolithic agropastoral society—one of the oldest known in the western part of Switzerland—was relatively egalitarian. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-isotope-men-women-equal-access.html Archaeology Thu, 13 Jun 2024 12:10:37 EDT news637499434 Analysis of more than 1,500 natural conversations suggests that humans may have evolved more complex facial muscle movements to help us bond with each other. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-facially-people-likable-socially-successful.html Social Sciences Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:16:18 EDT news637496175 Men tend to eat meat more frequently than women and the extent of the differences in meat consumption frequency between both genders tend to be greater within countries with higher levels of gender equality and social and economic development, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that this could be due to individuals within these countries having greater opportunities to express food preferences. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-greater-gender-equality-men-meat.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:00:01 EDT news637487881 Climate change has many widespread and complicated effects on the well-being of people and the planet, and a new study in iScience on June 13 has now added a surprising one to the list. After analyzing the language used in seven million parliamentary speeches around the world, it shows that high temperatures lead to a significant and immediate reduction in politicians' language complexity. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-politicians-simpler-language-hot-days.html Political science Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:00:01 EDT news637489502 A psychologist at CQUniversity, in Australia, has found that some fans of the long-running TV show "Neighbours" have been experiencing grief similar to the experience of losing a close friend. In his study, published on the open-access site PLOS ONE, Adam Gerace analyzed surveys taken by over 1,289 people. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-fans-tv-experienced-grief-similar.html Social Sciences Thu, 13 Jun 2024 10:00:01 EDT news637491302 The Greek island of Aegina was home to a Late Bronze Age purple dye workshop, according to a study published June 12, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Lydia Berger of Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-analysis-greek-island-home-bronze.html Archaeology Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:00:02 EDT news637399561 Thousands of years ago, people in ancient Syria likely ate mostly grains, grapes, olives and a small amount of dairy and meat—similar to today's "Mediterranean diet," according to a study published June 12 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Benjamin T. Fuller from the University of Leuven, Belgium, Simone Riehl from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-analyses-ancient-syrian-diets-resembled.html Archaeology Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:00:02 EDT news637406703 Feeling ambivalent about a political issue might seem to be a recipe for indecision and even inaction. But a new study suggests, surprisingly, that ambivalence can actually lead some people—especially those with polarized views—to be more supportive of extreme actions, such as violence. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-ambivalence-polarized-views-political-violence.html Social Sciences Political science Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:00:02 EDT news637401961 It is one of the most hotly debated topics in today's workplace: Is allowing employees to log in from home a few days a week good for their productivity, careers, and job satisfaction? https://phys.org/news/2024-06-economist-hybrid-productivity-retention.html Economics & Business Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:00:01 EDT news637402201 Rising to power in the wake of the Classic Maya collapse, Chichén Itzá was among the largest and most influential cities of the ancient Maya, but much about its political connections and ritual life remain poorly understood. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-ancient-maya-genomes-reveal-male.html Archaeology Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:00:01 EDT news637406673 The ability to imagine is pivotal for human development, driving creativity and problem-solving. It may also influence our relationship with others, according to new research. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-psychology-collaborative-social.html Social Sciences Wed, 12 Jun 2024 10:54:30 EDT news637408465 Archaeologists have analyzed the chemical makeup of glass beads from across the Great Lakes region of North America, revealing the extent of Indigenous influence on transatlantic exchange networks during the 17th century AD. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-glass-beads-indigenous-americans-early.html Archaeology Wed, 12 Jun 2024 08:37:03 EDT news637400221 A big, round, 4,000-year-old stone building discovered on a Cretan hilltop is puzzling archaeologists and threatening to disrupt a major airport project on the Greek tourist island. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-year-cretan-hilltop-mystifies-greek.html Archaeology Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:22:05 EDT news637327321 Ever wondered how your friends shape your music taste? In a recent study, researchers at the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) demonstrated that social networks are a powerful predictor of a song's future popularity. By analyzing friendships and listening habits, they've boosted machine learning prediction precision by 50%. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-power-social-songs.html Mathematics Social Sciences Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:26:03 EDT news637320362