Taboos ‘protect communities’ from risk of disease, losses, and social conflict
Taboos can act as cultural protective mechanisms that reduce the risk of disease, help people survive in difficult environments, strengthen social bonds and define boundaries between groups, says psychologist Michał Misiak, PhD, from the University of Wrocław, who is leading an international study of taboos in different cultures.
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Researchers investigate how brains of blind people develop
A Polish-German research team has used advanced imaging techniques to study how the brain develops in people who are born blind, finding that structural differences in the visual cortex are linked to reduced myelination rather than clear changes in the process of neural pruning.
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Connected but divided: How social media may fuel polarization.
Social media may be driving society further apart by reshaping the way people connect, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
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Smartphone 'phubbing' during pregnancy linked to postpartum depression symptoms
Feeling ignored by a partner distracted by a smartphone during pregnancy may be linked to more severe postpartum depression symptoms, a study involving Polish researchers suggests.
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Slim candidates win out in hiring decisions, even with identical qualifications, study finds
More than eight in 10 people taking part in a recruitment experiment preferred slim candidates over overweight applicants when presented with identical qualifications, according to a Polish study highlighting the hidden impact of weight bias in the workplace.
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Polish and French scientists win award for groundbreaking ‘déjà vu’ research
A Polish and a French psychologist have won the 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie Polish-French Science Award for pioneering research that has transformed scientists' understanding of déjà vu and spontaneous memories.
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Connection to nature linked to better mental health, Polish study finds
People who feel a stronger emotional connection to nature are more likely to report better mental well-being and lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression than those who feel less connected, according to a study of more than 1,000 adults conducted by psychologists from the Polish Academy of Sciences.
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Expert warns Russian content on Wikimedia Commons could influence AI
A Polish disinformation expert has warned that the growing presence of Russian state media content on Wikimedia Commons could influence how artificial intelligence systems interpret events such as the annexation of Crimea.
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Physically attractive people may have lower risk of dying, study suggests
People perceived as physically attractive may have a lower risk of dying over the long term than those rated as unattractive, according to a new analysis of U.S. health data, although the researcher behind the study says the findings do not show that appearance itself determines health or longevity.
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Vaccination hesitancy driven more by psychology than science, expert says
Vaccination hesitancy is driven less by medical knowledge gaps and more by psychological factors such as cognitive biases, trust, and communication style, according to a Polish psychologist who argues that how information is presented and who delivers it can be more influential than the scientific facts themselves.
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Taboos ‘protect communities’ from risk of disease, losses, and social conflict
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Psychiatric drugs leave distinct signatures on the brain, Polish scientists find
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Polish researchers test safer way to remove old conservation layers from historic paintings
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Taboos ‘protect communities’ from risk of disease, losses, and social conflict
Taboos can act as cultural protective mechanisms that reduce the risk of disease, help people survive in difficult environments, strengthen social bonds and define boundaries between groups, says psychologist Michał Misiak, PhD, from the University of Wrocław, who is leading an international study of taboos in different cultures.
