GoKawiilTraces of the psychoactive compound arecoline suggest that two people regularly sucked on psychoactive betel nuts. Plus, what motivates people to take action on climate change and the promise of nasal vaccines.
Hello Nature readers, would you like to get this Briefing in your inbox free every day? Sign up here.
Glaciers shape the landscapes of Spitsbergen, an island of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.Credit: Arterra/Sven-Erik Arndt/UIG/Getty
Emotionally engaging forms of communication are more effective than scientific facts alone in motivating climate action, finds a review of 71 studies. Messages focused on individual responsibility had little impact — and sometimes backfired. “The emotions you feel when you watch a nature documentary, see the northern lights or witness the birth of a new animal imbue these events with meaning,” says psychologist and co-author Tobias Brosch. “They may also drive you to look better after our environment — by volunteering your time, donating or voting for climate-friendly parties.”
Nature | 7 min read
Reference: Journal of Environmental Psychology paper
Traces of mind-altering substances found in the teeth of two skeletons discovered in Indonesia could be evidence of the earliest known habitual drug use. The skeletons’ teeth showed considerable signs of wear and contained traces of the compound arecoline, which suggest that the pair regularly sucked on psychoactive betel nuts. One of the skeletons dates to 16,000–25,000 years ago, which hints that this behaviour predates betel chewing, a drug-taking method still in use today.
The Guardian | 4 min read
Reference: Science Advances paper
AI and PhDs: join a free webinar
... continue reading