Appel et al. found that deceptive networks reached over 37 million Facebook and 3 million Instagram users during the 2020 US elections, with the majority of this exposure driven by 3 networks and amplified by ordinary users resharing the content.

Drawing on survey data from 30 countries, Bor et al. find that online political hostility is higher in more unequal and less democratic societies.

Park et al. show that discontinuing pandemic unemployment insurance in 2021 tripled rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the USA. Expanded unemployment insurance served as a non-pharmaceutical intervention by incentivizing physical distancing during a severe pandemic.

A global analysis of 1,412 studies shows that one in five women and one in six men experienced sexual violence as children, highlighting the urgent need for evidence-based prevention and intervention programmes worldwide.

Longitudinal US experiments show that peer praise for empathy can promote politically inclusive behaviour towards racial/ethnic outgroups. Varying effects among subgroups suggest the value of targeted rather than uniform approaches.

Hall et al. document ‘democratic neutrality’ (neither agreement nor disagreement with undemocratic practices) as prevalent and as consequential as outright support for undemocratic practices in shaping preferences for anti-democratic candidates.

Population ageing is too often framed as decline. Drawing on neuroscience and behavioural science, this Comment calls for a shift from brain ageing to brain longevity and argues that brain capital should be treated as a policy and governance priority to support resilient institutions and sustainable economies.

Researchers from authoritarian academic backgrounds often exhibit self-censoring microbehaviours, which cause difficulties when transitioning to nonauthoritarian environments, explains Myint Thu.

Neuroscience is crucial for understanding human behaviour. Yet, its resource-intensive methods contribute to the climate crisis. We call on neuroscientists to align their research with ecological sustainability goals across the research cycle and propose three key steps: replace unfocused data collection, reduce excessive emissions and refine imprecise methods.

Living systematic reviews continuously integrate new research and can provide timely evidence for policy and practice. This format adds value beyond traditional systematic reviews, and we recommend its wider adoption.

Behavioural genetics is prone to harmful misinterpretation. To counter this and its consequences, behavioural geneticists must engage with the communities that they serve, and communicate clearly, responsibly and frequently to build and retain trust. It is crucial that this growing field promotes ethical, inclusive discovery.