Social Sciences

Climbing Stairs or Supporting Democracy: How Much Is Democracy Worth to You?

Climbing Stairs or Supporting Democracy: How Much Is Democracy Worth to You?

11 August, 2025

Would you trade the ability to climb a flight of stairs for the assurance that your country is protecting democratic freedoms? A new study asked Americans to weigh surprising tradeoffs—health versus dignity, income versus rights, convenience versus environmental quality. The answers revealed consistent patterns in how people value very different aspects of life, offering a practical way to compare “apples and oranges” in policy decisions. The approach could help governments, hospitals, and other institutions design choices that reflect real human priorities.

Why Human Empathy Still Matters in the Age of AI

Why Human Empathy Still Matters in the Age of AI

30 June, 2025

A new study finds that people value empathy more when they believe it comes from a human—even if the actual response was generated by AI. Across nine studies involving over 6,000 participants, the research reveals that human-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, more emotionally resonant, and more caring than identical AI-generated responses.


 

What Animal Bones Reveal About Life on the Medieval Liao Frontier

What Animal Bones Reveal About Life on the Medieval Liao Frontier

25 June, 2025

In the windswept steppe of northeastern Mongolia, archaeologists have unearthed a rare window into daily life along the medieval frontier of the Liao Empire. Excavations at a remote garrison site revealed thousands of animal bones—evidence of herding, hunting, fishing, and a harsh environment—offering a ground-level view of survival far from the imperial centers recorded in history books. The findings challenge traditional accounts by illuminating the lives of soldiers and civilians who lived not in palaces, but along the empire’s long and lonely wall.


 

Strategic Choices Behind Accounting Standards Unveiled in New Study

Strategic Choices Behind Accounting Standards Unveiled in New Study

24 June, 2025

New study explores why foreign firms listed in the U.S. choose between IFRS and U.S. GAAP. The research finds that firms strategically weigh the flexibility of financial reporting and the costs of compliance, rather than following the common standards in their listing jurisdiction. These insights help explain the real motivations behind financial disclosure decisions and offer guidance for regulators and investors alike.


 

Plastic Politics: How a Tax Sparked Climate Backlash in Israel’s  Ultra-Orthodox Community

Plastic Politics: How a Tax Sparked Climate Backlash in Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Community

5 June, 2025

A well-meaning environmental tax turned into a cultural flashpoint: a new study shows that Israel’s 2021 tax on single-use plastics caused a sharp and lasting drop in climate support among the ultra-Orthodox community. Driven by a deep sense of political victimization—not financial burden—many saw the tax as an attack on their way of life. Even years after the tax was repealed, the damage to environmental trust still lingers.


 

Gaza Disengagement Revisited in Light of October 7: Hidden Multilateral Dimensions of 2005 Withdrawal Revealed

Gaza Disengagement Revisited in Light of October 7: Hidden Multilateral Dimensions of 2005 Withdrawal Revealed

29 May, 2025

In the wake of the tragic events of October 7, 2023—when Hamas launched a deadly and unprecedented assault on southern Israel—scrutiny has intensified over the historical roots of Gaza’s political trajectory. Against this backdrop, a compelling new study by Professor Elie Podeh of the Hebrew University revisits Israel’s 2005 Gaza Disengagement Plan, challenging the widespread perception that the move was a strictly unilateral one.


 

Hidden History of Israeli-Syrian Peace Efforts  Across Seven Decades Revealed

Hidden History of Israeli-Syrian Peace Efforts Across Seven Decades Revealed

18 May, 2025

Amid escalating tensions and evolving diplomatic overtures, the relationship between Israel and Syria has entered yet another complex phase. In wake of the fall of the Assad regime, tentative diplomatic signals come against a backdrop of intensifying military activity. In a sweeping historical study published in Israel Studies (Vol. 29, Issue 2), Professor Elie Podeh of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers an insightful look into over seven decades of clandestine and public efforts to achieve peace between Israel and Syria.