A new study shows that factual knowledge can reduce polarization on contentious topics. Participants who engaged with balanced facts about gun control shifted toward more moderate policy views—an effect that lasted even after a month. The findings suggest that, contrary to popular belief, people are open to learning facts that challenge their beliefs and that accurate information can promote a healthier discourse.

New study sheds light on how insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other arthropods evolved their distinct body structures. By tracing these patterns back to ancient embryonic processes, the research uncovers a deep evolutionary logic behind the segmented body plans that define the world’s most diverse animal group. The findings challenge long-held assumptions and offer a bold new framework for understanding how developmental mechanisms shaped the evolution of arthropods over hundreds of millions of years.