A useful way to evaluate any public policy is to use the ‘what’s the problem represented to be’ approach2: what a policy proposes to do reveals what the creators assume is problematic (needs to change). In the case of most menstrual and menopausal policies to date, this appears to be the menstruating body (and ‘women’ by association), rather than universal menstrual ignorance and taboos, associated

In India, menstruation is stigmatized. Yet, the beginning of menstruation is a crucial time for adolescents. Merely ensuring hygienic practices is not enough to support adolescent well-being. We explain the value of a broader approach to menstrual health.

Many trans people menstruate, yet they are often ignored in discourses around menstruation. A.J. Lowik, a trans person and reproductive health researcher, explains why this needs to change.

We are based in India, a country that has progressed considerably in managing menstruation in the past decade. According to a recent national survey1, about 90% of Indian women with 12 or more years of schooling used safe period products, such as locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cups, in 17 states and union territories. Compared to four years previously2, there has

For many women worldwide, menstruation brings debilitating physical and mental side effects. This can make menopause a welcome change. For others, including those who have prioritized professional ambitions or suffered medical setbacks, the years of peak fertility are far too short. And with menopause comes a new menu of irksome side effects and serious health concerns, which include a sharp increase

For the past ten years, digital technology companies dedicated to women’s health (sometimes termed ‘FemTech’) have been booming. A key sector is that of smartphone apps that follow menstrual cycles and predict users’ fertility periods for the purposes of contraception or conception. Several hundred million women around the world use them in their daily lives. Recent research has examined the methodologies

Menstruation is a natural part of life that has important health and societal implications, yet it remains rarely spoken about and stigmatized. Our November issue discusses why talking openly about menstruation matters and what to include in the conversation. A stigma-free and inclusive environment for discussion will help to address period poverty and gender inequity, and ensure health and dignity

Myths about menstruation are pervasive and it is time to shatter them. We asked six scientists for their perspective on menstrual myths, including beliefs about food, mood, blood and pain. They highlight gaps between misconceptions, traditions and scientific understanding, and the hurt caused by our collective ignorance and persistent social norms.

Mental health disorders among older adults rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have since continued to increase. A recent study provides timely insights into a positive association between internet use and mental wellbeing among adults aged 50 and older across 23 countries, which highlights the potential of digital technology for addressing these challenges.

Hinduism seeks to provide insight into the nature of the universe and is not antithetical to science. Rohitash Chandra explains why he sees value in bringing together science and spirituality in the quest for knowledge.

Research conducted in classrooms has theoretical, methodological and practical implications, but also entails addressing challenges related to internal and external validity, replicability and ethics. Here we illuminate the issues involved in each step of the research process and offer practical recommendations to address them.

Widely used in research since the 1800s, SCR (also known as the galvanic skin response or electrodermal activity) measures changes in the electrical conductivity of the skin due to sweat gland activity. SCR has historically been considered a ‘gold standard’ for the objective biological measurement of fear and anxiety. However, myriad emotional, cognitive and physical factors can influence sweating

Correction to: Nature Human Behaviour https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01965-x, published online 14 October 2024.

Intergenerational mobility — an adult’s ability to exit poverty and earn more than their parents — is falling in the USA. Parolin et al. compare intergenerational poverty persistence (a measure of immobility) in the USA to four peer countries and conclude that disproportionately high poverty persistence in the USA is due to a weak safety net.

Early into the COVID-19 pandemic human activities were severely restricted for several months. Because physical face-to-face interactions were limited, virtual online interactions became the norm in a remarkably short period of time. Since then, people worldwide have embraced a society in which meetings can occur anytime without geographical constraints through online video calls, and in environments

As digital technologies become ever more pervasive and sophisticated, understanding the nuances of the relationship between humans and machines becomes increasingly important. Spanning a range of disciplines, from computer science and psychology to medicine and education, this issue’s Focus includes a diverse array of voices and perspectives on the many ways in which humans and digital machines interact

The rapid integration of these artificial intelligence (AI) tools into our daily lives is reshaping how we think and make decisions1. We propose that data-driven AI systems, by transcending individual artefacts and interfacing with a dynamic, multiartefact ecosystem, constitute a distinct psychological system. We call this ‘system 0’, and position it alongside Kahneman’s system 1 (fast, intuitive thinking)

As artificial intelligence tools become more sophisticated, humans build synthetic relationships with them. Synthetic relationships differ fundamentally from traditional human–machine interactions and present new risks, such as privacy breaches, psychological manipulation and the erosion of human autonomy. This necessitates proactive, human-centred policies.

Honesty oaths are commonly used to promote ethical behaviour, but their effectiveness is not well understood. A mega-study involving thousands of people shows that taking an oath to be honest can reduce tax evasion in an online economic game.

Megastudies are experiments that test many treatments simultaneously using the same outcomes, control condition and sample, and are a promising tool that can provide unique insights relative to other research designs. We identify five critical decisions in designing megastudies and suggest potential solutions for each.

Although research on misinformation and fact-checking flourishes, developmental studies that involve younger participants remain scarce. Through two experiments among 4- to 7-year-olds and a computer simulation study, Orticio et al. found that when children encountered more misleading information, they intended to seek more evidence before accepting new claims.

Chinese universities are moving towards tenure track systems. Although this increases academic output, it also comes with negative mental health effects, writes Jian Li.

Our ears are known for their ability to detect fine temporal features of sound. But what about our sense of smell? Yuli Wu and colleagues have discovered that humans can discriminate between odour sequences with an impressive temporal precision of 120 ms, which reveals an unprecedented temporal sensitivity in human olfaction.