Do you see faces in the clouds? Researchers examine pareidolia

Communication is central to the survival of most animals, including humans. Yet animals of different species communicate differently, and the complexity of their communication skills varies greatly. One characteristic of advanced communication systems is the ability to combine different sounds (i.e., vocal elements) to create structured sound sequences that convey more information. This ability, known as syntax or combinatoriality, was originally thought to be unique to humans, yet a growing bod

Redesigns can cause serious harm to businesses. New research from Adelaide University explores what brands should consider when modernizing their packaging. "The study shows that successful redesign depends on increasing consumers' perceived modernity without undermining recognizable brand cues," explains Dr. William Caruso from Adelaide University's Ehrenberg-Bass Institute. "If a redesign removes distinctive visual elements such as colors, logos or layout that consumers associate with the bran

Skepticism about claims regarding sustainability reduces consumers' intentions to purchase sustainable products by weakening two important drivers of green consumption: people's willingness to look for trustworthy environmental information and their anticipated guilt about making less sustainable choices.

Near-infrared spectroscopy, or fNIRS, offers a way to monitor brain activity without surgery or radiation by tracking changes in blood flow and oxygenation. Light sources placed on the scalp send near-infrared light into the head, and detectors measure the light that scatters back. Because this light must pass through the scalp and skull before reaching the brain, the measured signal always includes a mix of superficial and cerebral contributions. Separating those signals has long been a central