Emotional climate messages can inspire action

A review of 71 studies found that emotionally engaging communication is more effective than scientific facts alone at motivating action on climate change. Messages focused on personal responsibility had little impact and, in some cases, backfired.

“The emotions you feel when you watch a nature documentary, see the Northern Lights or witness the birth of a new animal give meaning to these events,” says psychologist and co-author Tobias Brosch. “You might be inspired to make our environment better by volunteering, donating to climate-friendly parties or voting.”

Nature | 7 min read

Reference: Journal of Environmental Psychology paper

Ancient teeth may reveal the earliest habitual drug use

Traces of a mind-altering substance may have been found in the teeth of two skeletons discovered in Indonesia. The skeletons’ teeth showed significant wear and contained traces of the compound arecoline, suggesting that the pair regularly smoked psychoactive betel nut.

One of the human bones is between 16,000 and 25,000 years old. That suggests the behaviour is older than betel-nut chewing, a method of drug intake that is still used today.

The Guardian | 4 min read: Earliest known evidence of habitual drug use

Reference: Science Advances paper

Free webinar: How AI is changing PhD programmes

Graduate students are increasingly using artificial-intelligence tools, but many worry that doing so could undermine the skills that a PhD is supposed to develop.

This 60-minute webinar, hosted by Nature, will feature a panel of careers experts discussing PhD programmes and how students are adapting. The live event will take place on 23 September at 14:00 UTC (15:00 BST).

Learn more about the three panelists, pre-register and submit your questions.

Features and impressions

Could nasal vaccines help stop respiratory viruses earlier?

Vaccines can produce large amounts of antibodies in the blood and protect against serious illness, but they cannot prevent respiratory viruses from infecting people after entering the body.

Researchers hope that nasal vaccines could strengthen the moist mucosal barrier lining the airways. This might help people fight off pathogens more quickly and prevent viruses from spreading to others.

Although setbacks over the years have shown that developing mucosal vaccines is difficult, their potential continues to attract commercial interest.

Nature | 8 min read

This video is part of Nature’s Perspective: Drug Delivery, an editorially independent supplement produced with financial support from Taiho Oncology Co., Ltd..

Lost luggage finds a new purpose

In the basement of miniaturized relics.

Nature | 6 min read

Can tutoring by phone help children keep learning?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers conducted a trial in five countries to test whether tutoring over the phone could help children continue learning mathematics while schools were closed.

Students who received a weekly 20-minute phone call from a tutor significantly improved their learning. Children who received only text messages also showed small improvements.

The study authors say that phone tutoring offers a relatively inexpensive way to support children’s education, although others note that scaling the programme nationally could be difficult.

Nature Podcast | 21-minute listen

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Can you find the penguin?

Today, Leif Penguinson explores Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp, the largest blackwater wetland in North America. Can you find the penguin?

The answer will be in Monday’s email. Thanks to Briefing photo editor and penguin wrangler Tom Horton.