Corrections and Discoveries: From Psychedelics to Stone Age Burials
In a flurry of scientific and legal developments, researchers have corrected errors in a published study on psychedelics, while archaeologists have shed light on Stone Age family structures, and scientists have explained a bacterium's magnetic compass. Simultaneously, social media companies face a landmark trial over the alleged harm caused to young users.
A correction was issued to a Nature article published on January 28, 2026, regarding the mechanism by which psychedelics elicit their effects. The correction addressed several typographical errors in the original publication, specifically concerning superscript numbers and descriptions within the article's figures, according to Nature News. The original study focused on the role of 5-HT2A receptor-mediated Gi signaling.
Meanwhile, research published on February 17, 2026, in Phys.org, revealed insights into Stone Age family organization based on the analysis of hunter-gatherer graves. The study, conducted by Uppsala University, examined burial sites and found that the remains of a young girl were found with a bone cluster belonging to a third-degree relative. Another grave contained two children who were not siblings, indicating complex familial relationships.
Also on February 17, 2026, Phys.org reported on a study from the University of Basel that explained how a bacterium uses Earth's magnetic field for orientation. Using single-cell magnetometry, researchers confirmed the alignment of the bacterium, Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense, with the Earth's magnetic field. The bacterium's internal compass is made up of magnetic nanoparticles.
In other news, social media companies, including Meta, are facing a trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, as reported by TechCrunch. The trial accuses these companies of creating addictive products that harm young users, leading to anxiety, depression, and other issues. Evidence presented includes Meta's internal study, Project MYST, which found parental controls had little impact on children's compulsive social media use. The plaintiff alleges these platforms caused anxiety, depression, and other issues. This case is one of several landmark trials that could influence how social media companies approach young users and prompt further regulatory action.
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