What stood out in early 2025? We’re excited to share a selection of thought-provoking and widely read posts from the Humanities and Social Sciences Communities in the first quarter of 2025. These highlights reflect the rich diversity of topics being explored – from climate resilience and labor market reform to experimental art, visual cognition, and the genetics of rhythm and language. 

Thriving, Not Just Surviving: A New Take on Climate Change 

@Saleem H. Ali 

In his News and Opinion post for Social Sciences and Sustainability Communities, Saleem H. Ali explores the concept of "super-adaptation" – moving beyond merely coping with climate change to actively seizing new opportunities it creates. Drawing on lessons from history, environmental science, and global case studies, Ali advocates for a pragmatic, forward-looking approach that transforms challenges into pathways for thriving in a warming world. Read the post here. 

🌍 Topic: Climate-Change Adaptation 

Do Labor Market Agencies Work? 

@Mariem Liouaeddine 

Mariem Liouaeddine's Behind the Paper post in the Economics Community examines the role of labor market intermediaries (LMIs) in Morocco, focusing on placement agencies and the subsidized employment program. Using statistical methods, the study reveals that placement agencies significantly improve employment outcomes by enhancing job matching, while a subsidized employment program shows weaker, though still positive, effects on reducing unemployment. Liouaeddine suggests that combining intermediation with skill development may offer more sustainable solutions for Morocco’s labor market challenges. Explore the full post here. 

💼 Topic: Labor Economics 

“Inviting Wax Worms into My Home”

@Martin Grünfeld 

In this reflective Behind the Paper post in the Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and Business & Management Communities, Martin Grünfeld shares the story of Worm dome, a living art installation featuring wax worms. Starting from experiments at home, the worms were later introduced into a sealed museum display alongside plastic waste and medical objects. Over time, the installation experienced unexpected changes – including worm deaths, a mite outbreak and the discovery of a resilient fungus. Read the full post to learn more about the author’s reflection on making a living art installation and practicing posthuman care. 

🪱 Topic: Posthumanism, Medical Humanities, Contemporary Art 

Your Eyes Know How You Feel 

@Saeedeh Sadeghi and @Adam Anderson 

What if your brain didn’t need to recognise a cute puppy or a scary face to feel something – 

but could simply sense emotion from colors and shapes? In this Behind the Paper post in the Behavioural Sciences & Psychology, Neuroscience and Computational Sciences Communities, Saeedeh Sadeghi and Adam Anderson explore how the brain might perceive emotional valence directly from basic visual features. Using a machine learning model trained on thousands of images, including abstract art, and supported by fMRI brain scans, the researchers uncover a surprising truth: our visual system itself may be wired to feel. From split-second impressions to brain-generated images, the study opens a new window into how we feel the world – sometimes before we even know what we're looking at. Discover more in the full post.  

🧠 Topic: Visual Perception, Cognitive Neuroscience 

Brain on Beat: Genes Linking Music and Speech 

@Reyna Gordon  

Can your sense of rhythm help predict how well you read, speak, or learn a new language? In this Behind the Paper post in the Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences & Psychology and Genetics & Genomics Communities, Reyna Gordon and colleagues uncover that musical rhythm and language skills share genetic roots. They identified 16 gene loci linked to both beat synchronization and dyslexia. These genes are enriched in brain regions responsible for auditory-motor processing, suggesting a deep biological connection between how we move to a beat and how we learn to speak. Their work highlights the evolutionary and neurological links between rhythm and language – and how our brains might be rhythm-ready from birth. Read the post here.  

🧬Topic: Genome, Language Acquisition 

If any of these posts resonate with your interests, we invite you to dive deeper into the full stories and connect with the researchers behind them!  

Also, don’t miss the quarterly highlights from other research areas on the Communities – Health & Clinical Research and Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical & Applied Sciences – featuring popular recent posts. 

We’ll continue to spotlight compelling posts from across the Communities in future round-ups. Check out my profile to read some previous roundup blogs! 

If you have any questions, get in touch with the team at communities@springernature.com.