An unexpected turn of events
Do people inherently prefer to turn counter-clockwise? A recent joint study from researchers in Spain and Japan suggests so. They found that all things being equal, humans have a definite tendency to turn their bodies counter-clockwise instead of clockwise. This tendency was evident across five experiments under different conditions, with 32 out of 33 people turning counter-clockwise in one setup. While the reason for this is not immediately clear, this pattern is even stronger amongst children, suggesting it may be related to our body biomechanics rather than learned social behaviour.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73713-wv
Orchids in the dead centre of town
Conservationists have found that cemeteries are more than just a burial place — they also serve as wildlife sanctuaries for some endangered species. One critically endangered species of ground orchid, known as the pale yellow doubletail orchid, is found in the hundreds in a NSW cemetery, but is rarely found elsewhere.
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-22/endangered-plants-thrive-in-cemeteries/105980820
