Thinking in a second language may reduce creative performance, study finds

Koç University

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Prof. Dr. Tilbe Göksun, faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Koç University and director of The Language and Cognition Lab, co-author of the research examining how language context influences creative thinking in bilingual individuals.

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Credit: Koç University

Most of us have experienced a moment when we couldn’t quite recall a word in another language: the idea is there in our minds, but we simply can’t find the expression for it. The research, published in Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, is part of Dr. Gyulten Hyusein’s PhD dissertation research at the Language and Cognition Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at Koç University, conducted in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Tilbe Göksun.  It explores a question with clear everyday relevance: When bilingual individuals switch to their second language, does their creativity decline?

To find out, researchers asked Turkish-English bilingual university students to complete two classic creativity tests, one in Turkish (their native language) and one in English (their second language). The first test, the Alternative Uses Task, asked participants to come up with as many unusual uses for everyday objects as possible. This measured divergent thinking, the ability to generate many original ideas. The second test, the Remote Associates Test, presented three seemingly unrelated words and asked participants to find a single word connecting them all, measuring convergent thinking, the ability to zero in on a correct solution.

The results were clear-cut: Participants were more creative in Turkish across the board. They generated more ideas, came up with more original responses, and were better at finding the connecting word. But the researchers wanted to understand why. And this is where the study gets particularly interesting.

One key factor turned out to be mental imagery. After each task, participants rated how vividly they had been picturing things in their minds while working through the problems. Those mental images were richer and clearer in Turkish than in English. And the vividness of the mental images was strongly linked to better divergent thinking performance, regardless of which language was being used. In other words, the more vividly you can picture something, the more creative you tend to be. And, your native language seems to help you picture things more vividly.

The study also looked at hand gestures, the spontaneous movements we tend to make while we speak. Gesturing while talking in Turkish was gently linked to better creative idea generation, while gesturing in English was associated with worse performance. One explanation is that in a second language, people may use their hands to compensate for what they cannot easily say, but the gestures end up substituting for ideas rather than generating them. For convergent thinking, more gesturing combined with vivid imagery actually predicted lower scores in both languages, suggesting that rich visual thinking might sometimes get in the way of homing in on a single correct answer.

Perhaps the most surprising finding was that English proficiency, how well participants rated their own command of English, did not translate into richer mental imagery in English, nor did it explain the creativity gap on its own. This suggests that creativity in a second language is not simply a matter of how fluent you are. Something deeper, connected to the emotional and sensory richness that our native language carries, seems to matter as well.

For the millions of people who work, study, and collaborate in a language that is not their first, these findings raise important practical questions. They suggest that the language we think in is not just a passive vehicle for expressing ideas: It actively shapes the very texture of those ideas.

 

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Journal

Bilingualism Language and Cognition

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Thinking creatively in two languages: Effects of mental imagery vividness, foreign language proficiency and hand gestures on bilingual creativity

 

Iron nanoparticle eliminates tuberculosis in mice and may pave the way for new treatments

Research from São Paulo State University shows that an inexpensive, easy-to-produce substance eliminated lung infection in 30 days. The compound has the potential to reduce the time and toxicity of current therapies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

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An iron-based compound encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles completely eliminated tuberculosis in the lungs of mice after 30 days of treatment, according to a study by the Tuberculosis Research Laboratory at the Araraquara School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of São Paulo State University (FCFAr-UNESP) in Brazil. The study was supported by FAPESP and published in the journal ACS Omega. The results suggest a possible new path for shorter, less toxic, and more effective therapies against resistant bacteria, one of the greatest challenges currently facing the fight against the disease.

Although tuberculosis has been known for centuries and is curable, it is still the deadliest bacterial infection in the world. Standard treatment requires at least six months of daily use of at least four antibiotics, and it can take up to two years when there is resistance to the traditional regimen. This makes adherence difficult, contributing to treatment abandonment and failure.

“The disease is curable, but the treatment is long and intense. Patients take several antibiotics every day, which can cause side effects and affect the kidneys and liver,” explains Fernando Rogério Pavan, study advisor and coordinator of the Tuberculosis Drug Research area at Rede-TB.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that without treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal in up to 50% of cases. Conversely, when the treatment regimen is followed correctly, around 85% of patients are cured. However, the epidemiological scenario in Brazil underscores the need for new drugs to combat the disease. The Ministry of Health recorded 84,308 new cases of tuberculosis in 2024 and 6,025 deaths in 2023, marking the highest numbers in over two decades. These are the most recent data, released in 2025.

Despite free treatment being available through the SUS (the acronym for Brazil’s national public health network, Sistema Único de Saúde), the researcher explains that proper adherence is especially challenging in vulnerable populations, such as homeless people and those with alcohol dependence. “There are patients who stop taking antibiotics in the middle of the cycle, which leads to bacterial resistance. As a result, many patients end up with no therapeutic options, as the bacteria are resistant to everything available. And that person can transmit this resistant strain to another, creating an even more dangerous cycle,” Pavan points out.

Study idea

For about 20 years, the group led by Pavan has been studying the possible actions of molecules against tuberculosis. This time, in the doctoral research of Fernanda Manaia Demarqui, the idea was to focus on the substance ferroin (scientific name: [Fe(phen)₃]²⁺, or FEP), a very old compound that has been around since the 1950s and is traditionally used in chemical synthesis.

The proposal stemmed from drug repositioning – testing known substances for new therapeutic uses. “We didn’t invent a new molecule. We took an old, inexpensive, water-soluble substance and tested it for tuberculosis. When we saw antimicrobial activity, we thought, ‘This could become a thesis,’” says the researcher.

Laboratory tests showed that FEP strongly inhibits the tuberculosis bacillus and enhances the action of rifampicin and pretomanid, two drugs used to treat the disease. Additionally, the group discovered the mechanism by which the substance acts.

According to Pavan, microscopy and genomic sequencing revealed significant damage to the cell wall of the bacteria, indicating a mechanism of action similar to penicillins. “We discovered that it acts by inhibiting cell wall synthesis. Microscopy shows that the morphology of the bacteria is completely altered, and mutations in its genome correspond to cell wall proteins,” Pavan explains.

Since FEP is an “unstable” substance that could degrade in the stomach, the researchers encapsulated it in lipid nanoparticles (LNP@FEP), which act as a controlled-release “package.” This improved its stability and duration of action in the body. “This capsule protects the substance and allows for gradual release, keeping the compound active for longer. It’s a simple formulation made with cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine that’s inexpensive and easy to produce,” says the researcher.

The next step was to test the compound on animals. The animals were divided into groups of seven mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Half of the mice were treated conventionally, and the other half received the compound. After 30 days, complete elimination of the lung infection was observed with both free and encapsulated FEP. This surpassed the performance of isoniazid, one of the standard antibiotics used in the SUS.

“The result surprised us very positively because we were hoping to see some reduction in the bacterial load. But the tests showed that the compound eliminated everything. We found no bacilli in the lungs. In the group treated with the conventional antibiotic, there was a reduction in the bacilli load, as expected,” he reports.

Despite the encouraging results, it is not yet possible to discuss clinical applications. Toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies must be conducted, as well as more robust trials, including models of resistant tuberculosis and cases of chronic infection. However, Pavan points out that the fact that the compound is not patented may facilitate future progress toward industrial development. “This may be of particular interest to the public sector. If it works, it’ll be possible to transform the substance into a drug at low cost.”

If new studies confirm the efficacy and safety of the compound in humans, Pavan expects it to pave the way for shorter, safer treatments with greater patient adherence, which would reduce the risk of resistance and the impact of the disease in the country. “We already know the main thing: it works. Now, we need to adjust the dosage and duration of use, conduct repeat tests, and move forward. But seeing total elimination in animal models gives us hope,” he concludes.

About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.

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Journal

ACS Omega

DOI

10.1021/acsomega.5c08350 

Article Title

[Fe(phen)3]2+ and [Fe(phen)3]2+-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid System: In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

 

World-first competency blueprint for healthcare investigators

University of Reading

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A first-of-its-kind framework has mapped the skills and qualities healthcare safety investigators need to help organisations prevent repeated harm to patients, offering a way forward from the old-style blame and retrain approach that has dominated incident investigations for decades. 

Published this week in Safety Science, the framework identifies 38 competencies that separate effective investigators from those who focuses only on finding fault. The research reveals a fundamental shift in what investigators need: 

• Technical expertise in investigation methods 

• Personal qualities such as empathy, independence and rigour 

• The ability to involve patients and families meaningfully throughout an investigation 

• Understanding how complex healthcare systems actually work in practice, not just how they are supposed to work on paper 

• The ability to identify the aspects that contribute to unsafe healthcare such as workload pressures, poorly designed processes or incompatible technology 

• The ability to identify areas for system improvement 

Globally, almost three million people die each year due to unsafe healthcare. In England alone, the economic cost of unsafe care is estimated at £14.7 billion annually. Without skilled investigators capable of uncovering the range of factors that contribute to unsafe healthcare, the same incidents will continue to repeat and patients will remain at risk. 

Dr Rosemary Lim, lead author of the study, said: The 'blame and retrain' approach for frontline workers involved in healthcare incidents is old news. Yet investigations have continued to focus on individual fault because, until now, there has been no agreed set of competencies anywhere in the world defining what skilled investigators should actually do instead. 

"Inconsistent investigations often miss the scope of contributory factors when healthcare goes wrong, such as impossible workloads, poorly designed systems, or incompatible technology, and instead default to blaming individuals or recommending superficial fixes like retraining staff. 

"Our study makes clear that investigators need more than technical expertise to ensure patient safety. The right combination of skills, knowledge and personal qualities is essential if we are to prevent the same harm happening to patients, families and staff again and again." 

The research involved 28 experts, including practising investigators, educators and policymakers, who took part in a rigorous two-round consultation process to reach consensus on what defines competent investigation practice. The University of Reading co-led the research with the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB). 

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Journal

Safety Science

DOI

10.1016/j.ssci.2026.107161 

Article Title

Development of a competency framework for healthcare safety investigators: A modified e-Delphi study

Article Publication Date

22-Feb-2026

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M

New system tracks blockchain money laundering faster and more accurately

New system provides a next-generation anti-money laundering framework for blockchain systems, with automatic adaptation to new criminal tactics

University of Birmingham

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The system, called SynapTrack, provides a next-generation anti-money laundering framework for blockchain systems, with automatic adaptation to new criminal tactics. It enables faster and more accurate detection of fraudulent activity, using a self-improving algorithm that continuously adapts to new tactics to dynamically identify suspicious patterns in blockchain transactions. Dr Pascal Berrang and PhD student Endong Liu co-developed SynapTrack in collaboration with blockchain developer Nimiq. Dr Berrang explains the vulnerability of blockchain systems, and why advanced fraud detection is needed. The team behind SynapTrack is keen to hear from exchanges, financial regulators or law enforcement agencies who want to test the prototype in real-world conditions. For more information sign up at https://synaptrack.co.uk

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Credit: University of Birmingham Enterprise

An advanced detection system to identify and trace blockchain funds connected with criminal activity has been presented today at the Annual CyberASAP Demo Day in London. 

The system, called SynapTrack, enables faster and more accurate detection of fraudulent activity using blockchains and cryptocurrencies, where traditional anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems struggle to keep pace. 

Although current fraud detection methods pick up unusual activity, they deliver an extremely high rate (40%) of false positive reports. These require manual checking by compliance professionals, resulting in backlogs in identifying and acting on suspicious activity. 

The SynapTrack system is designed to deliver a substantially lower rate of false positives. It has already been tested using real-life data from the notorious 2025 Bybit hack, where criminals stole $1.5bn of digital tokens from a cryptocurrency exchange.  SynapTrack traced the hacker with 98% accuracy. 

The team behind SynapTrack is keen to hear from exchanges, financial regulators or law enforcement agencies who want to test the prototype in real-world conditions. 

SynapTrack uses a validated methodology to score the likelihood of transactions being part of a money laundering scheme.  It has a self-improving algorithm that continuously adapts to new tactics - dynamically identifying suspicious patterns in blockchain transactions.  It has a universal cross-chain capability, and is designed around how compliance teams work, presenting results in a dashboard.  No infrastructure changes are needed for installation.  

It is relatively easy to obscure fraudulent or criminal activity by moving funds between blockchains, or dispersing them across many blockchains, in what are known as ‘cross-chain’ transactions.  It is these transactions that pose the greatest difficulty for existing anti-money laundering systems.  

SynapTrack was developed by University of Birmingham computer scientists Dr Pascal Berrang and PhD student Endong Liu, in collaboration with blockchain developer Nimiq.  Dr Berrang’s research is in IT security and privacy on blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning.  The subject of Endong Liu’s PhD is transaction tracing.  Nimiq is supporting with blockchain-specific insights, knowledge of real-world constraints, and implementation.   

The team is currently fundraising to ensure regulatory readiness and complete the team with a CEO and software developers. 

Dr Berrang said: “The last few years have seen a near-exponential growth in blockchain transactions.  While many of these are legitimate, blockchains are attractive to criminals as funds can be moved very quickly to other jurisdictions.  Our work with Nimiq and the creation of SynapTrack is addressing this black spot, and will enable more effective regulation, making the whole ecosystem of blockchain safer and more trustworthy.”