Religious service attendance is associated with better well-being, but observational associations do not establish causation. We analyse six annual waves of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (N = 46, 377) to estimate causal effects of monthly attendance on 24 well-being indicators using target trial emulation. Deterministic 'make everyone attend' contrasts fail positivity: only 2-3% of non-attenders initiate attendance per year. We therefore estimate supported stochastic interventions (δ= 5) among baseline non-attenders (N = 38,477) using a sequentially doubly robust estimator with cross-validated machine learning. Effects are selective: small gains appear in meaning and purpose, forgiveness, and sexual satisfaction, with little movement in somatic health, psychological distress, social belonging, or perceived social support. A comparison exposure (+1 hour per week socialising with others) does not reproduce the pattern. We interpret the selective pattern through a prominent cooperative account of religion: gains concentrate in coordination-relevant domains rather than in direct health pathways.

Tooth wear constrains feeding efficiency, life history, and survival in mammals, yet its progression in wild populations remains poorly understood. We use high-resolution 3D analysis to quantify occlusal tissue loss over a three-year period in the upper premolars and molars (P3–M3; n = 70) of wild baboons (Papio). Our sample includes olive baboons (P. anubis) and naturally occurring olive–hamadryas hybrids (P. anubis × P. hamadryas) from Awash National Park, Ethiopia. We compare individuals by age, sex, and hybrid status. Molars lost tissue significantly faster than premolars (molars: 0.13 mm³/mm²/year; premolars: 0.08 mm³/mm²/year), with the bulk of wear shifting from lingual to buccal cusps in older individuals. The rate of tissue loss did not increase with age, despite greater dentine exposure, likely reflecting the protective role of tertiary dentine. While overall wear did not differ significantly by sex, age, or hybrid status, subtle sex-related differences in P3 wear patterns were observed, likely associated with localized effects of the canine honing mechanism. These findings demonstrate the adaptive significance of gradual tissue loss in preserving dental function and establish comparative baselines for interpreting wear patterns in extinct primates, where dental remains often provide the primary record of diet and behavior.

Life history theory seeks to understand how organisms distribute energy between physiological functions across the life course. A central assumption is that energy allocation involves “trade-offs” between competing functions relating to defence, maintenance, reproduction and growth. Constraints on human energy expenditure may produce trade-offs during energetic stress, affecting functions critical for homeostasis, survival and reproduction. While there is some evidence for binary trade-offs between two functions in humans, no studies have tested physiological resource prioritisation across multiple functions under energetic constraint. This study empirically assessed multiple human life history trade-offs and the proximate biological mechanisms underpinning them. We recruited 147 ultra-endurance athletes (107 male, 40 female) participating in four environmentally diverse multiday ultramarathons and one multiweek ocean rowing event. The severe energetic demands of these competitions provide a valuable opportunity to provoke and observe detectable trade-offs. We found evidence of trade-offs across multiple functions. Specifically, investment in (as indexed by immune biomarkers) was broadly prioritised relative to investment in storage, reproduction and maintenance. Our results enhance current understanding of the role of phenotypic plasticity in human adaptability and have implications for athlete health and performance as well as the emerging discipline of evolutionary public health.

Two research branches in evolutionary psychology can make similar predictions about treatment expectations in contexts of conflict of interest, where, for those involved, costs and benefits are at stake. Recalibrational Theory of Anger suggests that evolved psychological mechanisms operate at the cognitive level and regulate human behavior. The Dark Triad Personality posits that traits of Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy confer adaptive advantages, leading individuals to prioritize their interests over those of others. This study aimed to replicate the results of Sell et al. (2017) in a Brazilian sample (Replication Analysis) and investigated whether dark triad traits predict the magnitude of anger in conflict-of-interest situations (Extension Analysis). Replication Analysis consistently replicated previous findings, with effect sizes from moderate to large magnitudes. Extension Analysis revealed that only Narcissism was a significant predictor when victims were intentionally targeted by offenders. While the Recalibrational Theory of Anger predictions were largely confirmed, the dark triad personality traits, except for Narcissism, were generally poor predictors of anger magnitude. The results suggest that the universality of the information processing is robust and is little influenced by antisocial personality characteristics.