The queuing and bulk-buying of petrol is not 'panic buying' but logical, given people's reasonable beliefs about others' behaviour and mistrust of the authorities, argues Dr John Drury, researching crowd psychology in emergencies.

A study of climate change as a social issue shows how the debate affects the views and attitudes of individuals and groups, and highlights how climate change is perceived differently across countries.

Are lessons learnt, and can we avoid another global financial crisis in the future? The National Institute of Economic and Social Research/ESRC conference 'Never Again?' has examined whether there has been progress towards a safer banking system.

Taxing unhealthy foods in a bid to persuade people to eat a better diet would be an ineffective way of tackling obesity. A study of inequalities in diet and health concludes that a so-called 'fat tax' would hit the poor hardest while failing to produce any significant health benefits.

Teenagers who read gossip magazines are more likely to engage in unhealthy eating behaviours such as binge eating, skipping meals or making themselves sick after meals, according to an ESRC-funded study.

In an ESRC CASE studentship, psychologist Eleanor Ratcliffe at the University of Surrey is exploring how listening to natural sounds such as birdsong can improve mood and attention after stress or fatigue.

Charitable giving is another victim of the recession, with research from the Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy and other surveys showing that the amount of giving has fallen - although the number of donors are the same.

Thirty years after the first reported cases of AIDS, a unique gathering of experts are examining the early response to the epidemic in the lecture series "AIDS @ 30: Three decades of responding to HIV/AIDS".

Does the widespread strike in the public sector on 30 November herald a new era of industrial action and empowered trade unions? Workers are provoked by proposed cuts in public sector pensions, and the strike enjoys widespread support.

Were the August riots 'simply criminality' or a symptom of a wider malaise? Looking at the key sectors of education, employment and family wellbeing, expert commentators explore whether society actually is 'broken' – and how it can be fixed.