A research team from Peking University, led by Professor Bi Yanchao, has published a study in *Nature Communications* exploring how climate influences word meanings across languages. By analyzing word embeddings from 53 languages and conducting behavioral ratings from speakers of eight languages, the study reveals that while languages vary in sound and grammar, they share a common neurocognitive framework for meaning. This framework is shaped by environmental conditions, particularly climate, which has the strongest impact on how meanings are organized. The researchers mapped 1,016 concepts onto 13 biologically grounded dimensions, including sensory and cognitive features. They found that languages spoken in similar climates tend to exhibit more similarities in meaning. Additionally, fMRI data indicated that the right anterior temporal lobe plays a role in encoding this shared semantic structure. Overall, the study suggests that language, cognition, and environment are interconnected, with climate influencing how concepts relate to sensory, emotional, and social experiences over generations.