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AI and urban design for health: Are large language models ethical advisers?

A new study evaluated the ethical properties of large language models (LLMs) in generating advice for urban design and health, finding that they avoid harm but lack consistency on community participation and human oversight. The study suggests that LLMs could serve as an initial input for urban designers, but should not replace profess...

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalDevelopments in the Built Environment·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 25, 2026

Does a “calculative mindset” lead to ethical compromise?

Research in the PsyCh Journal found that individuals with a calculative mindset are more likely to ignore moral rules and make ethical compromises for personal gain. The study suggests that reducing this type of thinking may help prevent moral disengagement and promote a more principled approach.

SourceWiley·JournalPsyCh Journal·DateSep 9, 2026

Eminent cardiologist involved in treatment guidelines received £50m from drug research contracts

A British cardiologist and former president of the European Society of Cardiology has been found to have committed severe misconduct after receiving over £50m from lucrative drug research contracts. The investigation found that Kim Fox and his wife had served as co-directors of a contract research organisation involved in running clini...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeNews article·DateAug 26, 2026

JMIR report: APA Labs Digital Badge Program helps developers improve mental health apps

The Digital Badge Program addresses concerns about AI chatbots and mobile applications for mental health support, providing feedback to developers on regulation, safety, data protection, and usability. The program's focus on continuous refinement allows companies to address deficiencies before earning a badge.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 3, 2026

Aging well in a digital world

A new study highlights the importance of involving older people in technology design to ensure devices are useful, respectful, and culturally appropriate. Co-design helps build trust and ensures technologies support older people's autonomy and dignity.

SourceFlinders University·JournalDigital Health·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 3, 2026

Revolving doors weaken SEC oversight

New research from the University of Texas at Austin finds that regulators with ties to Big Four accounting firms are less likely to detect financial statement errors and ask for amendments. A cooling-off period might increase confidence in regulatory oversight, but its implementation could be challenging due to staff limitations.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Accounting Review·DateApr 28, 2026

Choosing embryos based on genetic predictions raises new ethical and legal concerns

Countries are taking different approaches to regulating polygenic embryo testing, which raises new ethical and legal concerns. The technology has expanded from screening for monogenic diseases to assessing complex traits like intelligence and disease risk, but its clinical value is uncertain due to environmental influences.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalFrontiers in Reproductive Health·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 30, 2026

New MOH–NUS Fellowship launched to strengthen everyday ethics in Singapore’s healthcare sector

The MOH–NUS Postgraduate Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics aims to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge and understanding of biomedical ethics, ethical analysis and reasoning. The first awardee, Ms Kwek Shi Qi, will conduct a research project to map barriers and drivers for nurses mediating ethical conflicts in frontline work.

Safe artificial intelligence isn’t enough, according to new Georgia Tech research

AI research at Georgia Tech suggests that simple safety measures are not enough to address the technology's moral implications. The study proposes a middle ground between safe and autonomous AI by advocating for 'end-constrained ethical AI.' This approach prioritizes fairness, honesty, and transparency in AI decision-making.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience and Engineering Ethics·DateFeb 26, 2026

Policies to screen doctors’ fitness seen lacking in fairness

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that many hospital screening policies for late-career physicians lack basic fairness protections. The authors recommend creating policies that balance patient safety with fair treatment of physicians, including clear standards and appeal processes.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 21, 2026

Artificially alive: How AI is bringing the dead back and what that means for the living

A new study reveals AI is being used to recreate deceased people's voices, faces, and personalities without consent, raising questions about ownership, exploitation, and power. The study identifies three dominant ways AI brings back the dead, including spectral labor, where digital remains are extracted and monetized.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNew Media & Society·TypeCase study·DateJan 19, 2026

Fair distribution of emissions

A framework has been developed to calculate fair distribution of the remaining greenhouse gas budget among European regions. The 'Equal Transition Opportunity Production-Based Allocation' (ETOPA) mechanism takes into account regional economic structures and risks in the transition to a climate-neutral economy.

SourceUniversity of Graz·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 10, 2025

Teens who play video games with gambling-like elements more likely to start real betting, study suggests

A new longitudinal study found that young people who engage in gaming habits with gambling-like elements are more likely to gamble with real money. The research team urges policymakers to broaden regulations beyond loot boxes and includes social casino games, prize wheels, and gambling videos in the scope.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalInternational Gambling Studies·TypeObservational study·DateNov 19, 2025

Collaborations key to unlocking the potential of AI in transforming medical education: Duke-NUS study

A new study from Duke-NUS Medical School reveals how AI can revolutionize medical education by personalizing learning experiences, simulating clinical scenarios, and supporting research. Stronger collaboration across schools, hospitals, and regulators is needed to make AI safe, responsible, and effective.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 13, 2025

Design Stories Warsaw

The conference examines the practices of responsibility in design, highlighting how women designers foster collaboration, reimagine design as a vehicle for storytelling, and shape cultural memory. The event features five thematic panels discussing topics such as social challenges, material storytelling, collecting, and pedagogy.

Japanese public show major reservations to cell donation for human brain organoid research

A recent study found that over 90% of Japanese residents were unaware of human brain organoids before being asked to donate cells. The public response was hesitant, with nearly three-quarters expressing serious hesitation or outright refusal under broad consent. To maintain trust, researchers advocate for project-specific consent models.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalFrontiers in Genetics·DateNov 4, 2025

Congratulations to Dr. Neta Nadiv on being selected for the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities’ Young Scholars Forum in the Humanities and Social Sciences for the 2025-2026 academic year

Dr. Neta Nadiv, a faculty member at Reichman University's Harry Radzyner Law School, has been selected for the Young Scholars Forum in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The forum aims to create an active research community and deepen academic dialogue in Israel.

Where financial advisors grew up influences their business ethics

A new study found that financial advisors' childhood environment significantly predicts their core code of ethics, influencing their professional behavior. The research suggests that cultural norms from their hometown play a significant role in shaping their ethical foundations. This finding highlights the importance of considering the...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalReview of Financial Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 1, 2025

Mix insect, plant, and cultivated proteins for healthier, greener, tastier food, say experts

Researchers reveal how hybrid foods combining proteins from different sources could be part of the solution to reduce industrial animal use. By using combinations of different proteins, they found that hybrids can overcome many limitations of individual protein sources and create products that are more than the sum of their parts.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Science·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 30, 2025

Justice is being lost in translation – Surrey researchers build AI to fix this problem

Researchers developed a custom speech recognition system trained on Supreme Court hearings, reducing transcription errors by up to 9% compared to leading commercial tools. The AI tool semantically matches paragraphs with timestamps, allowing users to scroll through judgements and instantly watch relevant exchanges from the hearing.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalApplied Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2025