US Sen. Gary Peters will lead USC Dornsife's Center for the Political Future, bringing nearly two decades of experience in Congress and a record of bipartisan lawmaking to the center. He plans to expand the center's presence in Washington, D.C. and create opportunities for students to connect with policymakers.
New VCU research found that individuals with trans identities experience psychological distress from anti-transgender laws, even in states with trans-friendly laws. The study also highlights the importance of individual support systems and societal support in mitigating psychological distress.
A cross-sectional study in 3 US states found that directory laws did not reduce flavored e-cigarette sales, instead diverting resources away from evidence-based tobacco control strategies. The findings suggest that these laws may not be effective in reducing e-cigarette use.
A review of legislative approaches to adolescent social media highlights potential benefits and risks, but systematic evidence is limited. Rapid research is needed to assess policy approaches and support child-centered policies.
A new study implemented in Berkeley, Calif. supermarkets, drug stores, and mass-market retailers in 2021 found a link between a healthy checkout ordinance and a notable decrease in soda sales overall and small-package candy in supermarkets. The study also found that greater enforcement of the policy is essential for sustained public he...
A PSU study reveals how individuals navigate, survive, and attempt to exit homelessness in Multnomah County. The study highlights the importance of supportive relationships and opportunities in overcoming homelessness.
A UC3M study analyzes the regulations and complex logistics of animal spectacles in Roman amphitheaters, including the use of imperial constitutions and specialized units to track and transport wild beasts. The research reveals the logistical and economic challenges of these spectacles and the imperial power exercised over exotic animals.
A new study found that laws requiring notification of dense breast tissue led to modest increases in follow-up imaging tests, while insurance mandates had a significant impact, increasing ultrasound use four times. This study examined the influence of notification laws and insurance coverage independently.
A new study found a 16.8-percent increase in HIV cases among Hispanic populations in antisanctuary counties compared to baseline counties. The researchers attributed this increase to the 2018 announcement of changes to the public charge rule, which penalized immigrants for using public benefit programs.
After the Dobbs v Jackson decision, out-of-state travel to North Carolina for abortion care increased, particularly from more restrictive Southeastern states. Patients also presented at later gestational durations and traveled farther for care, indicating increased logistical barriers after policy changes.
A University of Houston study found that strategic investments in smaller and midsize cities can yield more new riders per dollar than larger metropolitan areas. Smaller systems may have more room to attract new riders due to limited practical transportation options before.
Recent Supreme Court decisions have reduced federal agencies' independence and expanded state-level protections for public health. Federal health agencies now face increased scrutiny from the judiciary, compromising their ability to set standards without interference from elected officials.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been working to regulate synthetic food dyes, with recent federal and state actions taking place. The regulatory landscape is being contextualized, which has implications for policy, industry, and clinical practice.
Recent studies examine the effectiveness of drones for prescription delivery and AI models in healthcare, raising questions about their impact on access and misinformation. Regulations around expertise and online content are also being reevaluated to address the root causes of these issues.
A survey study found that US women who own guns perceive themselves as safer than those who do not, with 41% believing owning a gun would increase their safety. The study suggests a need for targeted gun violence reduction interventions considering different perceptions of safety related to gun exposure.
A major new study on bigamy in England and Wales reveals that only a small number of individuals were carrying on 'double lives', while many were victims of abandonment or exploitation. The study overturns previous assumptions about the crime, showing it was rarer than thought and punished harshly.
A new study reveals that Republican lawmakers sponsored 86% of antivaccine bills introduced in state legislatures after the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers supported provaccine bills, highlighting partisan polarization's impact on vaccine access and public health.
Researchers argue that EU and UK wildlife protection frameworks are fragmented, selective, and exception-based, threatening biodiversity. The authors propose strengthening laws to recognize animal sentience and introducing 'ethical continuity' into the legal framework.
The European Law Institute has approved its first comprehensive framework for dealing with digital assets and personal digital content after death. The rules provide a dual legal framework recognizing the need for protection, privacy, and dignity in digital inheritance.
Researchers suggest separate weight-driven tables for different types of defendants, eliminating disparities in crack and methamphetamine sentences. The study proposes alternative approaches to define relative sentences for psychostimulants and opioids based on harms associated with each type of drug.
The study found that patient engagement with open notes increased to 55% within two months of implementation, but significant sociodemographic disparities remained. Language barriers may also contribute to the digital divide in open note adoption.
The study found that an abortion ban in Texas was associated with a worsening of maternal mental health among reproductive-age mothers. This highlights the need for strengthened support for post-Dobbs policy environments.
A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that Utah's lower 0.05 BAC limit led to significant declines in alcohol-related crash fatalities, while non-alcohol related fatalities remained unchanged. The findings suggest a broader deterrent effect on drinking and driving behavior.
SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 16, 2026
The Luxembourg AI Factory released an open-source tool to accelerate testing for trustworthy artificial intelligence. The AI Assessment Sandbox Configurator enables rigorous AI testing at scale, addressing regulatory requirements and ensuring trustworthiness.
Eight healthcare peers urge MPs to support urgent law reform on assisted dying, citing risks to dying people and public trust. The Bill aligns with best practices from overseas, including assessing capacity, informed consent, and safeguards.
The project, Incognito Justice, examines anonymous judgments and their impact on the legal system, combining doctrinal analysis with empirical methods and computational tools. It offers a comprehensive account of this transformation in privacy, transparency, and public legitimacy.
A recent immigration ban could reduce the US physician and nurse workforce, exacerbating health care workforce shortages in already underserved communities. The study found nearly 24,000 physicians and 56,000 nurses from banned countries contributed to the US healthcare workforce in 2023.
A proposed 'polluter pays' tobacco levy scheme could raise billions in tax revenue and prevent thousands of hospital admissions. The UK could generate £1-£4.9 billion over five years, depending on the level of price cap and implementation speed.
Tahiyat Rahman, a physics Ph.D. holder, will work on policy investing in workforce and training for quantum technologies and materials manufacturing. As a Congressional Fellow, they aim to build public consensus around science policy.
After Dobbs v Jackson, US abortion management shifted towards expectant approaches in ban states, with persistent reliance on suboptimal misoprostol-only regimens. State-level abortion bans were associated with a decrease in management options for individuals with spontaneous abortion in ban states.
A study found that adolescents aware of their state's minor consent laws were more likely to seek and receive HIV and other sexually transmitted infections testing. Teens who accurately knew their legal capacity to consent to healthcare services had higher testing rates.
A new UK drug approval pathway is expected to benefit the pharmaceutical industry while prioritizing earlier revenue over patient needs. The pathway, which aligns regulatory review by the MHRA with NICE's health technology appraisal process, has raised concerns about its impact on population health and NHS resources.
Two studies by Rutgers University professor Colleen Berryessa explore how expressions of remorse are interpreted in the legal system, finding that it can lead to serious inequities in legal outcomes. The research highlights the need for greater awareness and education within the legal system to better understand how remorse is assessed.
The US experienced substantially higher death rates than other high-income countries between 1999 and 2022, despite having comparable access to medical technology. These excess deaths could be avoided by adopting successful health and social policies from other high-income countries.
A study by the University of Vaasa and Aalto University finds that mandatory cybersecurity disclosure in the US has increased internal documentation and made cyber risks more visible to senior management, but not affected investor behavior. Companies produced new content describing their cybersecurity governance structures, suggesting ...
A new study analyzing over 40,000 comments in the public record found that Americans strongly support the federal government's reclassification of cannabis to a less dangerous Schedule III. The majority cited therapeutic benefits and economic impacts as motivations for rescheduling.
A comprehensive analysis of US state and local sanctuary and anti-sanctuary policies reveals associations with immigrants' health outcomes. Sanctuary policies are linked to improved community trust, reduced crime, and higher employment rates, while anti-sanctuary policies increase deportation risk and negatively impact mental health.
SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 27, 2026
Private firms with potential family successors in Sweden grew faster and invested more after the abolition of inheritance tax, which led to higher corporate taxes. The study suggests that rents from the tax abolition were shared with society through taxes and employee salaries.
The study found that out-of-state Chicago Abortion Fund callers traveled more than 3 times the distance to Illinois after Dobbs compared to before. These callers were also more likely to have private or no insurance, be from rural areas, and receive hospital-based care during their pregnancy.
A cohort study found that bullying and restrictive legislation were associated with higher rates of psychotic-like experiences in gender-diverse youths. The study suggests that supportive environments and policies can help alleviate mental health concerns among this population.
Research found that gender-diverse teens reported higher rates of psychological stress and psychotic-like experiences, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other serious mental health disorders. Bullying and unsupportive legislation drove these findings.
A study found that economic interests influenced Japanese legislators' behavior, with sanction-hit industries supporting military-backed policies and procurement sectors showing no shift. This challenges the common view of economic beneficiaries as authoritarian supporters.
New research from the American Meteorological Society explores AI forecasting limits, the impact of climate change on hurricane trends, and simplifies the heat index. The studies find that machine learning can outperform numerical physics-based models in certain conditions, but not universally.
The NCCN Advocacy Academy connects oncology professionals with policymakers to drive evidence-based cancer policy. The program aims to cultivate policy leadership skills among emerging scientists and care providers.
The report proposes new strategies for digital safety, including AI-powered tools to detect and intervene in harmful situations. Experts also recommend involving children and youths in the design process, particularly schools, to promote agency and well-being.
This cross-sectional study found that direct care worker unionization and employer ownership are independently associated with workforce turnover rates. State policies facilitating DCW unionization or public employment of DCWs may improve retention rates, according to the study.
Experts warn that US policy changes pose a grave threat to global health, risking multiple international infectious disease outbreaks. The authors argue that the recent US decisions meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under International Health Regulations (IHRs).
The implementation of Japan's indoor smoke-free laws resulted in a modest increase in smoke-free establishments, with a 5.7% nationwide increase and 13.5% in areas with stricter ordinances. Despite this, a substantial number of establishments still permit indoor smoking due to exemptions under the current legislation.
The American Meteorological Society and partners urge reinstatement of climate science chapter in judicial reference manual, citing concerns over public access to scientific knowledge. The statement emphasizes the overwhelming agreement among experts on climate change, its impacts, and human activities as primary drivers.
People in states with abortion bans face limitations to obtaining care out of state, emphasizing the need for policy change, visible information, and resources. The study suggests supporting individuals through social support systems to address these limitations.
Olivia Asher, a Ph.D. candidate in bioinformatics at UGA, has been selected for the 2026 AIBS & SURA Public Policy Fellowship. She will work with AIBS and SURA policy staff in Washington, DC, to gain hands-on experience with science policy and advocacy efforts.
A recent study by JAMA Pediatrics reveals stark disparities in birth outcomes by poverty status, with low-income families facing increased risks of low birth weight. The findings underscore the importance of supporting vulnerable populations during pregnancy and birth through evidence-based antipoverty policies.
Only 6 of every 10 finalised post-authorisation studies uploaded protocols and less than 7% had results available for EMA's database. This lack of transparency hinders scientific review and research credibility.
Governance scholar Christopher Koliba argues that the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 US elections led to a transgression of democratic accountability standards. The two crises undermined reason and truthfulness, forbearance toward democratic institutions, and professional discretion.
The study found increased requests for medication abortion among adolescents in states with gestational bans and parental consent requirements. Young adults also sought more medication abortion services post-Dobbs, with the highest demand in states with restrictive abortion laws.
A study funded by FAPESP found that most Brazilian women are unaware of their labor rights during pregnancy and postpartum. The research revealed that over half reported experiencing some type of workplace violation, with the risk increasing for those in greater social vulnerability contexts.
A new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) emphasizes the critical role of businesses in halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Businesses can either drive transformative change or risk extinction, as they rely on and impact nature. The report provides methods and 100+ actions for bu...
A cohort study found a disproportionate increase in postpartum depression among women and adolescents in low-socioeconomic status communities following state abortion bans. The legislation disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, highlighting the need for targeted mental health support and policy interventions.
The study examines the characterization of the international-born health care workforce in rural US communities. It highlights the Conrad 30 waiver program, which enabled thousands of J-1 visa holders to remain in the US, caring for approximately 44 million patients, and H1-B visas as additional vehicles for immigrant clinicians.
A new analysis by UC Berkeley researchers found that 'red flag' laws significantly reduced firearm suicides in four states that implemented the laws. The study estimates that these laws prevented over 675 suicides between 2023 and 2024. Non-firearm suicide rates remained unchanged.