Articles tagged with Science Policy
A study of 5302 patients found no significant difference in bleeding events between those temporarily discontinuing and maintaining antithrombotic therapy during image-guided breast biopsies. The findings support the safety of continuing antithrombotic therapy, but counsel patients on bruising risk.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that bypassing misinformation, rather than directly addressing it, can be an effective way to change people's minds. By focusing on positive facts and conclusions, individuals can be persuaded without feeling attacked or contradicted.
The American Association of Science recommends that US universities develop a risk management framework for collaborations with China. This approach outlines clear lines that will not be crossed in collaborations, including avoiding training or research with China's military or defense universities.
A two-day workshop hosted by PPPL discussed the risks and benefits of fusion energy, including concerns about nuclear proliferation and energy justice. Experts emphasized the need for open discussion and regulation to ensure safe and equitable deployment of fusion power.
A study by Carnegie Mellon researchers found that about 10% of US pipeline compressor stations are electric, making them vulnerable to electric outages. Electric outages could force a loss greater than 2 gigawatts of downstream gas generators, causing significant reductions in available gas.
The latest issue of PLOS Biology features a special collection on biology-based solutions to reduce plastic pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, and produce food or energy more sustainably. Insect enzymes may degrade plastic waste, while photosynthetic algae can capture CO2 produced by industrial applications.
The article provides 12 recommendations to enhance the quality of surveys, including transparency, clarity, and correcting the record. The recommendations aim to address challenges in survey research, such as biased responses and inaccurate forecasts.
A global approach is proposed to integrate natural history museum collections, providing a valuable resource for addressing global issues like invasive species, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. The vast collections held by museums worldwide are becoming increasingly important in policy-relevant research.
Experts call for a legally-binding treaty to govern Earth's orbit, citing the growing threat of satellite debris. With an expected 60,000 satellites in orbit by 2030, scientists warn that large parts of space could become unusable if action is not taken immediately.
A report by Queensland University of Technology highlights the struggle of international experts who warned about COVID-19 airborne transmission in early 2020. The group's warnings were initially rejected by the World Health Organisation, leading to delays in implementing control measures that could have saved lives.
A new approach, CAITE, leverages copyleft licensing and patent trolling to regulate AI development and deployment. The system would enforce ethical terms and conditions on AI products and derivatives.
A nationwide survey found that Americans are more willing to use polygenic embryo selection (PGT-P) than germline gene editing for educational purposes, with high-education individuals under 35 being the most accepting. The study also highlights concerns about potential health and social inequalities.
A new game theory study by Professor Claudius Gros finds that unregulated competition can lead to catastrophic poverty for investors, with profits scaling as 1/N². Cooperation among investors can avoid this damage, resulting in a net profit corresponding to the number of investors.
The NIH-led research response to COVID-19 included the rapid development of mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, as well as improved diversity in clinical trials. The success of this effort has highlighted the importance of collective effort and continuous investment in basic and applied research.
Researchers summarize key findings from two Reviews on Amazon deforestation and degradation. Human activities are changing ecosystems at unprecedented rates, threatening the planet's carbon and water cycles. Transformative policies are required to address these impacts and reduce economic demands driving deforestation.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences is reorganizing its institutes into four categories to focus on basic research, applied science, and regional development. However, concentrating resources on creating centers of big-science research infrastructure may bring more distinct competitiveness to the CAS.
Farming edible insects could improve food security by reducing resource intensity and increasing protein content. Insects have the potential to replace conventional livestock feed, offering unique nutrients and health benefits for animals, while transforming low-value agricultural waste into high-quality feed.
The study finds China's YTT program successfully recruits and nurtures top-caliber scientists, who outperform peers in publications due to increased team size and funding. The findings suggest policy adjustments are needed to support young scientists.
Most universities lag behind industry in using data generated by their institutions to inform key decisions. Common challenges include a lack of staff expertise in data management and tension among stakeholders regarding data access and control.
A recent guidance framework highlights substantial gaps in biosecurity policies for dual-use research of concern and work proposing to enhance pandemic pathogens. Experts suggest expanding pathogen governance and making risk assessments publicly available.
Global climate investments are needed to meet ambitious goals, but many barriers hinder progress. The authors identify 'fair-share' regional contributions that better describe the direction of financial flows needed equitably.
A new study argues that India's expanding energy sector needs to balance climate change, air pollution, and social inequality. The analysis found that current policies are insufficient to cut emissions or reduce air quality inequities nationwide.
A new study from the University of Kansas found that while the pandemic disrupted city sustainability efforts in some cases, it also increased focus on certain types of initiatives. Nearly half of cities reported negative effects on program implementation, but 75% said sustainability staffing was not affected.
A new two-year project is being launched to reduce the spread of retracted research and improve confidence in scientific discovery. The goal is to create a system that can signal retraction status consistently to humans and machines.
A new European study confirms that banning menthol cigarettes leads to increased smoking cessation rates, with 26.1% of menthol smokers quitting compared to 14.1% of non-menthol smokers. The study also finds that a proposed US ban on menthol cigarettes could lead to over 1.3 million quitters.
The ANEMEL project aims to develop efficient electrolysers for green hydrogen production, targeting low-grade water sources. The €3 million EU funding will expedite prototype design and catalyse commercialisation of the technology.
Millions of schoolchildren in the US and Canada are exposed to potentially harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through stain-resistant school uniforms. The study found concentrations as high as those in outdoor clothing, posing health risks such as cancer and severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The US FDA is reassessing its need for animal tests in product development, exploring alternative methods that could improve efficacy and safety predictions. New technologies like microphysiological systems may replace traditional animal studies, enabling faster product approval.
The FDA's longstanding confidentiality practices have prevented data sharing with other regulatory agencies worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. New transparency policies could promote US scientific and regulatory leadership and advance global health by enabling greater data sharing.
The FORTHEM alliance, a nine-university network in Europe, will receive nearly EUR 14.4 million in funding from the European Commission for the next four years. This funding will support the expansion of mobility offerings for students and staff, as well as the development of common infrastructure to foster a transnational European Uni...
A new pandemic treaty could transform global health governance by addressing spillover risk, pandemic risk, and recovery strategies. The proposed elements focus on proactive measures to prevent pandemics from occurring in the first place.
Pharmaceutical compounds can bioaccumulate in wild animals and alter behavior, survival rates, and even drive species to extinction. Further ecotoxicological research is needed to evaluate the ecological impacts of pharmaceutical pollution, including mixture effects on complex natural systems.
The US is lagging in establishing a unified open research commons due to lack of leadership, focus, and coordination. This is hindering productivity and innovation in solving global problems like climate change.
National data indicate that expanded access to methadone treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to increased harms, but rather declined percentage of overdose deaths involving methadone. This evidence supports expanding take-home treatment for opioid use disorder.
A new study published in Environmental Research: Climate reveals the Earth's energy imbalance is crucial for understanding and addressing climate change. The research found that 93% of extra heat from the imbalance ends up in the oceans, increasing their temperature and sea level, leading to more frequent extreme weather events.
A study by Mary Blair-Loy and colleagues reveals that hiring rubrics can improve diversity in faculty hiring but require additional strategies to combat gender bias. The researchers found that even with seemingly objective evaluation processes, gender bias remains endemic in some scoring categories.
The Safeguard project recommends improving pollinator knowledge, tackling causes of decline, and raising awareness to reverse the 2030 pollinator loss objective. European Commission's public consultation gathered views on strengthening the current framework on wild pollinators.
Dr. Mona Fouad has been recognized for her leadership in health disparities research and commitment to equity in healthcare. Her work has led to the development of rigorous research and interventions to make healthcare more accessible to historically underserved populations.
Racial gaps in NIH grant funding are attributed to the subjective review process and lack of diversity among reviewers. The NIH has proposed initiatives to address these disparities, including appointing diversity officers and allocating funding for research on health equity and health disparities.
Environmental advocates argue that chemical recycling doesn't eliminate single-use plastics, which remain a significant pollution concern. The Biden administration is seeking comment on exempting industry processes from Clean Air Act regulations, amid growing state legislation encouraging advanced recycling.
A new $5 million center, MIXR, aims to develop, test and certify XR technologies in medicine and healthcare. The collaboration between academia, industry and government will improve medical training, patient management and health outcomes.
The CWC and OPCW must adapt to emerging threats, including reinforcement of international norms against CW use and development of new monitoring tools.
Rapidly growing market of antibiotic-free meat and poultry is threatened by lax labeling policies, warns a new study. Current authorization processes lack empirical testing, allowing antibiotics-treated animals into the supply chain, undermining RWA claims.
A new study suggests China has surpassed the US in one key measure of national research success. Using a different measurement method than traditional methods, researchers found that Chinese research ranked as high as or higher than US work in the top 1% of scientific studies in 2019.
The Chinese science grant system is helping to facilitate problematic or false science due to limited sanction and enforcement tools. To improve research integrity, Tang proposes suggestions that could help strengthen funding agencies' roles in addressing these issues.
The EPA has introduced a new policy to evaluate the impact of pesticides on endangered species before new products are introduced to the market. The policy requires consultation with wildlife services and aims to mitigate adverse effects, but challenges remain due to differing approaches and thresholds between agencies.
A new glossary aims to reduce barriers to entry and understanding in the Open Scholarship movement by clarifying terms like 'CARKing' and 'HARKing'. Researchers also highlight positive practices such as 'slow science', which encourages more time for data collection and literature reading.
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected biomedical research, with a significant shift in priorities towards COVID-19-related studies. Publications and clinical trials in non-COVID fields decreased by up to 25%, while COVID-19-related research saw a surge in publications and grants.
A new study examines the 'skunk' smell and other emissions from cannabis production, finding they can be equivalent to livestock operations. The review highlights gaps in knowledge about cannabis emissions and their impact on air quality.
Public trust in science increased in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic, with stronger increases among educated individuals and those supporting the left-wing party. Despite this rise, public trust declined slightly by November 2020, highlighting the need for effective communication strategies to maintain trust
Agricultural researcher Benjamin Schiek developed a mathematical method to better allocate resources across different policies and projects. The method calculates correlations between institutional research projects and strategic objectives, revealing synergies and trade-offs, enabling more informed funding decisions.
A recent study found an increase in intentional drug overdose deaths among young people aged 15-24, older adults aged 75-84, and non-Hispanic Black women. Despite a downward trend in overall deaths, these subgroups saw a rise in intentional overdose death rates, with women ages 45 to 64 having the highest rates.
The opioid crisis in the US has reached epidemic levels, with over 100,000 drug overdose deaths reported for the first time. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributes the rise to abuse of synthetic opioid fentanyl and the COVID-19 pandemic.
USC researchers develop highly accurate model to predict Covid-19 risk by combining anonymized cellphone location data with mobility patterns. The system shows a 50% improvement in accuracy compared to current systems, enabling targeted policy decisions at neighborhood or zip code levels.
A longitudinal survey of over 3,000 adolescents aged 11-14 found that supportive relationships with family and friends, physical activity, and better sleep helped shield against the pandemic's negative impact on mental health. Girls were more likely than boys to experience psychological distress during the pandemic.
The global chemical industry aims to recover from the pandemic while addressing consumer demand for sustainable products. Investments in carbon capture and clean technology will continue to rise, while companies rethink packaging and manufacturing methods to reduce waste.
A comprehensive assessment of scientific integrity in US government agencies reveals sound policies but also issues that undermine public trust and scientist morale. The report identifies best practices to reinforce a culture of integrity and proposes additional principles to strengthen scientific integrity across government.
The use of self-spreading viruses in wildlife management and vaccine development poses significant risks due to their unpredictable nature. International institutions must be leveraged to address concerns and promote responsible research practices.
The US FDA's early approval of Aduhelm sparked worries about the lack of post-approval studies. Insufficient company incentives and patient participation hinder meaningful trials.
A non-partisan COVID-19 commission could provide a clear-eyed assessment of the US response to the pandemic and recommend steps for improvement. The commission should evaluate public health infrastructure, warnings and origins of the virus, and adequacy of pandemic preparedness.