A new paper has questioned the effectiveness of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's aid distribution model, citing inhumane treatment and potential violations of international law. The model, which relied on private security contractors, led to crowding, stampedes, and shootings at aid distribution sites, causing thousands of civilian c...
A national survey of Ukrainian residents found that 31.2% met criteria for PTSD or complex PTSD, with factors including being female, older age, and displacement due to the war. The study emphasizes the need for sustained mental health support in ongoing conflicts.
A study from Linköping University highlights the importance of regular drills, staff safety, and communication systems in mass casualty planning. The research shows that staff training exercises enable staff to work automatically during crises, while staff safety is crucial to prevent attacks on staff and ensure system effectiveness.
A new report suggests increasing the U.S. nuclear arsenal could lead to more nuclear crises, as adversaries may feel less deterred. The study highlights the importance of enhancing survivability and resilience over expanding the arsenal, with a focus on strengthening nuclear submarine capabilities and defending against cyberattacks.
Scholasticide, deliberate attacks on education systems, has devastating consequences for health and healthcare. Systemic degradation can lead to long-term learning loss, economic rebuilding challenges, and diminished future opportunities.
The ICTY established facts about crimes but struggled to uncover the wider historical truth. Researchers must consider the Tribunal's limitations when studying the political causes of the wars, as competing narratives and interpretations persist.
Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation in Ukraine describe a decentralized, cloud-based computing model and a train-the-trainer structure as key principles for resilient scientific capacity. The approach has been successful in producing trained researchers and has implications for protecting science during wartime.
A randomised trial of 510 parents in wartime Ukraine found that support groups halved violence against children and decreased depression and anxiety symptoms. The programme, called 'Hope Groups', was designed to provide safety, trust, and hope to families during the war.
Ukraine maintained a self-sufficient blood supply during the Russia-Ukraine War by centralizing operations and expanding donor recruitment. The country's 24-hour blood collection centers and public campaigns with patriotic slogans like “Your blood can fight!” increased donations.
A clinical trial found that refrigerated platelets stored for up to 21 days are just as effective as room-temperature platelets in treating bleeding patients. This discovery could extend the lifespan of platelets by nearly 4-fold, reducing waste and improving access to lifesaving therapy.
A systematic review of 68 studies finds varied psychological responses to collective trauma, with exposure intensity and social circumstances playing key roles. Social connection also offers protective benefits.
Individuals in psychotherapy for trauma from killing in war experienced improvements in psychosocial functioning. IOK participants showed greater improvements in work, social, and family life compared to PCT group at posttreatment.
A pilot clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy in veterans with severe PTSD found that 75% of participants were in remission one month after treatment, with no serious adverse events reported. The results suggest the protocol may be a game-changer for those struggling with treatment-resistant PTSD.
A new study of an Israeli hospital's response to the October 7 attacks reveals critical gaps in communication, staffing, logistics, and casualty distribution. The findings offer practical lessons that could help hospitals worldwide prepare for prolonged armed conflicts and other large-scale emergencies.
A new report by Brookings Institution suggests the US can improve its role in partners' conflicts by clearly communicating goals and persuading allies to adjust their strategies. Dafna Rand's research identified missteps and misunderstandings that undermined America's ability to manage and influence allies' strategies.
Social animals exhibit a range of pre-war preparations, including environmental cues and memories of past events. These behaviors can impact socio-cognitive evolution, population dynamics, and community structures. Preemptive behavior is widespread in social species, depending on the current threat level.
A study published in PLOS One reveals fluctuations in exclusionary nationalism in prewar Japan through changes in foreign place name writing. Notable turning points coincided with key political events, such as the appointment of a pro-international cooperation Foreign Minister and military coups.
A modelling study across 193 countries found armed conflict is associated with a higher measles burden. The study also suggests that conflict has an indirect impact on the spread of measles through its effects on lower socioeconomic development and greater population displacement.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 25, 2026
A study of 193 countries finds that armed conflict leads to more measles cases, even a year after fighting ends. Socioeconomic decline is the strongest connection between conflict and measles, as it erodes health foundations and population vulnerability.
A new study reanalyzes the Gaza Mortality Survey, identifying interviewer-level anomalies and inconsistencies with external demographic data. This raises concerns about the survey's representativeness and validity of its estimates of conflict-related deaths in Gaza.
The UCDP reported a record high number of armed conflicts between states in 2025, including eight interstate conflicts. The year saw the highest figure since World War II, with 65 conflicts resulting in over 244,000 fatalities, including a sharp increase in violence targeting civilians.
A recent study using satellite data measures the economic cost of war in Gaza, revealing that three-quarters of the economy has been destroyed since October 2023. The analysis found a 68.5% drop in night-time light intensity, indicating significant decline in human and economic activities.
Children and adolescents in Gaza who suffered penetrating traumatic brain injury during armed conflict experienced substantial morbidity and mortality. Survivors often endured neurological impairments and long-term psychosocial challenges.
A new study by the University of East Anglia reveals that refugees who entered the UK as unaccompanied minors experience relentless cycles of intrusive memories, loneliness, and physical pain. Social connection emerges as a powerful buffer against distress, with many participants finding comfort in activities like cricket or prayer.
A longitudinal study of 156 Ukrainian amputees found that most experience steady improvements in pain, anxiety, and depression over time. The study revealed distinct patterns of post-amputation pain, with phantom limb pain linked to psychological distress and residual limb pain linked to depression.
A majority of Americans value U.S. membership in NATO and consider it a meaningful security asset, but views are sharply divided along partisan lines. Democrats are more supportive of NATO than Republicans, who hold less favorable views on the alliance's benefits to U.S. security.
A new study found that nearly half of young survivors of the October 7 attacks developed atypical sensory patterns, causing everyday stimuli to be perceived as overwhelming threats. This altered sensory processing is directly tied to emotional distress and anxiety in children.
A comprehensive scoping review of 37 studies found that Ukrainian children exposed to a decade of war face high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality, and self-harm. Children who had been forcibly displaced, exposed to violence, or separated from parents faced higher risks of mental health problems.
The article explores how social media drives donations for Ukrainian military operations, creating a cycle of need for more funding. Former and current military personnel share their experiences, highlighting the desperation and creativity in using available tools to wage war.
The study highlights the negative impacts of war on Israeli adolescents' personal safety, equality, and freedom of expression. Despite parents being a trusted source of information, adolescents report feeling less free to express their opinions than their parents think.
A new longitudinal study found that children's behavior problems are significantly linked to parental burnout, regardless of partner deployment status. Protecting children's resilience requires bolstering caregivers' emotional resources and external support to avoid burnout's negative impact on family well-being.
A new report by Anglia Ruskin University and the University of York identifies key weaknesses in the UK's food system and recommends interventions to prevent disruptions from escalating into a crisis. The study suggests increasing energy security, diversifying food value chains, and promoting varied diets to reduce risks.
Researchers used machine learning to identify conflict labels from data, discovering three archetypes with distinct geographic, demographic, and economic properties. The study emphasizes the limitations of existing conflict classifications and suggests new approaches for predicting conflict severity.
Shadrack Byfield's autobiography offers insight into the suffering and resilience of Britain's homecoming soldiers. The new evidence shows Byfield's tenacious pursuit of veterans' benefits, struggles with pain, poverty, and police, and his determination to design a custom prosthesis after losing his arm.
A new study by Binghamton University Professor Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm found that social media hashtags can help identify early warning signs of violence and amplify local voices. The research examined social media campaigns in Canada and Syria, analyzing over 5,000 posts tied to #TruthAndReconciliation and #SaveSyria.
A University of Cambridge-led study reveals that more than two years of war in Gaza has left Palestinian children too weak to learn or play, with some living on as little as a bowl of lentils a day. The report warns of a 'lost' generation emerging in Gaza due to the war's educational, physical and psychological impacts.
A new book by Uppsala University researchers reveals the secrets behind Nordic mediators' success in resolving conflicts. The authors analyze over 75 years of Nordic mediation experiences and introduce a new model for assessing successful results.
A new study reveals that 16% of teens exposed to both phases of the Russo-Ukrainian war experience PTSD symptoms, while over 10% experience severe depressive symptoms. The study highlights the need for immediate and sustained attention to support Ukrainian youth's mental health needs.
Researchers developed an algorithm to analyze publicly available radar imagery and identify destroyed buildings in conflict zones with precision up to 86%. The method enables democratized access to conflict monitoring tools and near real-time assessment of building destruction for humanitarian response and academic research.
In fascist Italy, the state employed zootechnics to advance its aims, viewing eating animal products as a marker of power and masculinity. Despite initial ambitions, the project failed due to economic support issues and farmers' reluctance, leaving behind a legacy of fascist propaganda.
Researchers investigate how adjacent cities exacerbate each other's heat island effects. A study also highlights the need for improved hindcasting infrastructure in climate science. Additionally, a campaign monitors pinned clouds over industrial sources of heat and finds that trees are more reliable against heat stress than buildings.
A new study reveals that even seemingly well-intentioned initiatives to help the disadvantaged side of a conflict can produce negative consequences. When humanitarian aid is not coupled with genuine political change, it may lead to moral satisfaction and decreased support for meaningful concessions for peace.
A 10-year follow-up study by PLOS reveals that Dutch servicemembers injured in Afghanistan maintained their quality of life. The findings suggest long-term stability for those affected by battle-related injuries.
A new study found that parental emotional support helps protect children from anxiety and distress during wartime. Parents who encouraged open conversations and validated emotions created a safe space strengthening their children's resilience in the face of conflict.
Researchers develop an indicator to predict the possibility of genocide based on escalating human rights abuses, including declining workers' rights, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The sequence of violations can culminate in mass atrocities, with the United Nations ultimately deciding whether they meet the criteria for genocide.
The Lancet Countdown report links climate change to violence and community health, emphasizing the need for social and economic changes to prevent conflict. Strengthening food systems and ensuring emergency responses can reduce grievances and protect healthcare workers.
Researchers extracted DNA from Napoleon soldiers' teeth and identified Salmonella enterica and Borrelia recurrentis as causes of enteric fever and relapsing fever. The discovery sheds new light on the factors contributing to the army's downfall.
A new study by Dr Irene Fernández-Molina from the University of Exeter reveals that EU legal ambiguity on the Western Sahara conflict is a significant disadvantage for the Polisario Front and its Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The study highlights how lawfare has been successfully used to challenge these ambiguities, leading to accu...
A new study led by Northwestern Medicine found that botulinum toxin injections provided significant short-term relief for phantom limb pain, with an average reduction of four points on a 10-point scale. The treatment, which targets painful nerve endings around neuromas, showed promise as a potential tool to alleviate post-amputation pain.
Recent estimates suggest tens of thousands of children in Gaza are suffering from acute malnutrition, with over 12,800 severely so. The study tracks wasting among children during the war and highlights unprecedented increases in child malnutrition following periods of blockades and severe aid restrictions.
A new book by Peter Turchin analyzing data from over 800 societies reveals that warfare was the central driver of social complexity, leading to the development of institutions for cooperation and prosociality. The Great Holocene Transformation offers insights into the evolution of human societies over 10,000 years.
A Dartmouth study found that national security officials are overwhelmingly overconfident, consistently misjudging the uncertainty of current and future states. Brief training can mitigate this bias, reducing overconfidence and promoting accuracy.
A groundbreaking study by Florida Atlantic University researchers found that working with service dogs can slow cellular aging in female veterans. The study, which involved female veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, revealed promising biological benefits associated with service dog training.
A study by the American College of Surgeons found that AI enhanced evacuation efficiency, optimized routes, and prioritized patients by injury severity. AI also accelerated drug delivery, identified new treatments for injuries, and supported artificial limb selection.
A new study reveals that Veterans are disproportionately using all commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. The study found that Veterans had a higher risk for former and current tobacco use, as well as multiple product use, posing significant health risks.
A decade-long study found that children with early-developed empathy were more likely to experience anxiety and depression during the Israel-Hamas war, highlighting the dual role of empathy in mental health. The research suggests that empathy can be both a strength and a vulnerability in the face of mass trauma.
In Gaza's 'Medical Points,' temporary medical centers, an average of 117 people are treated daily with only about 7 staff members per center. Despite severe shortages, these facilities play a critical role in providing care to those in need.
A new study led by Prof. Eyal Kalanthroff and Prof. Helen Blair Simpson found that acute trauma can spark the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or intensify existing symptoms. Nearly 40% of survivors from Gaza communities met OCD criteria, with new-onset symptoms reported by nearly one in four.
A new study at Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that Israeli men with emotional regulation difficulties were more likely to develop gambling problems after the October 7 attacks. Gambling became a coping mechanism for fear, grief, and uncertainty during the war.
A new study reveals how hotels can mirror the psychological pains of imprisonment during wartime, raising questions about displaced communities. Evacuees experienced emotional and psychological distress, feeling trapped in comfortable yet confining settings.