News by Subject Policy & Ethics

New research led by the University of Kent has found that people fail to recognise the role of factory farming in causing infectious diseases.

When Ram Raghavan heard from a former colleague at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a 7-year-old girl had died from Rocky Mountain spotted fever as the result of a tick bite, he thought of his own daughter, also 7 years old at the time, and the potentially fatal danger posed to vulnerable populations by tick-borne diseases.

Accurate and focused information about COVID-19 from credible sources reduces stigmatisation and stress, according to a world-first study led by Monash University. Foreigners, minorities, police and frontline workers were blamed for spreading the virus in India. The study was conducted during the first wave of the virus. Researchers say elements of stigmatisation are still valid as India battles a tragic second wave.

White evangelicals are best persuaded to mask up through messages that stress the Christian doctrine of "love thy neighbor," according to a UCR-authored study published Tuesday. The study yielded a second effective way to persuade white evangelicals - but only if they are Republican. That is, messaging from former President Donald Trump that aligns mask-wearing with patriotism. The lessons learned from the study can be borrowed for pro-vaccine messaging, authors say.

Rush hour will likely return when pandemic lockdowns lift, but a new study suggests that congestion pricing--policies that charge tolls for driving during peak hours--could not only cure traffic jams but also convince motorists it is safe to buy smaller, more efficient cars.