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Policy & Ethics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 24-Oct-2026 07:17 ET (24-Oct-2026 11:17 GMT/UTC)

Adolescents’ knowledge of legal capacity to independently consent linked to higher STI/HIV testing

Boston University School of Public Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Adolescents who can consent independently to testing, treatment, and prevention services for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV are more likely to receive these services, according to a new study in Pediatrics. The study also found that adolescents who are aware of their legal capacity to consent to STI and HIV services without permission from guardians are even more likely to receive STI/HIV testing.

Journal: PEDIATRICS

Study maps how ‘Big AI’ influences AI laws and oversight

University of Edinburgh
Reports and Proceedings

Artificial intelligence companies influence policy and regulation using similar techniques to Big Tobacco, Big Pharma and Big Oil, according to a new study.

Meeting: ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency

Management of spontaneous abortion among commercially insured individuals in the United States after Dobbs v Jackson

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: State-level abortion bans were associated with a shift in spontaneous abortion management away from medication and toward expectant approaches, with persistent reliance on suboptimal misoprostol-only regimens in ban states, suggesting a decrease in management options for individuals with spontaneous abortion in ban states.

Journal: JAMA

Study finds payments to Medicare Advantage brokers potentially reached $10 billion annually

Brown University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The analysis conducted by the research team at Brown’s Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at this market, drawing on data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The study found that broker involvement is both common and growing. In 2014, 36% of first-time Medicare Advantage enrollees used a broker, a figure that rose to 44% by 2022.

Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine
Funder: Arnold Ventures

Brazil’s protected areas are chronically underfunded — and the Amazon is paying the price

University of Miami
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study published in the journal Environmental Conservation finds almost three-quarters of Brazil’s federal nature reserves lack adequate funding, with nearly all Amazon parks facing major financial shortfalls.

Journal: Environmental Conservation

ECM Carbon Market Special | Where is China’s carbon market heading?

Tsinghua University Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

This article draws on eight recent studies published in Energy and Climate Management to assess the current status and future trajectory of China’s carbon market. While the national ETS has made notable progress, it remains constrained by low liquidity, weak price signals, and challenges in sectoral expansion—particularly due to MRV limitations. The studies highlight that improving institutional design, especially through robust price stabilization mechanisms, and introducing financial tools such as carbon futures are critical to enhancing market effectiveness. Insights from Japan and South Korea further underscore the importance of broader participation and policy flexibility. Overall, China’s carbon market is transitioning from institutional setup to market deepening, with growing emphasis on market-driven signals.

Journal: Energy and Climate Management

Turning down the heat from data centers

Arizona State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Waste heat from data centers can boost air temperatures in downwind neighborhoods by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit. With hundreds of megawatts of data center capacity operating in many cities, and thousands more proposed, the combined impact on urban temperature could be substantial. Researchers aim to help develop solutions that could significantly reduce downwind impacts.