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Policy & Ethics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 12-Jun-2026 21:16 ET (13-Jun-2026 01:16 GMT/UTC)

Optical properties of plants reflect ozone-induced damage

Chiba University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Environmental pollutants such as ozone can damage the internal structure of plants and impair their growth and productivity. Conventional assessments requiring sample processing may not accurately reflect internal damage. A new study highlights the application of a novel ‘optical coherence tomography’ scanner for the non-invasive temporal assessment of live plants exposed to ozone. The technique can aid the timely detection of deficiencies and stress-induced damage, thereby supporting better plant management and improving crop productivity.

Journal: Scientific Reports

Buffalo's deadly blizzard revealed when travel bans lose their power over time

NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When Buffalo, New York’s devastating December 2022 blizzard claimed more than 30 lives, it exposed a hard reality: even life-saving travel bans can lose their force over time, especially when residents face situations where compliance becomes difficult. Researchers at NYU Tandon and RIT have now developed a way to help authorities anticipate when these breakdowns may begin.

Journal: Transport Policy

New white paper analyzes U.S. vaccine safety monitoring system

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Reports and Proceedings

In an Annenberg Public Policy Center white paper, biostatistician Jeffrey Morris of the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine analyzes the U.S. vaccine safety monitoring system and suggests how its components, including VAERS, can be improved.

New study shows early motherhood carries wage penalty, while delaying pays off

Rice University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A woman’s early career pregnancy decision may shape her financial future for decades, according to new research. The findings come at a time when reproductive rights and access are shifting nationwide, raising new questions about how policy changes intersect with women’s careers, economic mobility and workforce participation. Rice University researcher Eden King said the idea for the project emerged after reading language in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling asserting that access to reproductive autonomy has no effect on women’s economic standing.

Journal: Journal of Applied Science

Most peer reviewers now use AI, and publishing policy must keep pace

Frontiers
Reports and Proceedings

A new whitepaper from Frontiers shows that AI has rapidly become part of everyday peer review, with 53% of reviewers now using AI tools. The findings in Unlocking AI’s untapped potential: responsible innovation in research and publishing point to a pivotal moment for research publishing. Adoption is accelerating and the opportunity now is to translate this momentum into stronger, more transparent, and more equitable research practices as demonstrated in Frontiers’ policy outlines.

John Holdren awarded 2026 AIP Karl Compton Medal

American Institute of Physics
Grant and Award Announcement

AIP’s 2026 Karl Taylor Compton Medal for leadership in physics is being awarded to Professor John Holdren of Harvard University and former Chief Science & Technology Advisor to President Obama. Named after prominent physicist Karl Taylor Compton, the medal is presented by AIP every two years to a highly a distinguished physicist who has made outstanding contributions to physics through exceptional statesmanship in science. Holdren was chosen by the selection committee “for his scientific leadership in engaging the public and promoting sound governmental policies and key international agreements.”

Project explores barriers to NHS career progression facing international medical graduates

University of Plymouth
Grant and Award Announcement

A three-year project, led by the University of Plymouth and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is exploring why some international medical graduates see their careers blossom once they start working in the NHS while others do not. The ‘SUP IMG’ project started this summer, building on research carried out for the General Medical Council which found that less than 5% of graduates who complete their training overseas join specialist or GP registers on arrival, and few – 11.6% within five years and 27.2% within 10 years – go on to become consultants or GPs. By contrast, around 75% of UK graduates become consultants or GPs over the same timeframe.

Funder: National Institute for Health Research