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Policy & Ethics

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

New drug approval pathway benefits industry over patients, argues expert

BMJ Group
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new UK drug approval pathway, designed to speed up the availability of new medicines, benefits industry over patients and the NHS, argues an expert in The BMJ today.

Journal: The BMJ

Bigger and wetter storms mean drier conditions over time

Dartmouth College
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study is the first to show that annual rainfall packed into bigger, wetter storms means less water for ecosystems and aquifers, even if total precipitation increases. The researchers report that annual rainfall for much of the world has condensed into heavier storms with longer dry periods since 1980. They project more consolidation due to climate change, with an increase of just 2 degrees Celsius bringing abnormally dry conditions to more than a quarter of the global population, even with more rainfall.

Journal: Nature

BU medical students receive awards at Massachusetts Medical Society Research Poster Symposium

Boston University School of Medicine
Grant and Award Announcement

Ten medical students from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine were recognized recently by the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) at its 17th Annual Research Poster Symposium, which was held in conjunction with its signature education event, Future Health: Best Practices for Advancing Care.

This year, symposium participants competed in four different categories: clinical research, basic research, clinical vignettes, and health policy/medical education. Eight posters were accepted in these categories out of a field of more than 120 abstract entries. Three winners were selected in each category, and several honorable mentions were awarded.

Many Americans pessimistic about AI’s impact – and want more regulation

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

A new APPC survey reveals broad pessimism about AI and a bipartisan belief that the government has done too little to regulate it.

Does agriculture and climate affect feeding activities of soil animals?

University of Göttingen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Soils are home to some of the most diverse animal communities on Earth. These animals – including nematodes, springtails, mites, earthworms, spiders and other arthropods – drive decomposition, regulate microbial communities and contribute to nutrient cycling. However, little is known about how these animals’ “trophic diversity” – meaning the variety of feeding activities – is affected by land use and climate. An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has now shown that soil animal communities have greater trophic diversity in agricultural ecosystems and in tropical regions. The study analysed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios from over 17,000 soil samples, covering 28 major groups of organisms from 456 sites across 19 countries. The results were published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Journal: Nature Ecology & Evolution

Annenberg health and science survey wins AAPOR’s Policy Impact Award

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Grant and Award Announcement

The American Association for Public Opinion Research presented the Annenberg Public Policy Center this month with the 2026 Policy Impact Award for the Annenberg Science and Public Health survey.

FDA approves early warning system for sepsis

Johns Hopkins University
Business Announcement

An early warning system for sepsis, one of the deadliest infections for hospital patients, has been approved for use by the FDA, one of the first AI-based medical tools to get clearance.

The tool, developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers and now commercialized by Bayesian Health, detects sepsis hours faster than doctors and has reduced deaths by nearly 20%.

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