AI is changing the world, but its development comes with serious risks — from biased algorithms to potential existential threats. Who’s deciding how far we go?

🔗: https://undark.org/2024/12/25/for-science-with-risks-key-question-who-decides/

Gain-of-function research modifies organisms to study potential risks and benefits.

While advocates see pandemic preparedness, critics worry about safety and ethics.

https://undark.org/2024/12/23/unleashed-pandemic-pathogen-gof/

#research #biology #publichealth #mircobiology #undark #usa #GlobalHealth #science #pandemic #epidemic #Epidemiology #debate

Biosecurity expert Gerald Epstein discusses how high-risk "gain-of-function" research is regulated and the remaining gaps, especially in privately funded studies.

https://undark.org/2024/12/20/interview-gerald-epstein/

#Biosecurity #PublicHealth #pandemic #biology #microbiology #science #politics #usa #undark #risk

Did you know most college STEM professors aren’t trained to teach?

Universities prioritize research expertise, often leaving students with unprepared instructors.

https://undark.org/2024/12/19/opinion-college-science-teaching/

#STEM #university #opinion #education #highereducation #science #technology #tech #undark #usa #news #future #college

Pyrrhotite in concrete is quietly destroying homes in New England and beyond.

Learn why this mineral is causing foundations to crumble and what’s being done to stop it. ⬇️

https://undark.org/2024/12/18/foundations-crumbling-mineral/

#homeowners #Pyrrhotite #ConcreteCrisis #Homeowners #BuildingSafety #ConstructionMaterials #StructuralIntegrity #FoundationRepair #EnvironmentalGeology #HousingCrisis #MineralScience #PublicPolicy #usa #geology #environment #newengland #massachusetts #connecticut

Canada plans to ban open-net-pen salmon farming by 2029, a move hailed for its environmental benefits.

But removing old gear and cleaning up debris left behind will be a costly, labor-intensive process.

https://undark.org/2024/12/17/destructive-legacy-failed-aquaculture/

#farming #canada #environment #labor #science #undark #fishing #sustainability #salmon #pollution

A California man’s conviction despite DNA evidence pointing to his innocence has reignited debate over forensic algorithms.

Critics question the transparency and reliability of tools used in probabilistic genotyping like TrueAllele.

https://undark.org/2024/12/16/unleashed-data-dragnet/

#criminaljustice #science #DNAsequencing #crime #Algorithms #undark #unitedstates #USPolitics #usa #us #biology #genotyping #dna #california

Global conflicts often feel distant until their effects show up in a clinic.

Dr. Arjun V.K. Sharma reflects on treating patients displaced by war, from TB cases to stories of resilience.

https://undark.org/2024/12/12/opinion-patients-from-conflict-zones/

#opinion #war #medicine #GlobalHealth #ConflictZones #RefugeeCare #HealthcareWorkers #HumanResilience #PublicHealth #MedicalCare #TBPrevention #HIVAwareness #WarImpact #HealthAndHope #DisplacementStories #TorontoClinic #HealthcareHeroes #ImmigrantHealth #undark #canada

Supporters argue that gain-of-function studies are key to preparing for pandemics, but critics warn of their dangers.

Read more here:
https://undark.org/2024/12/11/unleashed-gain-of-function-regulation/

#ScienceDebate #USPolitics #GainOfFunction #ResearchEthics #Biosecurity #PublicHealth #SciencePolicy #PandemicPreparedness #HealthResearch #Vaccines #EthicsInScience #ResearchSafety #Innovation #Bioethics #PublicHealthSafety #ScientificDiscovery #HealthPolicy #VirusResearch #ResponsibleScience #science #politics #undark

New CDC data sparks debate: Is the dip in U.S. obesity rates due to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, or are lifestyle changes playing a more prominent role?

Experts say it’s too soon to tell.

https://undark.org/2024/12/09/weight-loss-drugs-obesity-rate/

#ObesityRates #GLP1 #WeightLossDrugs #PublicHealth #Semaglutide #Wegovy #Ozempic #ObesityResearch #HealthTrends #Nutrition #Exercise #HealthyLiving #Healthcare #ChronicDisease #WeightManagement #MedicalResearch #CDCData #Epidemiology #ObesityCrisis #weightloss #science #undark #medicine