A new Dartmouth study maps the interplay of personal choice and social networks that can lead to a phenomenon they call "overarming," where the collective cost of firearm ownership outweighs the individual benefits of possessing a gun. The team developed a model based in evolutionary game theory to characterize how social factors drive individuals' choices to buy a firearm, how these choices influence others' choices, and whether the choices made by all members of society leads to overarming. 

A study of wetlands conservation policy in Florida and California suggests a way to reduce flood damage while retaining economic gains from development. The study recommends both an offset policy and a locally varying tax on development to compensate for increased flood risk. 

Researchers from the University of Missouri found that “puffery” — subjective marketing language such as “charming” or “cozy” — actually influences consumer decisions more than courts have traditionally assumed.

Using over 219,000 Airbnb listings, the study isolated how wording changes affect bookings. It showed that adding positive, subjective descriptors increased booking rates by about 0.2%, similar to adding factual details. This demonstrates that people do respond to puffery, even when it comes from unknown sellers. Importantly, the study found no evidence that these descriptions lead to buyer regret, based on customer reviews.

By using AI to analyze large amounts of text, the research also highlights how modern tools can better measure the real-world impact of language in marketing. Overall, the study challenges the long-held belief that puffery is meaningless, showing it can subtly but meaningfully boost demand.

Incorporating more plant-based proteins could help people save on their grocery bill, but new research has found that it's not so simple when it comes to choices at the supermarket.

Simon Fraser University researchers peeked into more than 87,000 grocery carts in Canada and Finland to study how much price influenced the type of protein people bought: animal-based or plant-based. Researchers discovered that while the price had to be right, having a variety of options also played a role. 

Carnegie Mellon University Africa announced today that the African Engineering and Technology Network has signed its tenth university partner, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. The network, launched in 2022, provides a vehicle for technology-focused universities in Africa to engage in deep collaboration to drive digital growth, create technology development, build pathways to opportunities for youth, and shape policy change.

Europe’s food system is under growing strain from climate change, environmental pressures, and rising levels of diet-related disease. Although the EU has set ambitious goals for a greener, healthier, and more competitive and resilient agrifood system, progress remains slow. A new perspective published in Nature Food examines this gap between ambition and reality and identifies the structural barriers holding transformations back.

The study is the first output of a new European research alliance, bringing together researchers from, among others, Aarhus University in Denmark, Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands and the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). Drawing on contributions from 34 researchers, it takes a system-wide perspective on the agrifood system, from production to consumption.

The researchers argue that the challenge is not only a lack of knowledge or willingness to change. Many actors across the food system, like farmers, policymakers, and consumers support reform. However, they operate within “lock-ins”: self-reinforcing systems of incentives, regulations, market structures, and habits that sustain the status quo.

Five key lock-ins are highlighted. First, fragmented policymaking leads to conflicting objectives across agriculture, health, environment, and trade. Second, dietary habits are difficult to shift, as cultural norms, prices, and availability often favor less sustainable food choices. Third, market structures emphasize efficiency, scale, and low costs, discouraging long-term investments in sustainability. Fourth, environmental costs such as emissions and biodiversity loss are not reflected in food prices, limiting the competitiveness of sustainable alternatives. Finally, increasing instability from climate change to geopolitical shocks exposes the fragility of a system optimized for efficiency rather than resilience.

Importantly, the authors propose five guiding principles for change in the agrifood system: prioritizing access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food; ensuring inclusive and engaging transformation processes; provide governance to strengthen transparency and accountability; leveraging Europe’s diversity in agrifood systems; and shifting mindsets towards prioritizing common goods.

The researchers emphasize that transformation will require more than technological solutions. Coordinated policy action, new incentives, and strong leadership are essential to unlock systemic change and move Europe’s food system forward.