EurekAlert! News by Subject: Policy & Ethics - News by Subject: Policy & Ethics

Policy & Ethics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 12-Jul-2025 07:11 ET (12-Jul-2025 11:11 GMT/UTC)

Bacteria found to eat forever chemicals — and even some of their toxic byproducts

University at Buffalo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A University at Buffalo-led team has identified a strain of bacteria that can break down and transform at least three types of PFAS, and, perhaps even more crucially, some of the toxic byproducts of the bond-breaking process.

Journal: Science of The Total Environment
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health

AI judged to be more compassionate than expert crisis responders: Study

University of Toronto
Peer-Reviewed Publication

According to new U of T Scarborough research, artificial intelligence (AI) can create empathetic responses more reliably and consistently than humans, even when compared to professionals whose job relies on empathizing with those in need.

Journal: Communications Psychology

FAU secures $21M Promise Neighborhoods grant for Broward UP underserved communities

Florida Atlantic University
Grant and Award Announcement

South Florida faces significant challenges, including more than 6,000 homeless children in Broward County and issues like absenteeism, mental health struggles, poor nutrition, and limited early learning programs. These factors hinder social mobility and education. To address these issues, FAU received a $21 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Promise Neighborhoods program. The "Broward Unlimited Potential Promise Neighborhood" (Broward UP) initiative aims to provide children with access to quality education and strong community support, ensuring successful transitions to college or careers.

Funder: U.S. Department of Education

A new European excellence grant for the development of upper limb prosthetics

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT
Grant and Award Announcement

The European Research Council (ERC) announced today the allocation of 134 "Proof of Concept" (PoC) grants across Europe to bring outstanding scientific research closer to practical applications. The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) is one the recipient of these grants, worth €150,000, awarded to Antonio Bicchi, a pioneer in soft robotics prosthetics for the creation of the multi-articulated SoftHand. Bicchi is the coordinator of the Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation Lab at IIT in Genoa. This new funding will support the development of a robotic arm prosthesis capable of replicating the features of a human limb, following the biological principles of soft robotics. In the project named “VSoftPro” will also participate the innovative SME qbrobotics, founded in 2012 as an IIT start-up.

Funder: European Research Council

New Oxford report: Carbon capture and storage without taxpayer billions is possible

University of Oxford
Reports and Proceedings

Oxford Net Zero and Carbon Balance researchers reveal the risks of the current UK CCS policy mix and explore how a carbon storage mandate on fossil fuel producers could help the UK meet its climate targets while protecting public finances.

Simon Stellmer receives ERC Proof of Concept Grant

University of Bonn
Grant and Award Announcement

Professor Simon Stellmer from the University of Bonn receives a ‘Proof of Concept Grant’ from the European Research Council (ERC) for his project „GyroRevolutionPlus“. With the funding of €150,000 for up to 18 months, the physicist will continue to prepare his research results from previous ERC projects for commercial application. This is the second time that Professor Stellmer has been successful in this funding program after having received a grant for his previous project ‘GyroRevolution’ in 2023. The precision instruments he and his team are developing can be used to improve natural disaster early warning systems.

NTU Singapore’s TARIPH Centre leads multi-institution research program with first national research grant for lung health

Nanyang Technological University
Grant and Award Announcement

The Academic Respiratory Initiative for Pulmonary Health (TARIPH) Centre, a national research platform led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore’s (NTU Singapore) Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), will lead a multi-institutional research programme after being awarded Singapore’s first national research grant for respiratory health.

Under the $10 million Open Fund-Large Collaborative Grant (OF-LCG) supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF) and administered by the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) through the National Medical Research Council Office, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd, the TARIPH Centre will collaborate with partners to conduct patient-centric translational research on respiratory health.

The NTU-led research programme brings together researchers from nine organisations, which includes all public healthcare clusters, medical schools and public agencies, alongside industry and international partners, to conduct Asian-centric lung health research across five different and integrated themes.