As artificial intelligence and software systems increasingly operate in physical environments — from medical devices and vehicles to public infrastructure — the consequences of failure extend beyond data loss to real-world harm. In this feature, University of Virginia School of Data Science Associate Professor Daniel Graham explains why cybersecurity should be understood as a form of quality assurance and safety, akin to engineering standards used for bridges or power systems. Drawing on his research in secure embedded systems and his work on system evaluation and penetration testing, Graham outlines the need for stronger accountability, oversight, and professional norms to ensure that intelligent systems are not only powerful, but also trustworthy.

When Australia enacted a national law last week banning social media use for children under 16, it became one of the first democracies to attempt such a sweeping intervention. The policy has drawn global attention not only for its implications for young people’s mental health, but also for what it signals about the future of technology governance.

Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping education, prompting many schools to restrict or ban its use. In this interview, University of Virginia School of Data Science lecturer Bryan Christ argues that prohibiting AI in classrooms may do more harm than good by denying students opportunities to learn responsible, ethical use in low-stakes learning environments. Drawing on research and classroom experience, Christ outlines how AI can support learning, accessibility, and creativity when thoughtfully integrated into education and why students should have a voice in shaping AI policies that affect their academic experience.

The war in Ukraine has triggered not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a profound mental health burden among people forced to flee. A study conducted by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University compared the mental health of Ukrainian war refugees with that of Polish residents of Wrocław.

The results, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, show that refugees experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress, particularly anxiety, somatic symptoms, and sleep problems. Nearly three-quarters of refugees met criteria for clinically relevant distress. Younger age, prior psychiatric history, and loneliness were key factors associated with higher stress levels.

Contrary to expectations, refugees did not report greater loneliness than Polish participants. Researchers suggest this may reflect strong family ties, shared migration experiences, and social support in Poland. Refugees often had broader family-based support networks, which helped buffer feelings of isolation, although such ties did not fully protect against depression or post-traumatic stress.

The authors emphasize that effective mental health support for refugees must be comprehensive—combining psychological care, social integration, and accessible services in refugees’ native language. The study highlights Wrocław as an example of community solidarity, while also underscoring the long-term need for systemic mental health support for populations affected by war and forced migration.

Nanophotonics is a research field in which light is freely controlled by nanosized structures even smaller than the wavelengths of light itself. A Kobe University research group developed a nanoparticle made from silicon called a “nano-antenna” and provided this nanomaterial to research institutes both in Japan and overseas, engaging in international joint research projects for the past three years. This research then developed into an international research platform with Kobe University at its core and is expected to be applied to a wide variety of fields, from next-generation optical information communications technology to life sciences. We asked Associate Professor SUGIMOTO Hiroshi of the Graduate School of Engineering, an expert at the forefront of his field, about the results of the past three years and his thoughts on potential future developments.

Many people struggle with sleep. It is a topic deeply related not only to personal health and lifestyle, but also with trends in society as a whole. Associate Professor FURUTANI Maki of the Graduate School of Human Development and Environment conducts research on sleep from the field of psychology while also working to spread her knowledge in schools and throughout the community. She spoke to us about the relationship between sleep and human well-being, i.e., being in good shape physically, emotionally and socially, as well as about the current state of sleep education, which aims to disseminate accurate knowledge on the subject.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is spearheading Tennessee’s AI future through the AI Tennessee initiative. By fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and government, UT advances AI research, education, and workforce development. Programs like AI TechX and CECS integrate cutting-edge technologies into curricula, ensuring ethical innovation and impactful applications statewide.