INSPIRE is organising its second conference - this time in Brussels, on 16-17 April at Townhall Europe! We invite all policymakers, researchers, equality practitioners and enthusiasts to join us and explore together how we can sustain effective change in research and innovation and address future challenges.

Scientists have used artificial intelligence to dramatically accelerate both the creation of new medicines and the identification of existing drugs for new purposes.

A new IIASA-led study finds that expanding street green space can reduce urban heat stress in cities worldwide, but even ambitious greening efforts are unlikely to offset a significant share of the additional heat expected under climate change. Instead, the research shows that street greenery should be part of a broader portfolio of urban adaptation measures.

Immediate call for global action to shift world towards a “Nature Positive” approach is published today in Frontiers in Science. 

New research out of the University of New Hampshire reveals that the majority of New Hampshire ski industry professionals are concerned about the effects of global warming on the ski industry, which generates close to $278.8 million each season in the Granite State, and believe more should be done. The study released by UNH’s Carsey School of Public Policy shows that this shared unease suggests a readiness to adopt sustainable practices and advocate for industry-wide adaptations. 

A new Northwestern University study has found a reported surge in drug overdose deaths in early 2025 was not real, and the apparent spike was a statistical modeling artifact, not a true reversal in overdose trends. 

The findings directly address speculation that the CDC made data reporting errors or intentionally mischaracterized or concealed public health data due to political pressure or interference, said lead author Lori Ann Post.

Why it matters

Accurate data are essential for public health response. Misinterpreting trends can misdirect policy decisions, undermine public trust and distort resource allocation, Post said. 

Despite this episode, the researchers stress that federal mortality data remain the most reliable near real-time source for tracking overdose death.