EurekAlert! News by Subject: Policy & Ethics

Policy & Ethics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 26-Apr-2026 01:16 ET (26-Apr-2026 05:16 GMT/UTC)

28-Oct-2025

Noise-driven enhancement: deep reinforcement learning for autonomous UAV navigation

The exploration-exploitation dilemma is a long-standing topic in deep reinforcement learning. In recent research, a noise-driven enhancement for exploration algorithm has proposed for UAV autonomous navigation. This algorithm introduces a differentiated exploration noise control strategy based on the global navigation training hit rate and the specific situations encountered by the UAV in each episode. Furthermore, it designs a noise dual experience replay buffer to amplify the distinct effects of noisy and deterministic experiences. This approach reduces the computational cost associated with excessive exploration and mitigates the problem of the navigation policy converging to a local optimum.

Journal: Chinese Journal of Aeronautics

28-Oct-2025

Dementia: New model of home care proves effective in practice

DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Specially qualified nurses with extended roles – known as Dementia Care Managers – can measurably improve the care of people with dementia living at home. This is the finding of a study conducted by DZNE in collaboration with partners from the medical and healthcare sectors. More than 400 people with mild to moderate dementia participated in this research. Care provided by Dementia Care Managers reduced unmet needs more effectively than standard care and improved the quality of life of the affected individuals.

Journal: Alzheimer’s & Dementia

28-Oct-2025

‘Derailment’ warning as world faces threats to its ability to act on climate change

University of Exeter
Reports and Proceedings

The worsening consequences of the climate crisis could fatally “derail” climate action, researchers have warned.

28-Oct-2025

Exposing security loopholes in modern contactless payments

University of Surrey
Reports and Proceedings

Convenience features built into contactless payment systems are quietly undermining their security, as a study led by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, exposes hidden weaknesses that allowed researchers to perform unauthorised high-value transactions with some of the most modern contactless payment devices.

27-Oct-2025

Health data for 57 million people in England show changing patterns of heart diseases before, during and after the pandemic

Health Data Research UK
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A comprehensive study of electronic health records for 57 million people living in England has revealed the evolving burden of cardiovascular diseases before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study was led by scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh, UCL, and Cambridge with technical and data support from the BHF Data Science Centre at Health Data Research UK. The insights gained into the patterns of multiple heart diseases reveal important health inequalities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic that can be targeted to improve cardiovascular health.

Journal: The Lancet Public Health
Funder: Health Data Research UK

26-Oct-2025

National emergency wakeup call as SEND support system crisis worsens – latest analysis shows

Lancaster University
Reports and Proceedings

‘Addressing the SEND crisis update: Implementing what works in a worsening crisis’, produced by the N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North in partnership with Baroness Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives, provides an updated and shocking picture from the last 12 months.