A new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research has found that the most effective way to prevent fraudulent activity in health research is to implement a combination of automated and manual actions during the prescreening, screening, and enrollment process. The study provides a manual checklist of precautions that researchers can utilize to identify suspicious behavior and thwart fraudulent actors from successfully enrolling in online studies. 

About The Study: The expanding use of unregulated psilocybin mushrooms, combined with high variability in composition and common co-use with other substances, raises urgent public health concerns. Existing clinical data are insufficient to guide harm reduction or policy. There is a pressing need to pivot from controlled efficacy trials to real-world research on psilocybin use, including public education, potency testing, and age-specific risk assessment. 

A new study reveals that school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile were associated with a sharp decline in reports of violence against children—highlighting the critical role schools play in child protection.

A new Hebrew University study reveals that while Israel could technically sustain itself through local vegetative food production, the economic price would be staggering. The model shows that complete self-sufficiency would demand massive farming subsidies and major shifts in agricultural output, making it an impractical goal. Instead, the researchers argue, a balanced approach, combining agricultural innovation, diversified import sources, and strategic food storage, offers the most sustainable path to national food security.

A Michigan State University–led study explored whether artificial intelligence can detect human deception. Researchers found that while AI can interpret context, it often misjudges honesty and performs worse than humans. The findings suggest AI is not yet reliable for identifying lies, underscoring the complexity of human communication and trust.