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Policy & Ethics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Apr-2026 23:15 ET (19-Apr-2026 03:15 GMT/UTC)

E-cigarette taxes reduce vaping without increasing adult smoking, new study finds

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Key highlights:

A central debate in tobacco policy is whether taxing e-cigarettes might unintentionally drive vapers back to traditional cigarettes, which are linked to increased risk for many cancers, heart/blood vessel and lung diseases.

A new study found that higher (pre-tax) base prices and higher taxes both reduced e-cigarette use, measured by product units purchased and the amount of nicotine consumed.

The study did not find statistically significant evidence that raising e-cigarette prices led to greater cigarette consumption among the general adult e-cigarette-using sample.

Tobacco researchers say that given the complex e-cigarette marketplace with different product types, a one-size-fits-all tax may not be sufficient. Policymakers could consider tiered tax designs to achieve specific public health goals.

Journal: Health Economics

Ecological Society of America announces 2026 Fellows

Ecological Society of America
Grant and Award Announcement

The Ecological Society of America is pleased to announce is 2026 Fellows. ESA's fellowship program recognizes the many ways in which its members contribute to ecological research, communication, education, management and policy.

AMS science preview: AI forecast limits, unpredictable hurricanes, simplified heat index

American Meteorological Society
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research published in journals of the American Meteorological Society suggests that hurricane trends may become less predictable, discusses the limits of machine-learning weather forecasts, outlines a new process for calculating heat index, and more.

Journal: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

Professor co-edits book designed to address special education workforce crisis

University of Kansas
Book Announcement

The special education workforce has faced a crisis of attracting and retaining qualified educators in recent years. A new volume takes an approach linking recruitment, education, support and leadership to produce and keep quality teachers. The book calls for a whole systems approach, not the temporary fixes that have been widely attempted in recent years to ensure quality education for some of the nation's most vulnerable student populations.

African swine fever is quietly spreading across Nepal's pig sector

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

African swine fever (ASF) has emerged as a major threat to Nepal’s pig farming sector since its first outbreak in March 2022. The disease has caused significant declines in both the pig population and pork production, severely affecting rural communities reliant on pig farming for their livelihoods. ASF’s spread is facilitated by key risk factors, including swill feeding, informal cross-border trade, and poor on-farm biosecurity measures. Additionally, seasonal trends, particularly during the monsoon, exacerbate the spread of the disease, especially in areas with high pig density. Control efforts face numerous challenges, including limited veterinary infrastructure, inadequate surveillance systems, gaps in legislation, and a lack of awareness among farmers about biosecurity practices. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of ASF’s epidemiology in Nepal, exploring the disease’s socio-economic impact and identifying key control challenges. The paper provides targeted recommendations to improve veterinary services, strengthen surveillance systems, enforce biosecurity measures, and enhance cross-border cooperation. It also emphasizes the importance of fostering community engagement and developing effective policy frameworks to ensure long-term ASF prevention and control, ensuring a more resilient pig farming sector in Nepal.

Journal: Science in One Health

New method can reduce risk of violating Sámi rights

Stockholm Environment Institute
Reports and Proceedings

A new method developed by researchers at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) can help identify and reduce the risk of rights violations linked to industrial projects on the traditional lands of Sámi reindeer herding communities. Based on a case study of LKAB's planned mining project Per Geijer, the method highlights significant risks to human rights.

Funder: Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, NordForsk, Mistra

HKU School of Public Health Professor Sophia Chan awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing

The University of Hong Kong
Grant and Award Announcement

Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Director of the HKU Primary Health Care Academy (PHCA) under the School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to nursing science, the nursing profession, public health, and health policy.

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