In the face of growing global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and threats to democratic values, traditional behavioral policy approaches are increasingly coming into question. The once-dominant nudging approach, which seeks to "nudge" people toward better decisions, has been criticized for, among other things, not sufficiently promoting individual autonomy. In response, boosts are gaining importance. These interventions are designed to enhance individuals' decision-making and self-control skills, as scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development explain in the Annual Review of Psychology—one of psychology’s most cited journals.   

Researchers from University of Tsukuba conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 116 studies to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions for healthy adults and the components of effective interventions. Their findings showed minor intervention effects, suggesting a need to improve the intervention programs. The researchers identified not only possible effective but also inhibitory intervention components.

With lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and state houses getting ready to make major health policy decisions, a pair of new University of Michigan studies shows how past policy decisions have affected older Americans with modest or low incomes. The new findings could also help inform upcoming decisions about health insurance programs that are currently open to people with incomes under about $60,000 per person, and programs aimed at those living in or near poverty.

Nurse home visiting programs have potential to reduce intimate partner violence exposure and increase outcomes for young, first-time mothers and children experiencing disadvantages, a new Children’s Health Policy Centre study from Simon Fraser University finds.

A study of one such program in British Columbia, published in the British Medical Journal Open, showed a 16 per cent increase in annual income ($1,629.74) and fewer mental health problems for mothers by the time their children were age two years. Fewer mothers also reported intimate partner violence exposure.

Goethe University Frankfurt is further expanding its research and teaching on artificial intelligence: On January 1, 2025, Kevin Bauer, who served as junior professor at the University of Mannheim until the end of 2024, took up a professorship for “Game-Theoretic and Causal AI”. Based at the Faculty of Economics and Business’ Department of Information Systems, the professorship is funded by the cross-university Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence hessian.AI.

Largest global study since COVID-19 pandemic shows scientists are trusted around the world