The EU’s ominous emphasis on ‘open strategic autonomy’ in research

The EU’s ominous emphasis on ‘open strategic autonomy’ in research

South Korean science minister Lee Jong-ho and European commissioner for research Iliana Ivanova celebrate South Korea joining Horizon Europe in March. Viewing research through a security lens makes it harder for other non-EU countries to follow.Credit: HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Last month, the European Commission published a ‘course correction’ for its Horizon Europe research fund, which is worth … Read more

Research assessments are still not fit for purpose — here’s how to change things

Research assessments are still not fit for purpose — here’s how to change things

Last September, while completing a grant application, I faltered at a section labelled ‘summary of progress’. This section, written in a narrative style, was meant to tell reviewers about who I was and why I should be funded. Among other things, it needed to outline any family leave I’d taken; to spell out why my … Read more

Long COVID still has no cure — so these patients are turning to research

Long COVID still has no cure — so these patients are turning to research

When Lisa McCorkell got COVID-19 in March 2020, her symptoms were mild. Her physicians told her to isolate from others and that she would recover in a few weeks. But the weeks stretched into months and McCorkell, who was working on a master’s degree in public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, started having … Read more

how harsh visa-application policies are hobbling global research

how harsh visa-application policies are hobbling global research

In February, I was meant to speak at the European Conference of Tropical Ecology in Lisbon, providing evidence of extinction risks to some frog species used as bushmeat in West Africa, and highlighting the need for policies that regulate hunting pressures. In January, I duly applied at the Dutch embassy in Accra for a business … Read more

Is AI ready to mass-produce lay summaries of research articles?

Is AI ready to mass-produce lay summaries of research articles?

Generative AI might be a powerful tool in making research more accessible for scientists and the broader public alike.Credit: Getty Thinking back to the early days of her PhD programme, Esther Osarfo-Mensah recalls struggling to keep up with the literature. “Sometimes, the wording or the way the information is presented actually makes it quite a … Read more

why I’m fighting racial inequality in prostate-cancer research

why I’m fighting racial inequality in prostate-cancer research

One in four Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.Credit: Getty Olugbenga Samuel Oyeniyi’s research at the University of Sunderland, UK, explores why many Black men do not seek help for symptoms of prostate cancer and uses Black peer educators to change mindsets in the community. March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the … Read more

A spotlight on the stark imbalances of global health research

A spotlight on the stark imbalances of global health research

Credit: Taj Francis Last year, the Nature Index was broadened to include author affiliations from articles in more than 60 medical journals. The expansion, which covers all major disciplines and specialities in clinical medicine and surgery, offers new insights into global publishing trends in the health sciences. This is the first supplement to explore some … Read more

Numbers highlight US dominance in clinical research

Numbers highlight US dominance in clinical research

As the leading country in health-sciences output in the Nature Index, the United States’ Share is almost 8,500, higher than the next 10 leading countries combined. As a result, US institutions feature prominently among the leading research organizations for the subject, with 30 of the top 50 being based there. The country’s dominance means that … Read more

Four change-makers seek impact in medical research

Four change-makers seek impact in medical research

SIRI ELDEVIK HÅBERG: Lines of enquiry Siri Eldevik Håberg studies whether environmental factors such as smoking are linked to subtle changes to the human genome.Credit: Fredrik Naumann/Panos Pictures for Nature As a medical student, Siri Eldevik Håberg became fascinated with how the health of a baby can be affected during pregnancy. Smoking, for example, is … Read more

Apple to Expand Research and Development Facilities in China

Apple to Expand Research and Development Facilities in China

Apple is planning to expand its applied research and development labs in China, the company today announced. In a statement shared with the South China Morning Post, Apple said that it plans to expand its research center in Shanghai “to support all of its product lines,” as well as open a new lab in Shenzhen … Read more