The 2023 Global Sustainable Development report sets the stage for transformative action in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Can world leaders translate these insights into concrete actions?

Ethics watchdogs are looking out for potentially undisclosed use of generative AI in scientific writing. But there's no foolproof way to catch it all yet.

Germany's federal research minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is calling for sweeping reforms at the Fraunhofer Society, one of Europe's most prestigious applied research organisations, after auditors found "numerous violations" of financial rules, including members of the executive board exceeding spending limits for hotel stays and hiring luxury cars.

Nearly 5 years after a Chinese scientist sparked worldwide outrage by announcing he had helped create genetically edited babies, China has unveiled new rules aimed at preventing a repeat of such ethically problematic research on humans.

A new global organisation is trying to prevent dramatic advances in bioscience from unleashing engineered pathogens from the lab, and wants research funders, scientists and journals to help. The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) warns that scientists might be able to order the DNA of dangerous pathogens like smallpox from unregulated companies, and wants much tighter screening of the industry.

Science, technology and innovation research is not focused on the most pressing problems: taking climate action, addressing complex underlying social issues, tackling hunger and promoting good health and wellbeing.

Climate change is projected to significantly alter the yield and price of wheat in the coming years. Prices for the grain are likely to change unevenly and increase in much of the Global South, enhancing existing inequalities.

The evaluation of the Ethics and Governance of AI Initiative is presented in this report.

A new ethics framework urges researchers to promote greater equity in global collaborations.