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Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it
Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge.
East Carson Street business owners say South Side is on the rise
Conversations about South Side often revolve around party animals or relentless crime. In reality, the area is much different.
Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour continues across the US this year - News
Beginning in February, the Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour makes its Way to Multiple New and Returning Aquariums in 2026 The aquarium experience inspired by the Animal Crossing™: New Horizons game continues its journey in 2026! Starting Feb. 13, the A…
Tiny doses of THC show big benefits for HIV treatment
A new study suggests that micro-doses of THC could help counter many long-term side effects of HIV treatment without causing intoxication. In animal models, low-dose THC reduced inflammation, improved gut bacteria, boosted serotonin, and lowered harmful cholesterol and bile acids. Surprisingly, it also reduced circulating levels of antiretroviral drugs while maintaining viral suppression, potentially protecting the liver. Scientists say the results point to a promising new approach for managing chronic complications of HIV.
Veronika the cow astounds science with first consistent case of tool use
Raised as a pet in southern Austria, her solution to bothersome horseflies has changed what was known about animal intelligence
Lego’s Education sets are expanding beyond the classroom.
The sets teach STEM concepts like programming, engineering, and now AI. They’re typically only sold to teachers and schools, but Lego’s Education division has created four new sets designed for learning at home. They’re launching today and are themed around space and animals [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education5.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education6.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/lego_education8.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
Why am I a vegan? I do it for my mental health
Vegan restaurants are closing, RFK Jr is sounding the drum for carnivores, and the protein cult is bigger than ever. But eschewing animal products helps me ward off a sense of impotence – and despair, writes Emma Beddington
You Can't Invite Hotel Visitors to Move to Your Island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and We're All Bummed About It
Animal Crossing: New Horizon's big 3.0 update is now live, and with it a bustling hotel where you can decorate rooms and attract villagers from the game's massive roster of over 400 animals for a visit. But sadly, these new friends won't stay forever.
Animal Crossing's 3.0 Update Just Killed Existing Hotel Businesses
Players spent years faking luxury hotels, until the 3.0 update made them real.
Science Quiz: Extinct Animals and Strange Illnesses
Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.
I'm not sure Animal Crossing: New Horizons' busted megaphone and other Switch 2 bits are worth £4.19, but 3.0's a welcome nudge back into Nintendo's lovely world
I cannot begin to tell you how much I was looking forward to hoisting megaphone and bellowing insults at Chops from hal…
Video: Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Side-By-Side Graphics Comparison (Switch 2 & Switch)
Including updates to resolution and load times
Video: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition vs. Switch comparison
A new video comparison has come in for the new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and its Switch original. Probably the biggest here is load time improvements. On Nintendo Switch 2, loading is reduced by about half. Elsewhere, things are mostly the same. Nintendo hasn’t touched up the graphics in any way, and unfortunately, it’s still...
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0.0 Patch Notes - Switch 2 And Switch New Content, Features And More
Here are the full details!
MUMMIES OF THE WORLD: THE EXHIBITION RETURNS TO THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
/PRNewswire/ -- Mummies of the World: The Exhibition brings together over 30 naturally and intentionally preserved human and animal mummies from South America,...
‘Animal Control’ Boss Previews Romance & Rivalries in Season 4
'I actually think this is definitely our best season,' says showrunner Tad Quill.
‘Animal Control’ Boss Previews Romance & Rivalries in Season 4
'I actually think this is definitely our best season,' says showrunner Tad Quill.
Animal Crossing’s big 3.0 update has fans itching to return to the cozy life
A return to the comfortable.
Surprise! Animal Crossing: New Horizons' free 3.0 update for Switch releases early
Good news, Animal Crossing: New Horizons' free 3.0 Switch update for all owners has been released earlier than we thought.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 Is Live Now, A Day Early
While version 3.0 is live now, islanders will have to wait another day for the Switch 2 upgrade to wash to shore.
To Nuke Or Not To Nuke? Animal Crossing Players Prep For New Update
Animal Crossing: New Horizons' first big update in years hits this week Animal Crossing: New Horizons players are debating to restart or not.
11 Things To Do Before Animal Crossing: New Horizons' 3.0 Update
If it's been a while since you've visited your island, get ready for Animal Crossing's big 3.0 update and Switch 2 upgrade with these steps.
Animal Crossing's Next Update Has Players Revisiting Long-Deserted Islands
Forgotten villagers, overgrown paths, and old relationships resurface as fans revisit Animal Crossing islands they left behind.
Zoetis CEO on Animal Health, Vaccines and Beef Prices
Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck says higher protein demand is driving demand for livestock vaccines. She speaks with Katie Greifeld at JPMorgan's annual health-care conference in San Francisco. (Source: Bloomberg)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Everything New In Update 3.0
Here is everything coming in the new update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Nintendo reveals more details about Animal Crossing New Horizons Switch 2
Residents are invited to relax and customise their personal paradise in all-new ways with Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, available Thursday 15th January for Nintendo Switch…
This Week’s Japanese Game Releases: Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, CASSETTE BOY, more
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is the highlight of this week’s Japanese game releases. It is the week’s only retail release.
Is Phibro Animal Health (PAHC) Pricing Reflecting Its Strong Multi Year Share Price Performance?
If you are wondering whether Phibro Animal Health's current share price lines up with its underlying worth, you are not alone. This article is built to help you think that through clearly. The stock recently closed at US$39.44, with returns of 5.7% over the last week, a 1.8% decline over the last month, 5.7% year to date, 99.9% over the last year and 190.7% over three years, alongside a 110.2% return over five years. These price moves sit against a backdrop of ongoing interest in animal...
Essay Highlights Overlooked Welfare Risks for Fish and Aquatic Animals
Researchers evaluate how standard animal welfare guidelines account for the biological needs of fish and other aquatic animals, including access to dissolved oxygen.
Lee County health officials warn of intestinal bacteria in the water at Lynn Hall Memorial Beach
Water-quality testing in Southwest Florida occasionally reports high concentrations of enterococcus bacteria, which are found inside the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, similar to the spike in the bacteria discovered off Fort Myers Beach this week.
Earth's early sponges were soft: Scientists close fossil record gap
Sponges are among Earth's most ancient animals, but exactly when they evolved has long puzzled scientists. Genetic information from living sponges, as well as chemical signals from ancient rocks, suggest ...
Physicians Committee Provides Recommendations on Animal-Free Science to White House Office
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy recently sought input on ways to accelerate the American scientific enterprise.
The poison frog that fooled scientists for decades
Researchers discovered that a poison frog species described decades ago was based on a mix-up involving the wrong museum specimen. The frog tied to the official species name turned out to be brown, not the colorful animal shown in the original photo. After tracing old records and images, scientists corrected the error and reclassified the frog as part of an already-known species. The case underscores how vital museum collections are—and how even small mistakes can ripple through science for years.
Meet The Moonfish, The World's Only Warm-Blooded Fish That’s 5°C Hotter Than Its Environment
"This is a cool innovation by these animals that gives them a competitive edge."
Can animals read? Not in the human way.
Bonobos, dolphins, and other animals can decode complex symbols.
50 mind-blowing science facts about our incredible world
If you're looking for weird facts about animals, gross human body facts or just something a bit random, get ready to geek out with these fascinating bits of trivia.
A natural evolution of cruelty
It’s not always the best-adapted animal that survives. Sometimes, it’s the one that exploits its fellow creatures
Fossilized bones are revealing secrets from a lost world
Researchers have uncovered thousands of preserved metabolic molecules inside fossilized bones millions of years old, offering a surprising new window into prehistoric life. The findings reveal animals’ diets, diseases, and even their surrounding climate, including evidence of warmer, wetter environments. One fossil even showed signs of a parasite still known today. This approach could transform how scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
January 2, 2026
A look back at the biggest science stories of 2025, and a few you may have missed. Plus, over the past year, most of your body has replaced itself cell by cell. What can we learn from other animals’ dramatic feats of regeneration? And, ultramarathoners can run with what seems like superhuman stamina. But are their bodies much different than the rest of ours?
Scientists Find a Never-Before-Seen Animal Living in the Great Salt Lake
Utah biologists have characterized D. woaabi, the first of two nematode species recently discovered in the lake’s microbialites.
There is as much life left to discover on planet Earth as that which is already known
Around 16,000 new species are described each year, but most animals and plants are listed as threatened as soon as they are brought to light
Health officials warn public after coyote injures person in Warwick Township
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is searching for the animal, but officials don't know if it is rabid.
The year in science: From a tiny T. rex to interstellar visitors
Triumphs included advances in transplanting animal organs into people, but the growing measles crisis in the U.S. indicates danger.
Zombie bugs, singing seals and rule-breaking bears: Wild science of 2025
It's that time of year again – and my personal favorite corner of science to look back on – when we recap the many fascinating discoveries in the plant and animal kingdom that made headlines in 2025.
One Health: Can science help prevent pandemics?
Scientists are certain that it’s only a matter of time before the next pandemic strikes. Pathogens jump regularly from animals to humans. But the risks that such zoonoses pose can be reduced.
Brigitte Bardot’s image complicated by her support of the far right
Film star turned animal rights activist was outspoken on immigration and future of France
Brigitte Bardot, icon of French cinema, dies at 91
Brigitte Bardot, whose later years were marked by animal rights campaigns and far-right political sympathies, has died at the age of 91.
Brigitte Bardot, French film icon turned far-right provocateur, dies at 91
Actor reshaped French cinema before retreating from global fame into animal rights activism and far-right politics.
Jay M. Savage, witness to disappearing frogs and builder of tropical science
In the late 1980s, something began to go wrong in places that were supposed to be safe. Protected cloud forests, buffered from chainsaws and bulldozers, started losing animals that had persisted through far rougher times. Amphibians—often abundant, often overlooked—were vanishing in patterns that did not fit the usual explanations. Field biologists, trained to distrust drama, […]
7-year-old donates her business proceeds to Angels for Animals
CANFIELD — Ellie Kaley, a 7-year-old student at West Branch Elementary School, marked her first six months in business by celebrating with a few dozen kittens at Angels For Animals. The Mahoning County-based animal adoption nonprofit is in the midst of a campaign to upgrade its facility. While Ellie didn’t walk away this week with […]
A surprising brain cleanup reduced epileptic seizures and restored memory
A new study suggests temporal lobe epilepsy may be linked to early aging of certain brain cells. When researchers removed these aging cells in mice, seizures dropped, memory improved, and some animals avoided epilepsy altogether. The treatment used drugs already known to science, raising the possibility of quicker translation to people. The results offer new hope for patients who do not respond to existing medications.
All Animals, Plants, And Fungi On Earth Can Be Traced Back To A Common Ancestor: The "Asgardians"
From humans and dinosaurs to starfish and seagrass, we are all Asgardian.
We are living in a golden age of species discovery
The search for life on Earth is speeding up, not slowing down. Scientists are now identifying more than 16,000 new species each year, revealing far more biodiversity than expected across animals, plants, fungi, and beyond. Many species remain undiscovered, especially insects and microbes, and future advances could unlock millions more. Each new find also opens doors to conservation and medical breakthroughs.
This tiny peptide could help stop brain damage after injury
A four–amino acid peptide called CAQK has shown powerful brain-protective effects in animal models of traumatic brain injury. Delivered through a standard IV, it zeroes in on injured brain tissue, calming inflammation and reducing cell death while improving recovery. The peptide worked in both mice and pigs, whose brains are closer to humans in structure. Researchers are now preparing to move toward early human clinical trials.
The Science (and Pseudoscience) of Everyday Life
Everyday life is full of small behaviors we treat as moral choices, scientific truths, or acts of civic virtue—often without much reflection. From abandoned shopping carts to climate guilt over pet ownership, from misplaced faith in statistical “significance” to misunderstandings of animal behavior, these examples reveal how intuition, habit, and oversimplified science shape what we believe.
Nine mental-health tips for a happier 2026
Regardless of any resolutions you may have for 2026, one thing is for sure: Everyone wants to have a happy new year.While losing weight or saving money may be great goals, the most straightforward path to happiness is caring for your mental and emotional health. A robust body of research shows that simple cognitive and behavioral strategies can reliably boost happiness and reduce stress – and they’re generally free and accessible to all.These strategies don’t have to be super time-consuming, but they do require intention: They only work if you do them.Here, psychologist Valentina Ogaryan, PhD, clinical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, shares her top tips for cultivating more calm, centeredness and happiness in the new year (or anytime):Make time for playPlay isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from frivolous. The National Institute for Play says engaging in silliness, fun and just-for-pleasure activities reduces stress and increases optimism and resilience. A recent review also found that play improves mental health.“Adults can benefit from play as much as children,” Dr. Ogaryan says, “not just as a reward, but something that helps regulate.”So go ahead and dance with your dog, build something with Legos, tell a joke, sing karaoke or do anything else that feels like fun. Don’t worry about being productive, just enjoy yourself. And, if you can, opt for more analog play, Dr. Ogaryan suggests, as a respite from our ever-more-digital world. Move your bodyWhether you dance, ski, do yoga, play pickleball, ride a bike, roller-skate, hike or lift weights, physical movement benefits overall happiness and well-being. A 2018 review study of more than 1.2 million adults in the U.S. found that doing any kind of exercise was “significantly and meaningfully associated” with better self-reported mental health.The sweet spot was 45 minutes of movement three to five times a week, but even short bursts of physical activity can boost brain health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“Movement helps support mood and regulate the nervous system,” Dr. Ogaryan says.Plus: exercise can improve sleep quality, and sleep is essential for mental health.Prioritize sleep“Sleep plays a major role in managing stress,” Dr. Ogaryan says. Research shows that lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of various diseases, including depression.While stress can interfere with sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene can make logging ZZ’s easier. That means maintaining a consistent bedtime; keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; and avoiding social media, news and stimulating shows before bed.Consume lessWe live in a consumer culture, inundated by endless streams of content and advertising everywhere we go, which makes it easy to get overstimulated.“Something really helpful for stress reduction is to simply consume less,” Dr. Ogaryan says – less news, less social media, less information, less noise, less screen time. “It’s about reducing the input,” she says.Consider setting a maximum number of news articles per day, for example, or a time limit on scrolling. Maybe even go device free for an afternoon or a whole day.Practice present-moment awarenessWith so much coming at us all the time, focusing on the here and now can make life feel more manageable, Dr. Ogaryan says: “When everything feels super overwhelming, when everything feels larger than life, let’s make our world a little bit smaller for that moment in time.”She suggests taking things one day, or even one hour, at a time. Ask yourself: What’s my next right action? Release the need to know how everything turns out and liberate yourself from having to handle everything right now. Let the future take care of itself and just focus on the current moment. Then the next one. Have a daily anchorFrom work to the daily commute to family and life responsibilities, our days can feel jam-packed. Dr. Ogaryan recommends creating a centering daily anchor that can fit into even the busiest day.Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or mindfully enjoying your coffee in the morning. Let your anchor adapt to your needs each day, she says, but be intentional about using that time to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. You might even say to yourself, “I choose this walk to help me become centered,” or “My day already feels stressful, so I’m going to take the next 10 minutes to enjoy this cup of coffee, feel the warm mug in my hand and just be present.” Having an anchor won’t erase the busy-ness from your day, but it will allow you to approach it more calmly.Be kind to yourselfMost of us have a harsh inner critic in our heads who works overtime. But that critical voice only increases our stress, triggering the same fight-or-flight response as caustic words from another person.To feel happier, we need to replace that inner critic with a kinder, more compassionate voice, Dr. Ogaryan says. Studies show that self-compassion is a source of eudaimonic happiness – the kind of happiness associated with purpose and meaning in life.While our knee-jerk reaction may be to self-criticize – “How could you let it get to this point? You didn’t manage your time well and now the project is going to be late. You’re so inept.” – we fare better mentally by treating ourselves with kindness, like we would a friend. That might sound like, “You’ve got a lot on your plate, but you are capable and you’ll get it done. I believe in you.”We may think that speaking kindly to ourselves means letting ourselves off the hook, so we end up becoming lazy do-nothings. But research shows the opposite: People who are self-compassionate are more likely to try harder in the face of failure and ultimately reach their goals.You can thank your inner critic for its good intentions, but resolve to talk to yourself in a kind, compassionate voice.Connect with othersHumans are social animals built for connection. Stress can be isolating and cause us to withdraw, but connecting with others is a salve for the psyche, Dr. Ogaryan says.“We know that not all relationships are always easy, but if we can think about intentional, nourishing connection – even in really small doses – it could really help center us,” she says.Take a moment to laugh with your colleagues, hug your pet, have a conversation with a friend or smile at the barista making your coffee. A study found that even tiny interactions with casual acquaintances and strangers decreases loneliness and improves happiness and well-being.Seek supportIf you try these practices and happiness remains elusive, or if you can’t access the wherewithal to follow these tips, seek support from your physician or a therapist. Mental health conditions are among the most common health issues in the U.S. and around the world – more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. One in five people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety the most common, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.“We can all think about these tips,” Dr. Ogaryan says. “But it’s important to recognize if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still really struggling, it’s really important to seek help.”
In Pursuit of the Monarch’s Magnetic Sense
The magnetic compass is the last unknown sense in migrating animals. For some scientists, the monarch butterfly is leading the way.
In Pursuit of the Monarch’s Magnetic Sense
The magnetic compass is the last unknown sense in migrating animals. For some scientists, the monarch butterfly is leading the way.
Scientists Extract Metabolic Molecules From Million-Year-Old Fossils for the First Time
Fossils can reveal far more than the shapes of ancient creatures. Molecules preserved inside old animal bones provide clues about past diseases, what those animals ate, and the climates they lived in. For the first time, researchers have examined metabolism-related molecules preserved in fossiliz
Gemini for Home camera updates improve Familiar Face, animal detection, more
The latest Gemini for Home updates are focused on camera improvements for Nest and other compatible devices.
Ministers defend ‘most ambitious animal welfare strategy in generation’ before publication
Conservatives claim government’s plan for higher welfare standards for farmed animals could undermine British agriculture
If not pet, why pet shape? Science says raccoons aren't quite there : Short Wave
Dogs are man’s best friend. And it’s no secret that we at Short Wave love cats (Regina has four)! Both of these iconic pets have been domesticated – evolved and adapted to live alongside humans – for millennia. And a recent study suggests that the common raccoon may be on its first steps towards joining them. So how do scientists look for signs of domestication and what do those signs mean? And could you have a litter box trained raccoon in your lifetime? We talk to the study’s lead author, Raffaela Lesch, to find out.Interested in more animal science stories? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Some ChatGPT Users Say Swapping Out Models Is Like ‘Replacing A Service Animal’
OpenAI wanted GPT-5 to be less warm and agreeable than its predecessor. Some neurodivergent people struggled with the change, showing the tricky balance AI companies must strike when releasing new models.
IACUC Chair Ron Emeson retires from decades-long career devoted to science, students and service
Emeson has been on the Vanderbilt University faculty since 1991 has led the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee since 2008.
Wonders, Whiffs, and Wild Facts: Science for the Incurably Curious
Learn the science behind sweat, body odor, scalp hair, cold plunges, and even drunken animals in this collection of Just Curious stories.
A Psychologist Shares A Science-Inspired Spirit Animal Test To Reveal Your Core Personality
Here's a spirit animal test that might actually reveal something true about your identity. Answer eight simple questions to get your results.
When the Bones Were Good, These Bees Buried Their Babies
A cave in the Dominican Republic concealed thousands of years worth of animal bones that had been turned into nests by prehistoric bees.
Aristotle’s Politics has wisdoms and warnings for our age of tech utopias and inequality
Are we all political animals? Aristotle thought so. Politics, he believed, was the art of the possible, but extremes of wealth could harm democracies.
Veterinarian and Animal Science Graduate James F. Dougherty Named to Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni
The Class of 2026 inductees into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni have excelled in a varied range of fields—obstetrics and gynecology, addiction prevention and treatment, veterinary medicine, football and entrepreneurship, and government and insurance industry leadership—but they all share a uniquely Scarlet bond: A significant, unwavering devotion to supporting the university where they began […]
I’ve been waiting years for Animal Crossing’s best new features
Update 3.0 is for the decorators.
How the Pandemic Lockdowns Changed a Songbird’s Beak
For ecologists, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented a remarkable natural experiment in what can happen to wild animals when humans stay home.
Penn State animal science major earns rare All-American Livestock Judging honor
Megan Zipprich, an animal science major in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was among the 10 recipients of the All-American Livestock Judging Award during the National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest, held in November in Louisville, Kentucky.
Trattles named 2025 Michigan 4-H Animal Science Adult Sportsperson of the Year - 4-H Animal Science
St. Joseph County 4-H leader Steve Trattles wins prestigious sportsmanship award for his leadership in 4-H animal science projects.
Researchers turned a hamster into a hybrid creature that feeds on light—half animal, half plant - Futura-Sciences
A team from the University of Tokyo has achieved a breakthrough that sounds straight out of science fiction: they’ve created living cells that are part hamster, part plant — and capable of performing photosynthesis. Imagine ... Read more
Is This Entertainment, America?
2-year-old Sizzling Hottie, said the chart for Evangeline Friday, "fell leaving the gate" and was eventually ambulanced off. Here is how that looked...
Using your superpower: Language and International Business alumna shares her journey from humanities student to business owner
Michelle Wiltse graduated from Clemson in 2018 with degrees in Language and International Business and Economics. Today she owns her own animal wellness company: CompanAIn. Michelle Wiltse graduated from Clemson in 2018 with degrees in Language and International Business and Economics. Today she owns her own animal wellness company: CompanAIn.
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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