Science and Technology

blog

'Israel's 9/11,' Promoting the 988 Hotline, the Future of Space: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on why the Oct. 7 attack wasn't Israel's 9/11, humanity's future approach to space, the pressing need to ensure more people know about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and more.

commentary

What the REF 2021 Impact Case Studies Can Reveal About UK Research

A new study on the Research Excellence Framework 2021 impact case studies demonstrates the rich and varied impacts of UK research, and the extensive contribution of UK institutions and the academic community both nationally and globally.

Cagla Stevenson, Salil Gunashekar, et al.

commentary

Biden Should Call China's Bluff on Responsible AI to Safeguard the 2024 Elections

Few in the Biden administration will be surprised to learn that Beijing is lying about its intentions and activities when it comes to influence operations. But lies, maybe even especially blatant ones, present diplomatic opportunity.

Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga

blog

Supporting Veterans, Israel-Hamas War, AI and Geopolitics: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on supporting America's veterans, what Israel's ground offensive in Gaza can and cannot accomplish, how AI might affect the rise and fall of nations, and more.

commentary

Chinese Strategists Evaluate the Use of 'Kamikaze' Drones in the Russia-Ukraine War

Chinese strategists are watching drone and loitering munition use closely in the Ukraine War, suggesting that they are likely already considering how to refine offensive tactics and improve defensive countermeasures. They are clearly thinking about this question in the context of a Taiwan scenario.

Lyle Goldstein, Nathan Waechter

commentary

Terror and the Secondary Trauma of Social Media

As graphic images from Israel and Gaza proliferate on social media, it is likely that these images are having significant negative impacts on the mental health and well-being of many. Mitigating their impact on global mental health might require making hard choices and doing the work to forge community bonds that prioritize everyone's well-being.

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

commentary

The Black Sea and the Changing Face of Naval Warfare

Uncrewed surface vessel and uncrewed underwater vessel technologies will continue to mature and be employed for an ever-wider range of missions. Today's struggles in the Black Sea may herald a changing face of naval warfare, in which large warships are increasingly vulnerable even to nations that lack substantial navies.

Scott Savitz, William Courtney @courtneywmh

commentary

Nations Must Collaborate on AI and Biotech—or Be Left Behind

As two revolutionary technologies—machine learning and gene editing—converge, forward-looking policy is necessary to both mitigate risks and leverage opportunities.

Sana Zakaria @drsana_zak, Timothy Marler

commentary

Fixing the Problem of Innovation in the Health and Care System

The National Health System has an innovation problem. The problem is not that the system lacks an appetite for innovation; rather, it is that successive efforts to create an enabling environment for innovation have been met with only limited success. But why?

Tom Ling, Robert J. Romanelli

blog

Israel-Hamas War, AI and Gene Editing, Social Media Regulation: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the Israel-Hamas war, the convergence of machine learning and gene editing, regulating social media while protecting free speech, and more.

commentary

AUKUS as Big Science?

AUKUS—the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—framed as a multinational quest for discovery rather than a security pact made sensible by deterrence logics, could be a political boon, both diplomatically and domestically.

Marigold Black

commentary

The Four Questions the U.S. Military Should Be Asking About Operation Swords of Iron

The war in Gaza, much like previous Israeli wars, will likely yield a host of lessons for American military planners. It's not too early to identify the right questions to be asking as the conflict unfolds.

Raphael S. Cohen, Gian Gentile

commentary

Protecting Free Speech Compels Some Form of Social Media Regulation

Given the profound challenges posed by social media, corrective measures need to go beyond “deplatforming” bad apples. But how can the United States make such a structural change without compromising the democratic tradition of free speech?

Luke J. Matthews, Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, et al.

commentary

Isn't It Obvious? Why Making the Case for Big Research Infrastructure Is Important

Large-scale research infrastructure is enormously expensive. Is the real impact and value of major investment in research facilities worth the cost?

Tamara Strabel, Billy Bryan

blog

Risks of AI, Israel Faces Hard Choices, China 'Doesn't Get It': RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the risks of artificial intelligence, tough choices facing the Israeli government, China's blunders on the international stage, and more.