Twitter has been an invaluable social media platform for scientists to share research and host discourse among academics and the public. The change of ownership at Twitter has changed how scientists interact with the platform and has led some to worry about its future. This article discusses the current changes at Twitter and what implications these may have for future health research and communication.

Digital technologies have garnered more attention in this epoch of public health emergencies like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and monkeypox (mpox). Digital twin (DT) is the virtual cybernetic equivalent of a physical object (e.g., a device, a human, a community) used to better understand the complexity of the latter and predict, prevent, monitor, and optimize real-world outcomes. The possible use cases of DT systems in public health ranging from mass vaccination planning to understanding disease transmission patterns have been discussed. Despite potential applications in healthcare, several economic, social, and ethical challenges might hinder the universal implementation of DT. Nevertheless, devising appropriate policies, reinforcing good governance, and launching multinational collaborative efforts ascertain early espousal of DT technology.

X (formerly Twitter), a microblogging social media platform, is being used by scientists and researchers to disseminate their research findings and promote the visibility of their work to the public. Tweets can be posted with text messages, images, hyperlinks, or a combination of these features. Importantly, for the majority of users, the text must be limited to 280 characters. In this perspective, this study aimed to observe if adding an image is able to increase outreach for scientific communication on X. Therefore, the characteristics of tweets posted with the hashtag #SciComm (short for science communication) for a period of one year (28 May 2020 to 28 May 2021) were analyzed with the X analytics tool Symplur Signals. The conducted analysis revealed that when a science communication (#SciComm-containing) tweet is accompanied by an image added by the user, there is on average a 529% increase in the number of retweets, and adding a hyperlink is similarly effective in increasing the number of retweets. However, combining both an image and hyperlink in the same tweet did not yield an additive effect. Hence, for increased visibility, researchers may consider adding images or hyperlinks (e.g., to research publications or popular science articles) while communicating science to the public on X.

As part of the Advancing Science, Practice, Programming, and Policy in Research Translation for Children’s Environmental Health (ASP³IRE) center, machine learning, geographic information systems (GIS), and natural language processing to analyze more than 650 million posts related to children’s environmental health are being used. Using preliminary analyses as examples, this commentary discusses the potential opportunities, benefits, challenges, and limitations of children’s health social media analytics. Social media contains large volumes of contextually rich data that describe children’s health risks and needs, characteristics of homes and childcare locations important to environmental exposures, and parent and childcare provider perceptions, awareness of, and misconceptions about children’s environmental health. Twenty five million unique conversations mentioning children, with likes, views, and replies from more than 33 million X (formerly Twitter) users were identified. Many of these posts can be linked to traditional environmental and health data. However, social media analytics have several challenges and limitations. Challenges include a need for interdisciplinary collaborations, selectivity and sensitivity of analytical methods, the dynamic, evolving communication methods and platform preferences of social media users, and operational policies. Limitations include data availability, generalizability, and self-report bias. Social media analytics has significant potential to contribute to children’s environmental health research and translation.

The aim of this contribution is to analyze and discuss the perturbations of body-onboard medical devices caused by electromagnetic field radiations. This involves their control via electromagnetic compatibility analysis and their protection against such perturbations. The wearable, detachable, and embedded devices are first presented and their monitoring, control, forecasting, and stimulating functions are detailed. The interaction of these devices with field exposures comprising their wireless routines is then analyzed. The perturbations control of onboard devices is investigated through the mathematical solution of governing electromagnetic field equations and their appropriate protection strategies are deliberated. The involved investigations and analyses in the contribution are supported by a literature review.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed global connectivity, offering significant support to underserved populations and small businesses in developing nations. The integration of social media into the ICT landscape has further revolutionized communication and information sharing worldwide. However, despite its widespread adoption, the precise impact of social media on biomedical research remains uncertain. This manuscript seeks to examine the multifaceted roles of social media in healthcare, focusing on its applications in patient care, professional networking, education, organizational promotion, and public health programs. Additionally, it investigates social media’s significance in research, particularly its potential for data collection and analysis. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to consolidate existing knowledge on social media’s utilization in healthcare and research. Various platforms, including social networking sites and academic networking sites, were assessed, along with their respective applications and consequences. Social media platforms have become essential tools in healthcare, facilitating professional networking, patient education, organizational promotion, and public health initiatives. In the realm of research, social media provides extensive opportunities for data collection, analysis, and collaboration, although challenges persist regarding privacy, data accuracy, and ethical considerations. The pervasive influence of social media in healthcare and research highlights its potential to enhance communication, engagement, and knowledge dissemination. However, careful adherence to ethical guidelines and privacy concerns is essential to maximize its benefits while minimizing risks. As social media continues to evolve, its role in shaping biomedical research and healthcare practices is anticipated to grow, necessitating ongoing exploration and adaptation by stakeholders.