When hurricanes, floods and fires hit, everyone can struggle to respond and cope, but new research suggests that women, people with kids under 18, renters, the poor, and Black and Asian Americans are the most vulnerable to weather disasters. These groups need special help before disasters occur to make sure they’re equipped to act, said…  read on >  read on >

American society may seem more fractured than ever, but cooperation among total strangers has been on the upswing for decades, researchers in China say. Their conclusion emerged from an analysis of more than 500 studies that tracked cooperation patterns over the past six decades. The upshot, study author Yu Kou said, is that Americans appear…  read on >  read on >

The thickness of a person’s blood can be a matter of life or death if they contract COVID-19, a new study suggests. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have higher blood viscosity are at greater risk of dying from COVID-related complications, the researchers found. “This study demonstrates the importance of checking for blood viscosity in COVID-19…  read on >  read on >

Medical schools are doing a better job of recruiting minority students, but they still struggle to keep those would-be doctors on the roster. That’s the conclusion of a new study that found minorities were more likely to leave medical school than their white peers. And that can mean fewer doctors for under-served communities, the researchers…  read on >  read on >

Medical and recreational marijuana use has surged across the United States as more states legalize the drug, but young female athletes may want to think twice before taking a toke. A new study from the University of Northern Colorado connects regular cannabis use in fit young women to decreased anaerobic power, a component of physical…  read on >  read on >

Adults who tear a key ligament in the knee can fare well with a less extensive type of surgery, preliminary research suggests. The study involved patients treated for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a strong band of tissue that helps stabilize the knee joint. ACL tears commonly happen during sports that involve jumping or…  read on >  read on >