Extensive controls imposed early in China’s coronavirus outbreak may have prevented hundreds of thousands of infections, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed the movements of people out of Wuhan (where the virus was first detected), the types and timing of controls across China, and COVID-19 cases reported each day in every city. The conclusion: Controls…  read on >

You’ve been told over and over not to touch your face during the coronavirus pandemic, but that’s easier said than done. Most people touch their face up to 23 times an hour and don’t even realize they’re doing it, a psychologist says. “Typically, we’ll do something like shaking someone’s hand and then failing to wash…  read on >

Type 1 diabetes is a challenging, time-intensive disease that often strikes children, and new research suggests that strong family support helps improve the well-being of young adults with the condition. The study found that young adults (under 30) with type 1 diabetes were more likely to be “flourishing” if they had good family connections. Flourishing…  read on >

One side effect of the coronavirus pandemic could be long-lasting: U.S. school closures may worsen the child obesity crisis, experts warn. Previous research has shown that kids tend to gain weight when they’re out of school during the summer — especially Hispanic and black youngsters and children who are already overweight. “There could be long-term…  read on >

U.S. pathology labs are now awash in COVID-19 tests, with more than two dozen rapid tests on the market thanks to expedited approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, infectious disease experts say. Despite this, laboratories are still struggling with shortages that hamper their ability to get ahead of the ever-expanding pandemic. “Early in…  read on >

What’s the best material for a do-it-yourself face mask? Yang Wang, an assistant professor of environmental engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has some suggestions based on initial testing. He investigated how a few common household materials — such as pillowcases, scarves and furnace filters — filtered out aerosols. The new coronavirus may…  read on >

If more women were hired for trucking jobs, the roads would be a lot safer, British researchers suggest. That’s because men, who hold most driving jobs, are more likely to drive dangerously. This puts other road users at risk, said lead researcher Rachel Aldred. She’s a reader in transport at the University of Westminster in…  read on >