Reassuring new research finds that most face masks used by people during the pandemic don’t have high levels of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The chemicals, which have been linked to numerous health harms, are used in many products to repel fluids, but there’s been little research into their presence in face masks.… read on > read on >
If there’s any doubt that America’s teens have suffered mightily during the pandemic, a new government survey offers fresh proof of the pain restrictions from the coronavirus has inflicted on this vulnerable group. Many high schoolers have experienced physical and emotional abuse, poor mental health and chronic sadness and hopelessness as COVID-19 raged across the… read on > read on >
Smoking pot through a bong doesn’t protect the nonsmokers in the room from the dangers of secondhand smoke, a new study warns. Bongs have been touted as a safe way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand marijuana smoke. But it can expose them to extremely high concentrations of fine particulate matter — five to 10 times… read on > read on >
A noninvasive ultrasound technique is capable of quickly pulverizing kidney stones, an early study shows — in what researchers call a first step toward a simpler, anesthesia-free treatment for the painful problem. The study reports on the first 19 patients who’ve had kidney stones treated with the ultrasound “bursts.” So far, it’s been able to… read on > read on >
The Pfizer COVID vaccine significantly reduced U.S. children’s risk of severe illness and hospitalization during the recent Omicron surge, according to a new study. But researchers noted that only 27% of 5- to 11-year-olds in the United States and just 57% of 12- to 17-year-olds had received two vaccine doses as of March 16, and… read on > read on >
More than 10,000 American lives have been saved since lung cancer screening was introduced for high-risk people who are over 55 and have a history of smoking, a new study shows. But many poor people and those in ethnic/racial minority groups are still missing out on the benefits of screening for the world’s leading cause… read on > read on >
Taking a stroll through a city park can give your mood a significant boost, but parks in some cities provide a bigger benefit than those in others, researchers say. In a new study, investigators measured the happiness effect of city parks in the 25 most populous U.S. cities and found that it was roughly equal… read on > read on >
The “love hormone” oxytocin may be able to turn highly territorial lions into social sweethearts, researchers say. Lions typically guard their turf fiercely, which can be a problem when they’re on reserves or in captivity and have less space to share than they do in the wild. The authors of a study published online March… read on > read on >
A handful of “locked-in” amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients can now work a laptop computer using their brain waves, thanks to an implant lodged in a major vein inside their skull. The implant — a stent lined with 16 miniscule electrodes — is nestled in a vein located near the motor cortex of completely paralyzed… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe for kids who have had a rare complication called MIS-C after being infected by the coronavirus, according to a new small study. Some kids get MIS-C — shorthand for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children — four to six weeks after a bout with COVID. Many have few or no… read on > read on >
