If it seems like your dog knows exactly what you’re saying, that’s because dogs are born ready to communicate with people, according to a new study. The research, published June 3 in the journal Current Biology, suggests that even puppies have a capacity to interact with people without any prior experience or training. However, some…  read on >  read on >

America, get ready for a baby boom. That’s the likelihood anyway, according to a new forecast that suggests a drop in pregnancy and birth rates seen during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic is about to be reversed. “We expect a dramatic rebound soon,” said study lead author Dr. Molly Stout. She is maternal…  read on >  read on >

The cost of COVID-19 hospitalizations averaged nearly $22,000 for older Americans in 2020 — and much more for those who became critically ill, a new government study finds. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the cost of COVID-19 care to the Medicare program, which covers Americans aged 65 and…  read on >  read on >

COVID-19 patients are at increased risk for severe strokes, according to a new study that also found that the overall risk of stroke is higher in younger patients. Researchers analyzed data from 432 COVID-19 patients in 17 countries who suffered strokes and found they were more likely to have large vessel occlusion (LVO) than stroke…  read on >  read on >

In an effort to convince hesitant Americans to get their COVID-19 shots, President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a host of new vaccination perks from a private-sector initiative. “For all the progress we’re making as a country, if you are unvaccinated, you are still at risk of getting seriously ill or dying or spreading disease…  read on >  read on >

COVID-19 lockdowns had at least one welcome upside: a significant drop in crime in cities worldwide, according to an international study. Researchers analyzed crime data from 27 metro areas (including Chicago; London; Sao Paulo; Barcelona, Spain; Tel Aviv, Israel; and Brisbane, Australia) and found big declines in most types of crimes, with the notable exception…  read on >  read on >

Moderna plus Pfizer? J&J plus Moderna? There’s a new clinical trial underway to assess the safety and effectiveness of mixing different types of booster shots in adults who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “Although the vaccines currently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offer strong protection against COVID-19, we need to prepare…  read on >  read on >