No contraceptive is perfect, and scientists continue searching for safer, more effective methods. Now, researchers have found a way to trap sperm in semen’s natural gel state, and they believe their findings could point the way to a new type of birth control. Normally, semen liquefies after ejaculation, which enables sperm to swim through a…  read on >  read on >

Vaccinated people in California will no longer have to wear masks indoors as of Feb. 15, but schoolchildren will still have to wear masks, state health officials announced Monday. However, they said that unvaccinated people will still have to wear masks indoors, and both vaccinated and unvaccinated people will be required to wear masks in…  read on >  read on >

If you’ve already had COVID-19, your natural antibodies may last as long as 20 months, a new study suggests. While this is reassuring, experts are quick to caution that the new findings don’t necessarily mean you’re protected against reinfection, and that vaccines remain an important part of a COVID-19 prevention strategy. “This study tells us…  read on >  read on >

It’s a fate many older women fear: loneliness and isolation as they age. Now, new research suggests those feelings may also predispose them to heart disease. The findings may be especially relevant now because of social distancing required by the pandemic. “We are social beings. In this time of COVID-19, many people are experiencing social…  read on >  read on >

The type of drill your dentist uses just might determine your chances of catching COVID-19 while in the chair. So claims new research that suggests dentists can significantly improve patient safety during the pandemic by switching the type of drill they use. British researchers used a harmless virus similar in size and structure to SARS-CoV-2,…  read on >  read on >

If your baby has a cough, you might immediately think it’s COVID-19, but coughing is a common wintertime symptom, a pediatrician says. Dr. Mona Patel of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles offers some advice on what to do when your baby develops a cough. Congestion and postnasal drip will worsen the cough, especially during naps or…  read on >  read on >

It’s less enchanting than reading tea leaves, but federal health officials announced Friday that they are expanding nationwide efforts to track COVID-19 by monitoring virus levels found in raw sewage. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to add an additional 250 surveillance sites over the next few weeks to a list of…  read on >  read on >