They once ruled the planet, but even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex could suffer from bone disease, new research shows. Scientists used imaging to examine the lower left jaw of a fossilized T. rex skeleton discovered in Montana in 2010. The skeleton, which is about 68 million years old and one of the most complete skeletons…  read on >  read on >

Americans who are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 should have enough antibody protection to prevent severe illness if they become infected with the new Omicron variant, White House COVID response officials said Tuesday. Omicron has caused concern among medical experts due to a “large number of mutations, around 50, much larger than previous variants,” including…  read on >  read on >

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Tuesday voted narrowly to recommend emergency use of Merck’s new antiviral pill to help prevent severe COVID-19 in high-risk patients. By a 13-10 count, the panelists recommended molnupiravir for use by older COVID-19 patients or those who have medical conditions that make them especially susceptible to…  read on >  read on >

Coffee lovers know a steaming cup of java can quickly deliver energy and mental clarity every morning, but new research suggests it may also guard against Alzheimer’s disease in the long run. “Worldwide, a high proportion of adults drink coffee every day, making it one of the most popular beverages consumed,” said lead researcher Samantha…  read on >  read on >

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said Tuesday that its antibody cocktail, which is used widely to treat COVID-19 patients, may be less effective against the Omicron variant. The company noted that prior analyses suggest that its monoclonal antibody cocktail, and similar drugs, could lose effectiveness against the variant. Further research is ongoing, according to Regeneron, which added there…  read on >  read on >

Besides its terrible impact on mental health, postpartum depression can also bring long-term financial struggles to affected women, new research shows. “These findings highlight the importance of screening and expanding access to mental health support services for low-income pregnant and postpartum women,” said study author Slawa Rokicki, an instructor at Rutgers School of Public Health…  read on >  read on >

A heart condition, myocarditis, has been found in a number of U.S. college athletes who have had COVID-19, a new study finds. Myocarditis has also been linked in some young people to the COVID vaccine. But the odds are far greater that this inflammation of the heart muscle will occur in those who get COVID…  read on >  read on >