Children who spent more time in nature during pandemic lockdowns suffered fewer behavioral and emotional problems, British researchers say. The investigators also found that children in wealthier families tended to increase their connection to nature during the pandemic more than those from poorer families. The new study included 376 families in the United Kingdom who…  read on >  read on >

Adult staff in schools are more likely than students to suffer sudden cardiac arrest, but automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are often used and improve the chances of survival, a new study finds. AEDs are portable devices that deliver an electric shock to try and restart the heart. If appropriate action isn’t taken immediately, cardiac arrest…  read on >  read on >

Despite hints of promise from early research, a new clinical trial finds no evidence that kids with autism benefit from nasal sprays containing the “love” hormone oxytocin. Researchers called the findings disappointing. But they said the study also offers important information: Some parents of children with autism are already using oxytocin nasal sprays in the…  read on >  read on >

It could be a bad flu season this year — and for a couple of years to come — in places in the United States where COVID-19 restrictions like social distancing and masking have been lifted, researchers warn. These sorts of measures caused flu cases to decline by more than 60% within the first 10…  read on >  read on >

Doctors who discuss COVID-19 in the media frequently face abuse and harassment, including threats of death or violence, a new report reveals. More than two-thirds of experts surveyed have experienced trolling or personal attacks after speaking about COVID-19 in media interviews, a worldwide survey of more than 300 scientists found. Further, a quarter said such…  read on >  read on >

Long-term symptoms of coronavirus infection, known as ‘long COVID,’ affects more than half of COVID-19 survivors, and health care systems should be prepared to treat them, researchers say. So far, 236 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and many have had lingering physical and mental health problems for six months or longer. “The…  read on >  read on >

When you’re putting on a brave face to mask disappointment or shedding tears of joy, kids with autism are likely to misunderstand how you’re really feeling. That’s because they don’t use context to identify underlying emotions, according to a new study investigating whether kids with autism are able to tell when one emotion is concealing…  read on >  read on >