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ScienceHealth
How Much Worse Could This Measles Outbreak Get?
As of this week, there have been 695 cases of measles in the U.S. across more than 20 states this year—the highest annual toll seen since the disease was declared extinguished in the U.S. in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Given that it’s only April and we’ve already broken a … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
No Screen Time for Kids Under 2, WHO Says
The World Health Organization is coming out strong against letting young kids watch TV or play with smartphones, and is pushing parents to help their kids stay active and get enough sleep. This week, the global public health agency released its recommendations on the amount of physical activity and sleep children under the age of five … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
People Born Before 1989 May Need Another Measles Vaccine
The U.S. is in the middle of the worst outbreak of measles since the disease was eradicated from the country in 2000. But while the majority of victims are children whose parents decided not to vaccinate them or people who have chosen to go unvaccinated, even some people who got the measles vaccine as children … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
Scientists Had Volunteers Get High to See How CBD and THC Affect the Brain Differently
Cannabidiol—the ingredient of cannabis that doesn’t make you high, commonly called CBD—might be the angel to THC’s devil, a new study of people’s brains suggests. The research found that 17 people who smoked cannabis with mostly THC had worse brain function in certain regions than those who smoked cannabis with roughly equal levels of THC … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
A Common Preservative in Cheese and Bread Could Negatively Affect Our Metabolism, Study Finds
In recent years, scientists have started cautiously warning about the subtle harms that certain food additives might be causing in people. A new study out Wednesday suggests that the common food preservative propionate could be one of these additives to be worried about. In experiments in both mice and people, it found eating propionate could … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
E-Cigarettes May Be Contaminated With Microbial Toxins, Study Finds
E-cigarette fans at this point might be getting used to bad news about the chemicals found in their products. A new study out Wednesday adds another potential, if still very unclear, risk to the list. It suggests that many e-cigarette cartridges and refilling e-liquids are contaminated with toxins spewed out by bacteria and fungi. Smoke … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
One in Five U.S. Kids Don’t Drink Water—but They Do Drink a Lot of Sugar
That kids (and adults) in America love their sugary drinks is no secret. But a new study out this Monday suggests that sodas and sports drinks are fully replacing water for some kids. It found that one in every five children are not drinking water at all, and that these children end up getting more … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
A Treatment That Uses Mild Shocks to Treat ADHD in Children Now Has the FDA’s Blessing
Families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will now have a new, non-drug treatment available to manage the condition: a medical device attached to the forehead that sends mild shocks to the nervous system. Over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration announced it granted clearance of NeuroSigma’s Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
Blind People Really Do Have More Sensitive Hearing, MRI Study Finds
A new study out Monday suggests that losing your sight early in life can lead to subtle alterations in the brain circuitry primarily responsible for hearing. It’s commonly believed that being born blind or losing your sight early in life can make hearing more sensitive. But while studies have consistently shown that blind people do … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
A Generic Version of Opioid Overdose Antidote Naloxone Just Landed FDA Approval
One of the most important tools for managing the opioid crisis may soon be a lot more available. On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted approval for a generic version of the naloxone nasal spray, a drug used to rapidly reverse potentially fatal opioid overdoses. The new generic is by Teva … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
Even a Little Bit of Exercise Can Keep Your Brain From Shrinking, Study Suggests
Staying fit could help keep your brain from shrinking and aging in your older years, suggests a new study out Friday. It found that middle-aged and elderly Americans who regularly even got an hour of light exercise during their weekly routine had larger brains on average than those who didn’t. One common consequence of aging … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
The Best Personal Trainer Might Be a Dog
Your dog could very well make for a decent fitness coach, according to a new study out Thursday. It found that adults in the UK who owned a dog were fourfold more likely to get the recommended amount of weekly exercise as non-owners. The boost in exercise, however, might not necessarily be as dramatic for … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
Should You, Your Mom, and Your Dog Be Using CBD?
They’re everywhere—in your supermarket, at the chain pharmacy, even in your local pet shop. The latest over-the-counter health fad for cannabidiol (CBD), the main ingredient of cannabis that won’t make you high, has spawned a seemingly infinite stream of new products and dubious health claims. There’s a lot of hype surrounding CBD products, from them … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
News About Tragedies Makes Us Miserable—and Hungry for More, Study Finds
A new study out Wednesday might just reaffirm your worst fears about staying glued to Twitter or cable news during a mass tragedy like the latest school shooting. It suggests that getting exposed to media coverage of these events can create a vicious emotional cycle that not only sends you into despair, but also makes … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
The Scientist Fighting the Dumbest Kind of Bad Science Reporting on Twitter
Late last week, a Twitter account highlighting one of the cardinal sins of bad science journalism popped up online, catching the eye of scientists, reporters, and the public: @justsaysinmice. The elegantly simple account works exactly as advertised, adding the words “IN MICE” to sensationalized news stories that trumpet the latest scientific discoveries—without noting these discoveries … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
A Weight Loss Aid That Makes Your Stomach Full With Less Food Just Cleared the FDA
Overweight and obese people will soon have a new medical option to help them manage their weight. On Monday, the Boston biotech company Gelesis announced they had received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market their novel weight loss aid to the public, a pill-based medical device called Plenity that makes people feel … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
If You Use Cannabis, It Could Take Twice As Much Anesthesia to Sedate You
Like with all drugs we take, there are good and bad effects that come with cannabis. But a new study out Monday suggests that one of these bad side effects could be a strange tolerance to anesthesia. It found that Colorado residents who regularly use cannabis needed up to twice as many powerful sedatives before … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceAnimals
Petting Zoos May Be Chock Full of Superbugs
Those adorably tame goats and other animals you love to touch at your local petting zoo might not be so harmless after all, according to some early research out this weekend. It suggests that many petting zoo animals could harbor and potentially spread dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including two strains of Escherichia coli that cause foodborne … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealth
New CDC Report Shows Autism Is Still on the Rise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new report on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), released Thursday, offers little good news. It estimates that about one in every 59 children nationwide has the complex developmental disorder, a figure that seems unchanged from its previous estimate a year ago. But, for a few reasons, it’s likely that … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceSpace
Final Results of NASA Twins Study Show How Scott Kelly Changed After a Year in Space
Last year, various media outlets fumbled their reporting of genuinely interesting research from NASA, one that hoped to start figuring out what happens to our bodies if we live in space for long periods of time. The study was a meticulous comparison of then 50-year-old astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year aboard the International … Continued
By Ed Cara