Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

Teen depression linked to how the brain processes rewards

Depression in teens alters their brains’ pathways in ways that may put those kids at risk of lifelong mental-health problems — unless they get help.

Health & Medicine

Bringing COVID-19 vaccines to much of world is hard

The price of not vaccinating nearly everyone across the world could be a longer pandemic and more troubling variants of the new coronavirus.

Health & Medicine

When COVID-19 comes for your science fair

When labs shut down due to COVID-19, teens took their science fair projects to the internet and … sometimes even to the bathroom.

Health & Medicine

Some microbial hitchhikers may weaken body’s attack on COVID-19

New research identifies an altered mix of microbes in the body — ones commonly seen in people with poor diets — that may worsen coronavirus disease.

Brain

Active bodies build stronger brains

Aerobic fitness and physical activity correlate with widespread brain health in adolescents, according to a new imaging study in England.

Health & Medicine

Some young adults will volunteer to get COVID-19 for science

Researchers will soon give some healthy people the new coronavirus. Their young volunteers have agreed to get sick to speed coronavirus research.

Health & Medicine

Space travel may harm health by damaging cells’ powerhouses

Biochemical changes after going to space suggest that harm to cells’ energy-producing structures, called mitochondria, could explain astronauts’ health issues.

Health & Medicine

Five questions about COVID-19 vaccine trials in teens, answered

Scientists are now testing COVID-19 vaccines in teens. Why do teens need a separate trial? And what would happen? We’ve got answers.

Environment

Unmasking the pandemic’s pollution problem

Discarding all the materials people use to protect themselves from COVID-19 has created a growing environmental problem.

Animals

Let’s learn about taste

Taste tells us what’s good to eat, but scientists are still learning about how it works.

Health & Medicine

Scientists Say: Body Mass Index

This is someone’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. But it’s not a measure of someone’s health.

Health & Medicine

What kids need to know about getting a COVID-19 shot

COVID-19 vaccines are already being administered to some adults. Here’s what that means for kids and teens.