As health officials continue their investigation of unexplained cases of liver inflammation in children, what is known is still outpaced by what isn’t. At least 500 cases of hepatitis from…
Category: Health & Medicine
Pressure to conform to social norms may explain risky COVID-19 decisions
The pandemic has entered a murky stage, and social norms are quickly shifting, something I’ve thought a lot about lately. Many people are testing at home, or not at all.…
Here’s the latest good and bad news about COVID-19 drugs
Maybe you’ve heard that the pandemic is over in the United States. (It’s not.) Masks are no longer required in most places and large gatherings are becoming commonplace again. Most…
How to wash chicken in the kitchen more safely, according to physics
Health experts recommend against washing chicken before cooking it because that can spread harmful bacteria. But if you’re among the nearly 70 percent of people who do, according to a…
A very specific kind of brain cell dies off in people with Parkinson’s
Deep in the human brain, a very specific kind of cell dies during Parkinson’s disease. For the first time, researchers have sorted large numbers of human brain cells in the…
Some hamsters are extremely susceptible to COVID-19
Golden Syrian hamsters are highly susceptible to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new study shows. While the species is popular among pet owners, the results, posted April 20 at…
The body’s response to allergic asthma also helps protect against COVID-19
Scientists are discovering a surprising bright side for some people with asthma: They are less susceptible to COVID-19. The very same immune system proteins that trigger excess mucus production and…
How I decided on a second COVID-19 booster shot
Booster shots against COVID-19 are once again on my mind. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that older people and immunocompromised people are eligible for a second booster shot…
Joggers naturally pace themselves to conserve energy even on short runs
For many recreational runners, taking a jog is a fun way to stay fit and burn calories. But it turns out an individual has a tendency to settle into the…
50 years ago, scientists were seeking the cause of psoriasis
Cyclic AMP and psoriasis — Science News, April 29, 1972 [A team of dermatologists] discovered that cyclic AMP levels in psoriasis lesions are significantly lower than in healthy skin.… [The…
