RFK Jr. says annual COVID-19 shots no longer advised for healthy children and pregnant women – a public health expert explains the new guidance

On May 27, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer include the COVID-19 vaccine on…

MAHA report on children’s health highlights harms of ultraprocessed foods – a food scientist explains the research

On May 22, 2025, the White House released a new report highlighting what it claims are the causes of chronic disease in children. The report fleshes out many of the…

Teens of any age who drink alcohol with their parents’ permission drink more as young adults, new research shows

Children and teenagers of any age who sip or taste alcohol with their parents’ permission are more likely to engage in risky drinking in young adulthood. That was the finding…

Measles could again become widespread as cases surge worldwide

Globally, measles is on the rise across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America and parts of Europe. In 2025, North and South America saw 11 times more cases than during…

Whooping cough is making a comeback, but the vaccine provides powerful protection

Whooping cough, a bacterial infection that can be especially dangerous for babies and young children, is on the rise. Already in 2025 the U.S. has recorded 8,485 cases. That’s compared…

EPA has lowered the screening level for lead in soil – here’s what that could mean for households across the US

As spring phases into summer across the U.S., kids are spending more time outdoors. Playing outside is healthy in all kinds of ways, but it also poses some risks. One…

50 years after the Bunker Hill mine fire caused one of the largest lead-poisoning cases in US history, Idaho’s Silver Valley is still at risk

On Sept. 3, 1973, a fire swept through the baghouse of the Bunker Hill mine in Idaho’s Silver Valley. The building was designed to filter pollutants produced by smelting, the…