Scientists Develop Rapid Bird Flu Detector for Airborne Test

Scientists have created a handheld sensor that can quickly detect bird flu (H5N1) in the air, potentially stopping outbreaks before they spread.

Research published recently in the journal ACS Sensors noted the sensor is low-cost, highly sensitive and works within minutes.

Bird flu spreads when infected respiratory droplets a...

Harvard Profs Sue Trump Administration Over Removal of LGBTQ Research From Website

Two Harvard medical school professors are suing the Trump administration, arguing that their research was unfairly removed from a government-run website.

Their studies, focused on improving patient safety and reducing medical errors, were suddenly removed allegedly because they included terms like “LGBTQ” and “transgender...

White House Pulls CDC Nominee Dr. Dave Weldon Before Senate Hearing

Hours before his scheduled Senate confirmation, the White House has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Weldon, a Republican and former congressman, said he was told Wednesday night that his nomination would not move forward because there were not enough votes for c...

Dr. Oz Accused of Underpaying Medicare Taxes Ahead of Nomination Hearing

Senate Democrats are raising concerns about Dr. Mehmet Oz’s nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), alleging he significantly underpaid Medicare and Social Security taxes in recent years.

A memo from Democratic staffers on the Senate Finance Committee says a review of Oz's tax returns from 2021 to 202...

Low Birth Weight Kids Lag In School Readiness

Most low-birth-weight toddlers are not on track to be ready to attend school, a new study says.

Only one-third of babies born weighing less than 5.5 pounds are ready to attend school by ages 3 to 5, researchers reported in the journal Academic Pediatrics.

They tend to lag in early learning skills, self-regulation and social/...

Playing With Dogs Relieves Stress In Humans And Canines Alike

Playing with a dog for just 15 minutes can significantly reduce a person’s stress, a new study reports.

Stressed students who interacted with a friendly dog reported less stress, had a reduced heart rate and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva, researchers said in the journal PLOS One.

The e...

Nostalgic? It's Better For Friendships, Mental Health

Nostalgia might be met by eyerolls from some, as the emotion might inspire insipid images of rose-tinted glasses, gooey sentimentality and living in a time-lost past.

But people prone to nostalgia have an edge when it comes to their health and well-being, a new study says.

Nostalgic people have more close friends and put more effort ...

Implant, Robotics Can Ease Paralysis From Spinal Cord Injuries

A muscle-stimulating implant combined with a robotic exoskeleton can help restore movement in people paralyzed by a spinal cord injury, a new study says.

The spinal cord implant delivers well-timed electrical pulses to muscles, stimulating natural muscle activity coordinated with supportive robotic movements, researchers reported March 12 ...

AI-Written Doctor's Notes? Patients Don't Mind, Study Says

Patients generally don’t mind getting AI-written notes from their doctor’s office, unless they know the note came from a computer program, a new study says.

Patients shown messages written by either AI, otherwise known as artificial intelligence, or a human doc tended to prefer the responses drafted by AI, although overall sati...

Sugar-Free Slushies Can Make Kids Seriously Ill, Experts Warn

Young kids can become seriously ill after drinking sugar-free slushies containing glycerol, a sugar alcohol used to help maintain the drinks’ icy texture, a new study warns.

Children 7 and younger suffered a sudden sharp drop in blood sugar, reduced consciousness and a build-up of acid in their blood within an hour of downing slushie...

Federal Addiction And Mental Health Agency Faces Major Staff Cuts

A key federal agency responsible for addiction and mental health services is facing deep staff cuts.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which has a $7.2 billion budget, oversees vital services such as the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, opioid addiction treatment programs and mental health gra...

Girl Scouts Say Cookies Are Safe Despite Lawsuit Claiming They Contain Heavy Metals

Two groups focused on food safety and environmental toxins have sued Girl Scouts of America, claiming that their perennially popular cookies are tainted with pesticides and heavy metals.

GMO Science and Moms Across America filed court documents Monday in New York, based on a December 2024 study that tested 25 cookie samples in three states...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Downplays Measles Vaccine as Cases Surge

A growing measles outbreak has led to 222 reported cases across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma in 2025, with health officials urging more people to get vaccinated.

During an interview with Fox News, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. encouraged vaccination but also made misleading statements about...

Red Wine Protects Against Cancer? Maybe Not

Red wine has been thought to potentially offer protection against cancer, given its high levels of the anti-inflammatory antioxidant resveratrol.

But there’s no clear evidence that red wine lessens cancer risk, a new evidence review has concluded.

In fact, neither red nor white wine appears to increase people’s overall ca...

Weed Use During Pregnancy Triples Risk Of Behavioral Problems In Kids

Some women turn to weed during pregnancy to help deal with common issues like nausea, sleep problem and stress.

Unfortunately, they could be endangering their unborn child’s future behavior, a new study says.

Women who use cannabis either during pregnancy or after delivery are three times more likely to have kids with disruptiv...

Concussion Damage Lingers In Athletes' Brains Up To A Year

Concussion damage could linger in an athlete’s brain for at least a year, long after they’ve rejoined their sport, a new study says.

Concussed college athletes had brain changes that remained visible in brain scans up to a year after they’d been cleared to return to play, researchers reported in a study published March 12...

Turning Off TV Better For Heart Health Of Folks Predisposed To Diabetes

People with a higher genetic risk for type 2 diabetes also have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart-related diseases.

But controlling that risk could be as simple as picking up a TV remote and hitting the “off” switch, a new study suggests.

Limiting TV watching to no more than one hour a day appears to h...

Pandemic Set Kindergarteners Back Developmentally

The COVID-19 pandemic set kindergarteners’ development back in several ways, a new study says.

Post-pandemic kindergarten students on average scored significantly lower in language and thinking skills, social competence, and communication and general knowledge, when compared to pre-pandemic kids, researchers reported March 10 in

OB/GYNs Walk Away From Anti-Abortion States

A brain drain is underway in states that banned or severely restricted abortion after the fall of Roe v Wade, a new study suggests.

A significant decline in the number of practicing obstetricians/gynecologists has occurred in the 12 most restrictive states, according to findings published March 10 in JAMA Network Open.

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Dozens Of Laid-Off CDC Workers Push To Get Their Jobs Back

A group of former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees is fighting to get their jobs back after being abruptly laid off last month.

In a letter sent Monday to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CDC leadership, they argue their dismissals were unfair and violated due process. ...