Health & Medicine

  1. 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.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  2. 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.

    By Stephen Ornes
  3. Animals

    Let’s learn about taste

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

    By Bethany Brookshire
  4. 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.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  5. 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.

    By Sheila Mulrooney Eldred
  6. Health & Medicine

    Early details emerge about the new U.K. coronavirus variant

    The variant may spread more easily from person to person. That could make continuing to wear masks all the more important, experts say.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  7. Health & Medicine

    Strongest bones come from Goldilocks recipe of exercise and rest

    Building strong bones for life depends on adolescents staying active and getting enough sleep. Sometimes a lot of sleep, like 11 hours!

    By Lindsey Konkel Neabore
  8. Health & Medicine

    Social distancing for teens shouldn’t mean giving up your social life

    During even partial lockdowns, keeping connected with friends makes all the difference. That’s what athletes and other teen groups are finding.

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  9. Animals

    Scientists Say: Apoptosis

    When it’s time for cells to die, they need to do it carefully, so they don’t harm other cells.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  10. Health & Medicine

    Third major vaccine shows great promise against COVID-19

    This vaccine, which may be easier to get to the public, appears to be 90 percent effective at halting disease and maybe spread of the new coronavirus.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  11. Brain

    Scientists Say: Puberty

    Puberty is a time when hormones surge and people develop the ability to have children. But it’s so much more than that.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  12. Health & Medicine

    Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain

    The adolescent brain has a hard time resisting junk food. But high-fat, high-sugar diets can interfere with learning and pose risks to mental health.

    By Sharon Oosthoek