Research reveals alarming decline in youth mental health in England

The kids are not all right.

In late June, the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), a group of independent experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), published an assessment of the origins of COVID.

Have you ever wondered why people who nearly die often describe speeding toward supernatural light, or seeing their life flash before their eyes? You may have also heard about the powerful psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a class A illegal drug in the UK, and how it might generate the so-called near-death experiences. In a recent study I compared both types of experience and found they share fascinating similarities—but also critical differences.

Modern dating is stressful enough, and that's even before you throw in premium subscriptions, ghosting and the unwritten rules of flirting. But for autistic people, there are even more variables to consider.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed enormous pressure on health care systems and economies around the world, with particularly severe impacts on vulnerable groups like residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). One key lesson from the pandemic is that early detection and treatment can lower hospitalization and death rates while also cutting medical costs. Wastewater surveillance at treatment plants (WSTPs) has emerged as a low-cost and innovative method to detect outbreaks early. Many developed countries have adopted this approach, but Japan has been slow to do so.

Modern medicine is largely reactive—treating illness only after symptoms emerge. But a new study from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute) and McGill University points to a more proactive future: one where silent signs of infection are detected before we even feel sick.

While federal food assistance cuts are too large to make up for in efficiencies, pooling resources among hunger relief agencies could help the remaining aid go further.

Green spaces boost mental health—especially in busy cities. A new study from Leiden and Stanford University reveals how nature benefits urban well-being and offers low-cost ways to make city life healthier for everyone.

The cerebral cortex processes sensory information via a complex network of neural connections. How are these signals modulated to refine perception? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has identified a mechanism by which certain thalamic projections target neurons and modify their excitability.

Modupe O. Coker from the School of Dental Medicine and a collaborative team of researchers identified changes over time in the oral microbiome of children living with HIV, offering insights into how early immune challenges shape not only oral health but also systemic health.

Circles of white mushrooms, or "fairy rings," may add a whimsical touch to summer lawns. But beware—they're probably poisonous.

America is aging, and it's not ready, according to new research.

Researchers from RMIT University have developed a wearable wound monitoring device with integrated sensors that could reduce infection risks by minimizing the need for frequent physical contact. Their study, "Multiplexed cutaneous wound monitor for point-of-care applications," was published in Advanced NanoBiomed Research.

How we smell is not just a matter of taste—it's also influenced by our genes. An international team of researchers led by scientists from Leipzig University has conducted the largest genetic study to date on the human sense of smell. Researchers at the Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE) identified seven new genetic regions associated with our ability to perceive odors.

A new study brings reassuring news for older adults using cannabis: smoking or consuming cannabis does not appear to raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular death—at least among older veterans with pre-existing heart disease.

The risk for teenage alcohol use is shaped by more than just peer pressure or curiosity, according to a Rutgers-led study.

Cholesterol plays a vital role in the body, providing structural support to cells and serving as a building block for hormone synthesis. However, when cholesterol accumulates or is improperly distributed, it can contribute to the development and progression of disease.

A national survey of obstetricians and gynecologists has revealed high levels of burnout in the sector since the COVID-19 pandemic.