EXPOSURE

Apr 09 2025SCIENCE

Heatwaves and the Brain: How Hot Weather Affects Our Mood

Hot weather can mess with your mood. It's not just about feeling uncomfortable. It can actually change how you feel and act. Scientists have been trying to figure out why this happens. The brain has a part called the posterior paraventricular thalamus. It's like a control center for emotion

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Apr 06 2025HEALTH

The Brain and the Air We Breathe: How Pollution Affects Our Thinking

The air we breathe is full of tiny particles. These particles are known as particulate matter or PM. They are so small that they can enter our lungs and even our bloodstream. This is a big deal because these particles can mess with our brains. They can affect how well we think and remember thing

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Apr 05 2025ENVIRONMENT

Chemical Rollbacks: A Health Gamble

The Trump administration is pushing a strategy that could undo hundreds of state-level bans on harmful chemicals in everyday items. These bans cover a wide range of products, from children's toys to personal care items, and even clothing. The goal? To make it easier for companies to use these chemic

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Apr 05 2025HEALTH

The Unseen Costs of Too Many Scans

The use of diagnostic imaging has skyrocketed. It is often ordered to avoid missing a diagnosis. This is especially true for those with suspected bone or muscle tumors. The problem is that this can lead to a lot of unnecessary scans. These scans may not even provide useful information. They can

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Apr 03 2025HEALTH

How Storms Affect Teen Mental Health

Weather disasters are becoming more frequent and are taking a toll on young people's mental health. The impact of repeated exposure to these events is not well understood. A recent study looked at how multiple disasters affect teens' mental health in the United States. It used a mix of public data t

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Apr 02 2025HEALTH

Plastics in Pregnancy: A Hidden Health Risk?

Plastics have become a part of everyday life. They are in our homes, our cars, and even our food. But what happens when these tiny plastic pieces, known as microplastics, make their way into a pregnant woman's body? This is not a hypothetical question. It is a real concern that has been studied in C

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Apr 02 2025HEALTH

Young Women's Fight Against HIV in Kenya: The Tu'Washindi Na PrEP Initiative

In Kenya, young women face a big challenge. They make up a quarter of all new HIV cases each year among those over 15. This is a huge problem, especially since there is a powerful tool to prevent HIV: PrEP. PrEP is a medicine that, when taken correctly, can greatly lower the risk of getting HIV. How

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Mar 31 2025HEALTH

Air Pollution's Hidden Impact on Babies' Weight

Fine particles in the air can sneak into a mother's body and affect her baby's weight at birth. This is a big deal because low birth weight can lead to health problems later in life. But how exactly does this happen? One possible answer lies in how the mother's body processes food and

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Mar 30 2025SCIENCE

Rainwater Risks: A Look at Vehicle Washing Hazards

There is a growing interest in using rainwater for various purposes, including washing cars. However, this practice might not be as safe as it seems. Researchers have looked into the potential dangers of using roof-collected rainwater for high-pressure vehicle washing. They focused on the risk of ex

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Mar 29 2025HEALTH

HIV Care After Sexual Assault: A Look at Improvements

In emergency rooms, patients who have experienced sexual assault often struggle to get HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. This medication can prevent HIV infection if taken soon after exposure. A recent effort aimed to change this. The plan involved updating the electronic health records for sex

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