EXPLAINER: The US investigation into COVID-19 origins

Once dismissed by most public health experts and government officials, the hypothesis that COVID-19 leaked accidentally from a Chinese lab is now receiving scrutiny under a new U.S. investigation.

Library of Congress gets health workers' audio COVID diaries

The Library of Congress has acquired a digital archive of the real-time impressions of more than 200 frontline health care workers documenting the country's descent into the coronavirus pandemic.

Interior Dept. gauging interest in Gulf of Mexico wind power

President Joe Biden's administration wants to know whether offshore wind companies want to move into the Gulf of Mexico.

Startup Lordstown Motors warns it may not stay in business

Startup commercial electric vehicle maker Lordstown Motors says it may not be in business a year from now as it tries to secure funding to start full production of an electric pickup truck.

Spacecraft buzzes Jupiter's mega moon, 1st close-up in years

NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided the first close-ups of Jupiter's largest moon in two decades.

Gucci digitally outfits Gen-Z in metaverse foray with Roblox

Anyone whose virtual alter ego is wandering around the Roblox online game platform these days might run into other avatars sporting Gucci handbags, sunglasses or hats.

Scientists discover new exoplanet with an atmosphere ripe for study

An international group of collaborators, including scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and The University of New Mexico, have discovered a new, temperate sub-Neptune sized exoplanet with a 24-day orbital period orbiting a nearby M dwarf star. The recent discovery offers exciting research opportunities thanks to the planet's substantial atmosphere, small star, and how fast the system is moving away from the Earth.

The buck stops where? Research records longest-ever deer distance

Why did the deer cross the road? According to research from the University of New Hampshire to keep going and going and going. Researchers have discovered the longest distance ever recorded by an adult male white-tailed deer—300 kilometers, or close to 200 miles, in just over three weeks. The finding has important implications for population management and the transmission of disease, especially chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disease.

Study finds novel evidence that dreams reflect multiple memories, anticipate future events

Dreams result from a process that often combines fragments of multiple life experiences and anticipates future events, according to novel evidence from a new study.

Cholesterol metabolite induces production of cancer-promoting vesicles

Scientists working to understand the cellular processes linking high cholesterol to breast cancer recurrence and metastasis report that a byproduct of cholesterol metabolism causes some cells to send out cancer-promoting signals to other cells. These signals are packaged in membrane-bound compartments called extracellular vesicles.

No health worries for children born to mothers given seasonal flu vaccine in pregnancy

A population-based study, published today in JAMA, has found flu vaccination during pregnancy does not lead to an increased risk of adverse early childhood health outcomes.

How your phone can predict depression and lead to personalized treatment

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the World Health Organization, depression affects 16 million Americans and 322 million people worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic is further exacerbating the prevalence of depression in the general population. With this trajectory, it is evident that more effective strategies are needed for therapeutics that address this critical public health issue.

Women's mental health has higher association with dietary factors

Women's mental health likely has a higher association with dietary factors than men's, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

'PrivacyMic': For a smart speaker that doesn't eavesdrop

Microphones are perhaps the most common electronic sensor in the world, with an estimated 320 million listening for our commands in the world's smart speakers. The trouble is that they're capable of hearing everything else, too.

Mothers' mental health may affect twins' and singletons' touch and movement during pregnancy

New research published in Acta Paediatrica suggests that a pregnant woman's mental health may impact the touch behavior of twins and singletons during pregnancy, and in the case of twins, how frequently they touch themselves and each other. Such touch behavior might be a soothing mechanism for fetuses when mothers are stressed or depressed during their pregnancy.

Speech droplets drive transmission of SARS-CoV-2

A new review published in the Journal of Internal Medicine indicates that unmasked speech in confined spaces poses the greatest risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to others.

Nintendo Wii may help improve balance in children with cerebral palsy

Therapy based on the Nintendo Wii Balance Board can help improve balance in children with cerebral palsy, according to an analysis published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.

Osteoarthritis linked to higher Parkinson's disease risk

A study published in Arthritis Care & Research has uncovered an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease in individuals with osteoarthritis.

Investigators examine brain tests of patients with COVID-19

In a Journal of Neuroimaging analysis of data obtained from 193 patients with COVID-19 who had brain and/or spine imaging and a lumbar puncture because of neurologic symptoms, investigators found that imaging results were related to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Birth weight is associated with osteoporosis risk later in life

New research published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research has linked heavier birth weight with lower bone mineral density and a higher risk of bone fracture later in life.

New analysis examines survival of older patients who undergo heart transplantation

Advanced age is often considered a contraindication for heart transplantation, but a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) found that post-heart transplant survival among recipients aged >70 years is not inferior to that of younger recipients.

How different beliefs and attitudes affect college students' career aspirations

A study published in Career Development Quarterly has looked at whether beliefs and attitudes influence career aspirations of college students with different genders and sexual orientations.

Preliminary genetic link to developmental coordination disorder, dyspraxia identified

New research by scientists at Oxford Brookes University has identified specific genes which could provide vital information about the biology of developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is a common motor coordination condition which is estimated to affect at least one child in every classroom.