Research News

A mother holds her 1-year-old son as he receives the child Covid-19 vaccine in his thigh at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, Mass., on June 21, 2022. The temple was one of the first sites in the state to offer vaccinations to anyone in the public.

COVID vaccines are finally here for young kids. But the logistics aren't easy

6:58am June 22, 2022

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

NPR talks to Claire Hannan, who has helped navigate vaccine rollouts in all 50 states, about some of the challenges involved in quickly getting shots out to millions of young kids.

The omicron variant, though much more contagious than the delta strain, is still prevalent in the U.S. but is less likely than delta to cause long COVID, according to a new study.

Omicron poses about half the risk of long COVID as delta, new research finds

6:30pm June 16, 2022

by Rob Stein

Some scientists estimate that cases of long COVID from omicron will still rise, however, because of high transmissibility and the misconception that people don't have to worry about catching it.

US Forces in Afghanistan work with a German Shepherd to inspect a vehicle for explosives. IEDs and other bombs led to brain injuries in service people but appear so far to not increase their risk of CTE.

CTE is rare in brains of deceased service members, study finds

9:51am June 14, 2022

by Jon Hamilton

Despite a high risk of brain injuries, military personnel rarely develop a disabling brain condition often found in former boxers and football players.

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A drug for HIV appears to reverse a type of memory loss in mice

8:09am June 12, 2022

by Jon Hamilton

A recent study finds an HIV drug can reverse memory loss in aging mice. This type of memory helps humans do things like associate a name with a face and typically starts to decline in middle age.

A volcano's song could contain clues to its future eruptions, scientists hope

4:29pm June 06, 2022

by Geoff Brumfiel

Scientists have recorded a song coming from a volcano. They think the musical notes may someday be useful for predicting when a dangerous eruption might occur.

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Researchers have identified the world's largest underwater plant

7:36am June 02, 2022

It covers almost 80 square miles off the coast of Western Australia. It looks like a massive meadow of seagrass, but it is actually a single seedling that's been cloning itself over and over again.

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Scientists have discovered that a drug used to treat HIV helps restore a particular kind of memory loss in mice. The results hold promise for humans, too.

A drug for HIV appears to reverse a type of memory loss in mice

7:01am May 28, 2022

by Jon Hamilton

In mice, the HIV drug maraviroc restored a system that links new memories that are made around the same time. The finding could help treat memory problems in people.

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Encore: The United States' only native parrot is being studied, to save it

5:24pm May 26, 2022

by John Burnett

We know the bird can mimic human speech; now a researcher is trying to understand parrot-to-parrot communication. He's looking at the red-crowned parrot, which is the only parrot native to the U.S.

Demonstrators attend a candlelight vigil Wednesday in Fairfax, Va., for the victims of the Uvalde and Buffalo mass shootings.

Research shows policies that may help prevent mass shootings — and some that don't

4:08pm May 26, 2022

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The amount of resources devoted to studying gun violence is paltry compared to its public health impact. Still, the evidence shows certain policies might help prevent mass shootings.

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Study finds microscopic life in 830-million-year-old crystal – and it might be alive!

4:10pm May 23, 2022

A recent study in the journal Geology finds microorganisms trapped in an 830-million-year-old salt crystal. The researchers say it might still be alive.