Research News

Southern Californians celebrate at a mass vaccination site in Disneyland's parking lot in January. CDC head Dr. Rochelle Walensky cautions that for strongest immunity, recipients get both doses of the Pfizer or of the Moderna vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine: Will It Protect Against New Variants And Do You Need A 2nd Dose?

4:26pm February 02, 2021

by Joanne Silberner

The spread of new strains raises new questions as two COVID-19 vaccines continue their rollout across the U.S. and another vaccine candidate preps for regulatory review. Here's what you need to know.

How Poverty Makes Workers Less Productive

6:31am February 02, 2021

by Greg Rosalsky

A new study adds to the growing mountain of evidence that says that poverty impairs people's ability to think.

An aerial view of a Freeport, N.Y., school bus parking lot in April 2020.

Did Closing Schools Save Lives Or Cost Lives? The Debate Continues

9:55pm January 31, 2021

by Anya Kamenetz

In November, a scientific paper estimated millions of years of life could be lost due to prolonged school closures in the U.S. The paper has since been corrected and critiqued.

Naked mole rats are very communicative creatures, they quietly chirp, squeak, twitter or even grunt to one another. The scientists wanted to find out whether these vocalizations have a social function for the animals – and found that each colony has its

Friend or Foe? Naked Mole Rats Can Tell By A Unique Squeak

8:35pm January 28, 2021

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A new study shows that naked mole rats speak with distinct dialects that appear to be learned — and reveal what group they belong to.

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According to a review published in 2018, nearly 75% of the drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the 21st century had no data associated with their use during pregnancy.

Protect Pregnant Women 'Through Research,' Not 'From Research,' OB-GYNs Urge

5:00am January 25, 2021

by Maggie Mertens

As COVID-19 vaccines roll out, doctors say it's long past time to address the exclusion of pregnant women from research on drugs and vaccines. They say better study design is the answer.

Science

How Does Catnip Make Cats High? New Study Offers Answers

3:45pm January 22, 2021

Cats act high when they're given catnip because, well, they are. Researchers say that catnip and another plant, silver vine, produce a chemical that activates their opioid reward systems.

Researches Show Efficacy Of Personalized Brain Stimulation In Psychiatric Treatments

4:19pm January 18, 2021

by Jon Hamilton

Two new studies show the potential of personalized brain stimulation to treat psychiatric disorders. The approach delivers pulses of electric or magnetic energy to certain areas in the brain.

People lined up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination site in Disneyland's parking lot in Anaheim, Calif. on Jan. 13. The state says all residents 65 or older are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

OPINION: Moral Tragedy Looms In Early Chaos Of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

7:00am January 16, 2021

As states suddenly expand the categories of people eligible for the first scarce shipments of vaccine, who will be watching to make sure those hit hardest by the pandemic aren't left behind?

After Being Booted By Big Tech, Parler Registers With Hosting Service

8:14am January 13, 2021

Parler, the messaging app favored by far-right activists, has a new home. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Brian Friedberg of Harvard's Shorenstein Center. He tracks social media and hate groups,

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Staff and residents of the Ararat Nursing Facility in the Mission Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles got COVID-19 shots on Jan. 7. Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths have been surging throughout Los Angeles County.

Why You Should Still Wear A Mask And Avoid Crowds After Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine

8:36pm January 12, 2021

by Joanne Silberner

It takes time after vaccination for immunity to the virus to build up, and no vaccine is 100% effective. Plus, scientists don't yet know if the vaccine stops viral spread. Here's what's known so far.