A jury has ruled that Meta (owner of Instagram) and Google (owner of YouTube) must pay $6 million for designing and operating products that they knew could harm the mental health of children and teens. The suit was brought by a woman named Kaley, now age 20, who said she started using Instagram at age 9 and YouTube at age 6. She said she soon became addicted, and her constant use of social media eventually led to body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The jury in the trial agreed that the tech companies were negligent, or careless, and that they should have warned users about the risks instead of prioritizing their own profits. Experts say the case could open the door to further judgments against social media companies and potentially force them to change how they handle underage users.

What teens eat might matter more for their mental health than previously thought. A sweeping review of nearly 20 studies found that healthier diets are often linked to fewer depressive symptoms, while poor eating habits may go hand in hand with greater psychological distress. Interestingly, focusing on whole dietary patterns—not just individual nutrients—showed more consistent benefits, suggesting that overall eating habits could play a meaningful role during this critical stage of brain development.

New fathers appear to have fewer mental health diagnoses during pregnancy and the early months after birth. But that early stability does not last. About a year later, depression and stress-related disorders increase significantly, surprising researchers. The findings suggest that the emotional toll of fatherhood builds over time rather than hitting immediately.

A new study has examined how health topics are covered on social media like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Researchers found TikTok was a common source of misinformation. Of the posts examined, 52 percent of those about ADHD and 41 percent of those about autism were found to be inaccurate. Services with stronger content moderation policies had less misinformation. Teens may turn to social media to understand symptoms of various disorders or find others going through similar experiences, but researchers warn young people should always be on the lookout for low-quality information. It is best to get medical and mental health advice from a doctor or professional source.

“Forever chemicals” may be affecting kids in ways that last a lifetime. A new study links early PFAS exposure to lower bone density during the teen years, especially in girls. Researchers also found that when exposure happens may play a key role. Reducing exposure during childhood could help protect long-term bone health.

Early life stress may set the stage for long-term digestive problems by disrupting the gut-brain connection. Studies in both mice and thousands of children found links to symptoms like pain, constipation, and IBS. Scientists discovered that different biological pathways control different gut issues, hinting at more personalized treatments in the future. The research also highlights how a child’s early environment can have lasting physical effects—not just emotional ones.

Melatonin is now widely used to help children sleep, but scientists say the enthusiasm may be getting ahead of the evidence. A major review found clear benefits for children with conditions like autism and ADHD, yet far less data exists for typical childhood insomnia. Researchers also warn about mislabeled supplement doses and rising accidental ingestions among young kids. Experts say melatonin should be used carefully and only alongside proven behavioral sleep strategies.

Teenagers naturally fall asleep later, which makes early school start times a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation. Researchers studying a Swiss high school that introduced flexible start times found that students overwhelmingly chose to begin later—and ended up sleeping about 45 minutes longer each school night. The extra rest led to fewer sleep problems, better well-being, and improved academic performance.

Pre-workout supplements promising extra energy for workouts may come with a hidden cost: severely reduced sleep. A study of people aged 16–30 found users were more than twice as likely to sleep five hours or less per night. Many of these products pack huge doses of caffeine and stimulants that can linger for hours. Researchers say the findings raise concerns about the impact on young people’s health and development.

Scientists have revealed how the body’s microscopic cold sensor, TRPM8, detects both chilly temperatures and the cooling effect of menthol. The discovery finally shows how the sensation of “cool” works at the molecular level—and could inspire new treatments for pain and eye disorders.

Sports medicine experts are sounding the alarm over increased instances of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in teenage girl athletes. Girls are three to six times more likely than boys to suffer these major knee injuries, and over a fifteen-year period in a dozen high-school sports ACL injuries among girls rose by 32 percent—more than twice the rate for teen boys. Improved diagnosis of ACL injuries partly explains the spike in cases, and girls’ increased participation in sports is one factor in the disparity. But an overemphasis on athletic competition and a push to specialize in one sport early may be the biggest problems.

Fortunately, knee-focused training programs and increased awareness of the risks to girls can help limit the damage. The confidence to set boundaries helps, too. Participating in sports is fun and beneficial in many ways, but experts warn that year-round play makes the chance of hurting yourself much more likely. The lure of the pitch or field can be hard to resist, but taking a break every once in a while may be the difference between continuing to play or being sidelined for months with a recuperating knee.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in March 2021, but requested that it be voluntarily withdrawn just a month later because of its link to a rare, serious blood-clotting disorder. Now, researchers in Australia have discovered the cause of the condition.

Dr. Jing Jing Wang and Professor Tom Gordon, both of Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, found that the disorder—called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VTT)—affects people who are genetically prone to a reaction to adenovirus. Adenovirus was the virus used to carry and stimulate antibodies to the coronavirus in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Some people in Europe who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine experienced the same reaction.) Dr. Wang notes that the discovery provides valuable information for vaccine developers. “By modifying or removing this specific adenovirus protein, future vaccines can avoid this extremely rare reaction while continuing to provide strong protection against disease.”

That photogenic cup of bubble tea may come with hidden downsides. Tapioca pearls made from cassava can absorb heavy metals like lead, and in large amounts they may slow digestion or even cause blockages. The drink is often loaded with sugar—sometimes more than soda—raising risks for cavities, obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. There are even reports linking frequent consumption to kidney stones and poorer mental health.

Scientists are taking a closer look at the pill forms of Wegovy and Ozempic. In an animal study, the ingredient SNAC, which helps semaglutide survive the stomach and enter the bloodstream, was associated with changes in gut bacteria, inflammation markers, and a brain linked protein. The research does not show harm in people, but it raises new questions about the long term effects of daily exposure.

Heart disease is on track to tighten its grip on American women. New projections from the American Heart Association warn that over the next 25 years, cardiovascular disease will rise sharply, driven largely by a surge in high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. By 2050, nearly 60% of women in the U.S. could have high blood pressure, and close to one in three women ages 22 to 44 may already be living with some form of heart disease.

Worrying about getting older—especially fearing future health problems—may actually speed up aging at the cellular level, according to new research from NYU. In a study of more than 700 women, those who felt more anxious about aging showed signs of faster biological aging in their blood, measured using cutting-edge “epigenetic clocks.” Fears about declining health had the strongest link, while concerns about beauty or fertility didn’t appear to have the same biological impact.

In January of this year, the Mattel toy company introduced an autistic Barbie to its lineup of popular fashion dolls. The company partnered with the nonprofit disability rights organization Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), which works to empower the autistic community, to develop the doll. The process took over eighteen months to complete.

The autistic Barbie comes with a fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, and a computer tablet showing symbol-based augmentative and alternative communication apps. She joins Mattel’s other Barbie figures designed to champion diversity, including versions with Down syndrome, blindness, vitiligo, prosthetic limbs, and more.

Babies born in the early 2000s were exposed in the womb to far more “forever chemicals” than researchers once realized, according to a new study. By using advanced chemical screening on umbilical cord blood, scientists detected 42 different PFAS compounds, including many that standard tests do not routinely check for. These long lasting chemicals are found in common products like nonstick cookware, food packaging, and stain resistant fabrics, and they can build up in the body over time.

Researchers tested whether generative AI could handle complex medical datasets as well as human experts. In some cases, the AI matched or outperformed teams that had spent months building prediction models. By generating usable analytical code from precise prompts, the systems dramatically reduced the time needed to process health data. The findings hint at a future where AI helps scientists move faster from data to discovery.

Sugary drinks may be linked to more than just physical health problems in teens. A new review of multiple studies found a consistent association between high consumption of beverages like soda, energy drinks, sweetened juices, and flavored milks and increased anxiety symptoms in adolescents.