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CBD shows promise, but this review warns the hype is outpacing the science

A Neuropsychopharmacology Circumspectives article argues that cannabidiol has genuine therapeutic potential, especially in treatment-resistant pediatric epilepsy, but evidence for most other uses remains limited, heterogeneous, and not yet mature enough for broad clinical adoption. The authors also warn that poor retail product quality, inaccurate labeling, contaminants, hepatotoxicity risk, and drug interactions are major barriers to safe and effective real-world use.

20 Apr 2026

Study explains the link between NDMA-contaminated water and childhood cancer

A new study from MIT suggests that a carcinogen that has been found in medications and in drinking water contaminated by chemical plants may have a much more severe impact on children than adults.

17 Apr 2026

Very high prenatal PFAS exposure increases childhood asthma risk

High prenatal exposure to PFAS linked to increased childhood asthma risk, highlighting concerns over 'forever chemicals' and early-life environmental impacts.

14 Apr 2026

Pennsylvania town faces fallout from Trump's environmental rule rollback

North America's largest coke plant hugs the west bank of Pennsylvania's Monongahela River, belching out emissions from turning superheated coal into a carbon-rich fuel.

13 Apr 2026

Lab study shows cigarette smoke damaged lung cells more than e-cigarette vapor

Researchers found that cigarette smoke extract disrupted the lung cell barrier, increased IL-6 inflammation, and caused DNA damage in Calu-3 cells, while e-cigarette vapor extract showed no significant adverse effects on these measures under the study conditions. The authors caution that these were in vitro findings using liquid extracts and unflavored e-liquid, so they do not directly predict long-term human health outcomes.

12 Apr 2026

Decoy strategy boosts natural bacteria to clean polluted soils

Aromatic compounds, such as dioxins and benzene, are major soil pollutants. Their high chemical stability makes them resistant to microbial and chemical degradation, leading to toxic accumulation in the soil.

11 Apr 2026

New 3D printing method delivers cancer drugs directly to tumors

University of Mississippi research offers hope that cancer drug therapies packaged in 3D-printed carriers could deliver medication directly to tumors while reducing many of the side effects that cancer patients endure.

6 Apr 2026

Prenatal smoking linked to broader mental health issues in children

Children exposed to maternal smoking before birth are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health challenges, according to a large study funded by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

6 Apr 2026

Boosting mitochondrial function in dendritic cells can improve cancer immunotherapy

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered how tumors disable immune "gatekeeper" cells that alert the rest of the immune system to the presence of cancer - and how restoring their energy production can improve immunotherapy. Dendritic cells activate the cytotoxic immune cells that destroy cancer.

2 Apr 2026

Study explores how a powerful antiseptic affects bacteria in hospital environments

Just because a topical antiseptic is swabbed on the skin doesn't mean it stays on the skin.

2 Apr 2026

Researchers develop low-cost scalable sensors to study genetic brain disorders

Researchers have demonstrated a new class of low-cost, scalable sensors that can be used to monitor electrical activity in human cerebral organoids.

2 Apr 2026

New study highlights rising cleaning product injuries in young children

Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital have found more than an estimated 240,800 visits to U.S. emergency departments (EDs) associated with household cleaning product-related injuries from 2007 through 2022 for children aged five years and younger.

2 Apr 2026

US scientists sequence 1,000 genomes from measles, a disease long eliminated with vaccines

This week, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention posted online its first large tranche of advanced genetic data from measles viruses spreading last year.

2 Apr 2026

ASH releases updated recommendations for severe acquired aplastic anemia care

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) released guidelines on the diagnosis and management of severe acquired aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder.

1 Apr 2026

Pesticide exposure linked to higher cancer risk in new study

A new scientific study, published in Nature Health, reveals a strong link between exposure to agricultural pesticides in the environment and the risk of developing cancer.

1 Apr 2026

Pittcon announces 2025 Nobel laureate, Dr. Omar Yaghi, as Wallace H. Coulter keynote lecturer

Pittcon, the nation’s largest laboratory science conference, announces that Dr. Omar Yaghi, the 2025 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, will be the Wallace H. Coulter keynote lecturer at Pittcon 2027, held in Pittsburgh, PA, April 24-28, 2027.

From Pittcon 1 Apr 2026

Blood test may detect cognitive decline years before symptoms

A blood test could help identify people at higher risk of cognitive decline years before a traditional diagnosis is possible – according to University of East Anglia research.

31 Mar 2026

Common antibacterial soaps and wipes may worsen antibiotic resistance crisis

An international team of scientists is warning that everyday antibacterial soaps, wipes, sprays, and other "germ‑killing" products are quietly contributing to the global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) while providing no added health benefit for most consumer uses.

31 Mar 2026

How could bisphenol A raise depression risk? Study identifies six key molecular targets

An integrative Translational Psychiatry study linked BPA exposure to major depressive disorder by identifying 571 shared targets and six core genes, with genetic, transcriptomic, docking, and mouse-model data supporting plausible mechanistic pathways. The strongest signals pointed to AKT1, SRC, PLCG2, and JAK3 as potential contributors, while EGFR appeared protective.

31 Mar 2026

Plastic chemicals linked to nearly two million premature births

Exposure to a chemical commonly used to make plastic more flexible may have contributed to about 1.97 million preterm births in 2018 alone, or more than 8 percent of the world's total, a new analysis of population surveys shows.

31 Mar 2026