Microplastics, or tiny fragments of plastic worn away from the products we use and discard every day, are a common environmental problem. They’ve been found in the deepest oceans and on the highest mountain peaks, and in our bodies, too—researchers in Australia estimate that the average person swallows and breathes in a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. The health hazards of microplastics aren’t conclusive, but they’ve been linked to cancer, dementia, and reproductive disorders. And while there are ways to remove microplastics from the environment, these are generally expensive and can result in other types of pollutants.

Now, inspired by a visit to a water treatment plant and the realization that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencey (EPA) doesn’t regulate microplastics, 17-year-olds Victoria Ou and Justin Huang of Woodlands, Texas, have invented an inexpensive, clean device that extracts microplastics from water. The process, which uses ultrasonic sound waves, is still being developed, but the pair are working to make it remove plastics from drinking water and industrial and residential wastewater. To help them continue their research, Ou and Huang won the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations, with a prize of $50,000.

A law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in October aims to put a stop to excessively loud advertisements on streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime in the state. The law is a response to these platforms airing commercials at a louder volume than the shows and movies during which they play, as well as a corresponding “troubling jump” in ad noise complaints received by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The streaming services are required to implement the ad volume limits by July 2026.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 12.5 percent of U.S. children and teens have been diagnosed with some form of noise-related hearing loss. But how loud is too loud? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the loudest you should ever play a personal audio device is 75 decibels, or no more than 60 percent of its maximum volume.

November is lung cancer awareness month, and this year it coincides with almost fifty years of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. First held in California on November 18, 1976, the initial Great American Smokeout helped nearly a million people quit smoking for the day. It continues to encourage people to stop smoking nearly a half-century later, emphasizing the resources available to help them quit for good.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has dropped by almost two-thirds in that time, and among current smokers nearly 70 percent want to quit and about half have made an effort to do so in the past year. This is good news, but almost 35 million American adults still smoke, and lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and Canada. Even more alarming, research shows an increase in lung cancer diagnoses among people under age fifty, especially those who have never smoked. There could hardly be a better reminder that, if you smoke or know someone who does, it’s never too early to stop.

A teen in Gwinnett County, Georgia, has stepped up to help the people in his community who are impacted by the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits caused by the ongoing government shutdown. Sixteen-year-old Jaeleon Hawkins-Jones of Snellville started a GoFundMe campaign in partnership with the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op Ministry to provide food boxes with rice, pasta, canned goods, cereal, peanut butter, and other essentials to affected residents. Jaeleon’s initial goal of $1,000 was quickly met and exceeded, so he plans to include gift cards recipients can use to put gas in their cars along with the food.

About 1.4 million people throughout Georgia receive SNAP benefits, and rely on the program to help them get enough to eat every month. As Jaeleon puts it, “When leadership fails to act, regular people like us have to step up.” Can you think of ways you could help your neighbors in need?

When generative artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI released its text-to-video app Sora 2 in September of this year, it promised that “you are in control of your likeness end-to-end” in its cameos—short clips featuring users’ likenesses made from facial scans. However, a company called Reality Defender that detects deepfakes claims it was able to bypass Sora’s security safeguards within 24 hours of release, creating cameos of celebrities and CEOs using publicly available footage from the Internet.

This is a reminder not just to be careful before you post photos and videos of yourself, your family, and friends online, but also that creating AI content comes with a heavy responsibility. You should always consider the potential impact of any AI-generated images and videos you make available, and ensure that your work respects the rights and dignity of others. Failure to do so can spread misinformation, damage reputations, harm individuals’ privacy, and erode the trust you’ve built online.

Research published this month in the journal Pediatrics revealed that peanut allergies in children fell from 0.79 percent from 2012 to 2015 to 0.45 percent from 2017 to 2020, with an overall decline of 43 percent. This dramatic drop is due in part to a change in the advice medical professionals give parents about feeding peanuts to their young children.

Based on the findings of a 2015 study called the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial, pediatricians, allergists, and immunologists began encouraging parents to introduce peanut foods into their babies’ diets early. The new guidance proved so beneficial that a 2021 LEAP update broadened it to include other allergenic foods, such as milk and eggs.

For the first time in the U.S., the cost of pre-owned electric vehicles (EVs) is nearly the same as that of used gasoline-engine cars. According to industry service provider Cox Automotive, in August of this year the average list price for a used EV was just under $35,000, down 2.6 percent from the same time last year even without the $4,000 federal tax credit that ended on September 30. This put used EVs within $900 of the average list price for a pre-owned gas-powered car—the lowest gap on record.

Of course there’s more to consider when buying your first car than price alone, like insurace costs and maintenance fees. But over the life of the car electric vehicles are cheaper to own and maintain by as much as 60 percent and 40 percent respectively, according to Consumer Reports. And with battery prices shrinking from year to year they only promise to become more affordable.

An international team of scientists recently determined that autism isn’t a single condition with one underlying cause. Their research, published this month in the journal Nature, used genetic data taken from more than 45,000 people in Europe and the United States and found differences between those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder before age 6 and those diganosed after age 10.

People diagnosed earlier typically show behavioral difficulties from a very early age, while behavioral problems in people diganosed later are more likely to show up during adolescence. This latter group is also more prone to mental health issues like depression, and the test data revealed that their condition is genetically closer to ADHD and PTSD than to what is thought of as the “classical” autism found in young children. These findings could affect future treatments for people with the disorder.

In many schools, students are weighed during gym or health class to calculate BMI, a measure often used to track health. Supporters say this can help identify health risks early and encourage conversations about fitness and nutrition.

But critics argue that weigh-ins may do more harm than good, especially if they embarrass students or lead to body image issues. Experts suggest that if schools choose to weigh students, it should be done privately, respectfully, and alongside support for mental and physical well-being.

What was intended to be a funny trend on TikTok has taken a serious turn. The new “Sleepytime Swirl” challenge, where teens mix cold meds like Benadryl and cough syrup to try to “nap hard,” has landed teens in the hospital with serious side effects like seizures and slowed heart rates.

Health experts say combining these drugs can lead to overdose or long-term damage. They are urging teens to skip risky challenges and to understand that misusing cold medicine isn’t harmless—it’s a form of drug abuse with potentially life-altering consequences.

Kissing bugs might sound harmless, but these nighttime biters are showing up in more parts of the U.S.—and they can carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease, which can damage your heart over time. They usually bite people while they sleep, especially around the face.

To stay safe, experts say to seal up cracks in your home, use window screens, and keep pets indoors at night. Spot a bug with a long snout and orange stripes on the side? Snap a photo and report it—catching it early can make a big difference.

More high schoolers are ditching soda and fast food in favor of “clean” eating, red light therapy, and fluoride-free toothpaste—and they’re documenting it all online. Self-described “crunchy” teen influencers are gaining tens of thousands of followers by promoting wellness routines and health advice aimed at their peers.

But health experts are worried. While some teens say these habits help them feel better, doctors and dietitians warn that unverified advice and obsession with “clean living” can trigger anxiety, shame, and even eating disorders. Bottom line: If you’re into health trends, stay curious—but don’t let sensational posts replace real science.

Many teens turn to AI chatbots to vent or feel heard, but several recent suicides show how harmful this can be. Some bots missed signs of distress—or even responded in harmful ways—raising serious concerns.

AI might feel like a safe space, but it can’t truly help when you’re struggling. If you’re hurting, reach out to someone real—a friend, trusted adult, or counselor. You’re not alone, and real help is out there.

A new study from Lurie Children’s Hospital found that bullying during the teen years has a stronger link to anxiety and depression than when it happens in childhood. But it also showed that teens who feel supported and connected at school are more likely to recover emotionally.

That means your relationships—with friends, classmates, and trusted adults—really matter. Even if you’ve been through bullying, you have the power to heal and grow, especially when you surround yourself with people who truly see and support you.