Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts to combat climate change. Thunberg’s activism began when she was 15 and sat outside Sweden’s Parliament during elections asking for action on climate change from the government. Her actions helped her gain a large following on social media and her movement spread to other countries across Europe and around the world. Last week, thousands of students took part in a Global Climate Strike in solidarity with Thunberg’s fight for a better future for the planet.

Two Norwegian lawmakers nominated Thunberg for the prize stating that, “… the massive movement Greta has set in motion is a very important peace contribution.” The winner of the prize will be announced in October. If Thunberg wins, she would become the youngest recipient since Malala Yousafzai to receive the award. Thunberg shared her thoughts from when she began her movement: “I thought if no one does anything, I’ll have to do something. When I grow older I want to look back and say I did what I could back then.”

Girls are not the only ones who go through puberty early if they have obesity. Boys with obesity enter puberty at an earlier age than average, according to a new study.

Teens and young adults who were exposed to HIV and antiretroviral therapy before birth but are HIV-negative themselves are at increased risk of obesity and asthma-like symptoms.

Fathers-to-be who smoke may increase the risk of congenital heart defects in their offspring, according to a new study. For mothers-to-be, both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke were detrimental.

Adopting stricter state gun laws is linked to a safer school experience for students, a new study has found. Strengthening gun laws at state level was associated with teens being less likely to report being threatened or injured with a weapon at school, miss at least one day of school due to feeling unsafe, or to carry a weapon at any location.

Healthy cognitive aging is a public health priority, especially as the US population grows older. Until now, not much has been known about the link between pregnancy history and cognitive function in older women. A new study finds that there does not appear to be a link.

A new study indicates that complications during birth may increase the risk that children will develop social anxiety by their pre-teen years.

Only one group of teenagers used marijuana more often after retail sales were legalized in Washington than they did before -- high school seniors who work 11 or more hours per week, according to new research led by a WSU College of Nursing professor.

Have you ever used Google Docs for a school assignment? The web-based word processor is a popular tool for shared projects. The ability to interact in real-time with collaborators on a project can be very useful. However, some teens have found a new use for Google Docs. When they don’t have access to other methods of online communication or social media, they open up a document and invite their friends to be collaborators. Now they have a private space to draw, chat, share links, upload photos and more. After using the document to chat, they can delete it, empty their trash folder, and not leave a record of it.

While most teens are using Google Docs as a fun communication tool with friends, some are also using the word processor for bullying. According to research by the parental control app Bark, there have been more than 60,000 cases of kids ganging up on others or participating in cyberbullying through Google Docs. Some teens are writing hurtful things then sharing them through Google Docs, creating inappropriate lists about students, or sharing ideas to tease or make fun of another person. It is important to think carefully about what you are sharing online in any medium. Just because a Google Doc can be trashed, it doesn’t mean someone didn’t save a screenshot of it. Tell an adult if you suspect cyberbullying or harassment and don’t accept an invitation from anyone you don’t know. Many schools have strict rules against cyberbullying and in many places those using an online platform to cause harm or harassment are breaking the law.

The percentage of young Americans experiencing certain types of mental health disorders has risen significantly over the past decade, with no corresponding increase in older adults, according to new research.

Peer approval is the best indicator of the tendency for new college students to drink or smoke according to new research from Michigan State University. This new finding is key to help universities address the problems of underage or binge drinking.

Puberty is much more than just a time of biological overdrive, propelled by sexual maturation. Progress in developmental science has greatly broadened the perspective of this critical maturational milestone.

An international team conducted a study on bullying roles among peers. Children who are involved in bullying at age 11, may remain involved throughout their entire adolescence.

As the FDA looks for more information on e-cigarettes and e-juice flavors, a new study shows that adolescents and young adults cite appealing flavors as a main reason for using e-cigarettes, that they are more likely to turn to fruit- and candy-flavored cigarettes than adult smokers trying to quit who more commonly prefer tobacco flavors, and that the younger population are likely to use multiple e-cigarette flavors at the same time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently urged the CEOs of Google, Facebook, and Pinterest to filter medical misinformation from their platforms. It is already difficult for many to tell the difference between factual sources and unverified information or propaganda online, which can have real-life implications. The AAP is concerned that parents may be making medical choices for their children based on conversations and statements made by social media groups, rather than credible sources like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are not the only ones concerned about the amount of misinformation spread online.

Ethan Lindenberger, a teen from Ohio, recently spoke before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions about this concern. He discussed how his parents based medical choices for him on the information they learned through social media groups. He is concerned that fear may be used as a driving force for the quick spread of false information. While the AAP is confronting the social media platforms, he is telling lawmakers that it is important to teach people about how to find good information. Lindenberger explained to the Senate subcommittee panel, “Approaching this issue with the concern of education and addressing misinformation properly can cause change, as it did for me.”

Scientists are providing expecting mothers new information about how smoking before and during pregnancy contributes to the risk of an infant dying suddenly and unexpectedly before their first birthday.

Serious mental stress has become a fact of life for many U.S. teens. According to a recently released Pew Research Center survey on teens ages 13 to 17, one of the largest problems facing teens is anxiety and depression. Currently, seven out of ten teens say anxiety and depression are a major problem with their peers. Data on anxiety disorders shows that 7 percent of teens reported some sort of mental episode or condition in 2016–2017. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health also found that serious depression has been on the rise among teens for the past several years. Almost 13 percent of teens had experienced a major depressive episode in 2016. Fewer than half of teens with major depression said they’d been treated for it in the past year.

Most women dramatically reduce their alcohol intake on learning they are pregnant, but by the time their child is five they are back to their pre-pregnancy drinking levels, a new international study has found. The research reported little change in the drinking patterns of men on becoming fathers.

Triston Bailey, an 18-year-old from Texas, is speaking out after a selfie attempt almost ended his life. Bailey and his friends thought it would be fun to snap a selfie at a well-known bridge in the area. Distracted while trying to take the perfect shot, Bailey accidentally fell over the edge dropping 50 feet (15 meters).

Bailey was lucky. He was able to recover from multiple injuries, but he now knows and wants other teens to know how taking selfies can be dangerous. According to a recent study, at least 250 people worldwide have died taking selfies during the past six years. More than 70 percent of those deaths were males with an average age of 23. Doctors, along with Bailey, hope that by sharing his story they can prevent others from making a similar, dangerous decision.

Scientists report motor skills problems in children exposed during pregnancy to plasticizer chemicals known as phthalates that are widely used in personal care products like moisturizers and lipstick, as well as plastic containers and children's toys.