According to a recent CDC report, teen smoking and the use of other tobacco products in the U.S. have dropped to the lowest levels seen in 25 years. The report highlights a 20 percent decrease in tobacco use among middle and high school students from 2023 to 2024. This includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and hookahs. The number of youth using at least one tobacco product fell from 2.8 million to 2.25 million, marking a significant decline. Health officials suggest that public health initiatives, educational campaigns, and stricter enforcement against retailers and manufacturers selling products to young people likely played a role in this downward trend.

A new study found a strong association between handheld cellphone use and risky driving behaviors among newly licensed teen drivers. The study used a smartphone telematics application to track the driving habits of hundreds of teens and identify potential safety risks.

A recent study found that good physical fitness from childhood to adolescence is linked to better mental health in adolescence. These results are significant and timely, as mental health problems are currently a major societal challenge, affecting up to 25%--30% of young people. These findings suggest that improving physical fitness from childhood can help prevent mental health problems.

The duration of breastfeeding is shorter than average among mothers with a fear of childbirth -- regardless of the mode of delivery, a new study from Finland shows.

Earlier this year, New York City teen Zen Micheline Hung started volunteering at a pet shelter with her parents. A lifelong pianist, Hung was inspired to play music for the shelter pets after observing how her own dogs reacted to her playing at home. After getting approval from shelter staff, she brought her keyboard and started performing mini concerts for the cats and dogs. She plays calming, low melodies and even adjusts the music to match the animals’ personalities and behavior.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Hung said, “It is so rewarding to do something useful, especially if it is something you believe in. Contributing time and effort on a volunteer basis without any pay is not without reward. The reward is a strong feeling of personal satisfaction and seeing the good that comes from that effort.”

Scientists at the University of Oxford have secured funding from Cancer Research UK to create the world’s first vaccine designed to prevent ovarian cancer. Their research will focus on identifying which proteins on the surface of early-stage ovarian cancer cells are most effectively recognized by the immune system, as well as testing how well the vaccine targets and destroys organoids—mini-models of ovarian cancer.

If their research proves successful, the next step will be to initiate clinical trials. The ultimate goal is to offer women a vaccine that could help prevent ovarian cancer before it occurs. It is estimated that over 239,000 women worldwide are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, with approximately 140,000 losing their lives to the disease.