Why Your Brain Drifts After a Bad Night’s Sleep, Scientists Explain

Ever notice how hard it is to stay sharp after a rough night of sleep? 

A recent study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience points to a surprising reason why: The brain may briefly shift into a sleep-like cleaning mode, even while you’re awake.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)...

Your Nose May Decide How Bad Your Cold Gets, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News)  — Why does a cold virus knock some people flat while others barely feel it?

A new study suggests the answer may come down to what happens inside your snoot.

Researchers found that how cells in the nasal passages respond to rhinovirus, the most common cause of a cold, helps decide ...

Wildfire Smoke During Pregnancy May Raise Autism Risk, Study Finds

Women who breathe wildfire smoke during pregnancy, especially in late stages, may put their offspring at greater risk of autism, a new study of California births suggests.

Researchers found that exposure during the third trimester, when the fetus’ brain grows rapidly, was linked to a higher chance of an autism diagnosis in childhood....

Measles Outbreak Reaches Clemson Campus as South Carolina Cases Surge

South Carolina’s fast-growing measles outbreak has now reached a major college campus, after health officials confirmed a case linked to Clemson University.

State health officials said a person affiliated with the university tested positive for the highly contagious virus, raising fears as the outbreak continues to spread across the ...

'Super Agers' Have Genetic Edge For Brain Health, Study Suggests

So-called “super agers” have a couple of genetic advantages that help them maintain their brain health into late old age, a new study says.

These folks are less likely to harbor the gene variant most associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the APOE-ε4 gene, researchers reported Jan. 16 in the journal A...