Children

We only just recently heard how scorpion venom could be utilized to kill harmful bacteria, and to reverse inflammation. A new study now indicates that it also may find use in the treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

A newly published longitudinal study out of Canada has found a strong association between frequent use of household cleaning products and an increased risk of children developing asthma in the first three years of life.

The icky business of spoiled diapers has motivated many to pursue connected nappies that alert carers when they’re in need of changing, but scientists at MIT are now putting forward a more cost effective option.

Scientists have uncovered what they describe as the first “compelling evidence” of the effects of childhood neglect on brain development by tracking the long-term impacts among Romanian orphans who spent time in the country’s institutions.

Much like the gut, skin and mouth, our respiratory system is home to its own unique microbial population. Intriguing new research has now found a link between specific bacterial populations in the upper airways and the severity of asthma symptoms.

A comprehensive study from the UK has found that introducing children to certain foods at an early age is associated with a lower risk of developing allergies – and the correlation is clear even when subjects didn’t stick strictly to the regime.

A thought-provoking new study, led by researchers from the University of Cambridge, has uncovered distinct differences in brain structure in obese children compared to those of normal weight.

An app designed to detect early signs of several eye diseases has surpassed an 80 percent accuracy rate, equaling the sensitivity of devices used by trained ophthalmologists.

A new study into teen technology use and mental health problems found no link between smartphone use and mental health issues.

A study has followed thousands of teenagers tracking associations between screen time and depression. The research separated types of screen time, and found TV and social media activity correlated with increased symptoms of depression, but video game and computer use had little negative effect.

​Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be a very difficult condition to diagnose, particularly in young children. Previously, we've seen technology intended to detect it by "reading" kids' faces. A new system, however, also gets children to read the faces of others.

We didn't want to write about this, we really didn't. I mean, it's a battery-powered Barbie car for kids, those have been around forever. But one look at the product video and a flip through the photos and we were hooked.​