Maria Godoy
Stories
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National
Petting other people's dogs, even briefly, can boost your health
You don't even have to own one. Research shows just 5 to 20 minutes interacting with other people's pooches can reduce stress hormones and increase well-being.
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Science
Weekly Dose of Wonder: Spending time with a dog can be good for your health
What's four-legged, furry and often serves up a mood boost? That's right: dogs. As part of our series Weekly Dose of Wonder, here's how even brief interactions with pups can be good for health.
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National
How can kids stay safe if they play outside in extreme heat?
Little kids are like a "small potato" whose core can heat up faster than an adult's, an expert tells NPR. Here are tips for helping children stay safe in extreme temperatures.
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Health
Here's what happens to the body in extreme temperatures — and how heat becomes deadly
Multiple organ failure, heart attack and kidney failure are the primary ways people die in extreme heat. Read on to find out how to stay safe in the heat wave.
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Health
How to cut back on junk food in your child's diet – and when not to worry
Kids today live in an ultra-processed world: Nearly 70% of what they eat is packaged, processed and probably not great for them. Here are ways to cut back, without cooking every meal from scratch.
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Food
What we know about the health risks of ultra-processed foods
Sure, they're tasty, but packaged snacks and meals can be packed with sugar, salt and a list of unpronounceable ingredients. So what are they doing to your health? Scientists are trying to find out.
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Health
Medicaid renewals: Those who don't reenroll could get kicked off
A federal rule that protected coverage for Medicaid recipients during the pandemic will expire on March 31. When it does, tens of millions of people will need to re-enroll or lose benefits.
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Health
Kid YouTube stars make sugary junk food look good — to millions of young viewers
The platform banned food advertising, yet many videos viewed by millions of kids continue to showcase candy, soda and packaged snacks, likely affecting kids' food preferences, researchers say.
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Health
Your kids are adorable germ vectors. Here's how often they get your household sick
After months of COVID, flu and RSV infections, parents of little kids are kinda losing it. But the data shows kids have always brought home waves of respiratory illness.
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National
If it feels like your kid has been sick for months — here's some scientific comfort
With COVID, RSV, the flu and other bugs circulating, the last few months have been an endless cycle of illness for many families with young kids. While miserable, it's also normal in the grand scheme.