The COVID-19 pandemic redefined daily life for many families. Schools and daycares closed, parents worked from home, and social distancing limited interactions. These changes disrupted early childhood development. Until recently, researchers had not studied how they affected social cognition.

A new study in Scientific Reports compared two groups of 3.5- to 5.5-year-olds. Researchers tested one group before the pandemic, and the other afterward.

Researchers focused on false-belief understanding (FBU), a key social cognition skill. FBU is the ability to recognize others’ different or incorrect beliefs.

Results showed that children tested after the pandemic performed worse on false-belief tasks. Even after controlling for age and language skills, the post-pandemic group struggled more. The effect was stronger for children from lower-income families.

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The Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze halted major malaria vaccine research. The USAID Malaria Vaccine Development Program (MVDP) told partners to stop work immediately. The freeze disrupts collaboration between U.S. and international researchers.

Affected teams included experts from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Oxford. The program aimed to reduce child deaths by developing improved malaria vaccines.

The funding freeze also halted medicine shipments and raised global health concerns. Malaria kills about 450,000 children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa each year.

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A measles outbreak in West Texas has grown to 58 cases. In eastern New Mexico, eight people have also tested positive.

Measles spreads easily and can cause serious complications. Young children are especially at risk.

Officials say the actual number of infections is likely higher. They estimate between 200 and 300 cases have gone untested. Knowing the signs of measles can help limit its spread.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a new bird flu vaccine. Zoetis, the manufacturer, announced the approval in February.

The vaccine is for chickens and helps protect poultry flocks. It targets the H5N1 strain, which has infected 150 million birds. No existing vaccine fully matches this strain. Officials are now building a stockpile for livestock.

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A new study links plastic takeout containers to a higher risk of heart disease. Researchers surveyed 3,179 people on plastic exposure and heart health. Frequent plastic use raised the risk of congestive heart failure by 13%.

The study suggests plastic exposure harms gut health and heart function. Researchers stress the need for further studies on plastic-related health risks.

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