New research from Rice University and the University of Alberta shows that residents who believe their neighborhoods were exposed to toxic contamination during flooding report significantly higher concerns about future storms and their long-term well-being. The study analyzed survey responses from Houston residents following Hurricane Harvey, focusing on worries related to home, health and neighborhood safety. Researchers found that the combination of flooding and suspected contamination—not flooding alone—was strongly associated with elevated climate concerns, particularly in coastal industrial communities and communities of color. The authors argue that industrial pollution and climate-related flood risks are increasingly interconnected challenges that require coordinated planning and policy responses. The study, published in Natural Hazards Review, highlights the need for improved strategies to protect vulnerable neighborhoods as severe weather events intensify.

Research led by the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California sheds new light on how the 2025 Los Angeles fires affected people’s health, and how people navigated the health care system during an emergency.

Total hip arthroplasty is a common treatment for hip osteoarthritis. However, clinical outcomes vary between patients, and the best timing for surgery remains unclear. Now, researchers at Kyushu University have identified that pre-surgery walking speed is a strong predictor of post-surgery outcomes. Reporting in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, they found that patients who could walk at least 1 m/s before surgery were significantly more likely to report good postoperative results.

In a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, new research from Johns Hopkins Medicine adds to existing evidence that smoking fewer cigarettes does not eliminate cardiovascular disease risk, and quitting entirely is the most effective strategy for improving health.

New research shows that three-quarters of the world are not getting enough omega-3. A new study finds that 76 per cent of people worldwide are not meeting recommended intakes of EPA and DHA, revealing a significant global public health gap.

The research is the first global review of national and international omega-3 intake recommendations across all life stages for generally healthy people.