Peanuts for infants, poopy beaches and summer pet safety in our news roundup

All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly joins Regina G. Barber and Aaron Scott to nerd-out on some of the latest science news. They discuss the disconnect between official guidance and what caregivers know about introducing kids to peanuts, the surprising reality of fecal contamination in many beaches and how to keep your pets cool amid the unwavering heat.

Why infants should eat peanuts

Experts used to advise caregivers not to feed peanut products to an infant — for fear that child would later develop a peanut allergy. But in 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases issued new guidance, based on research that showed introducing peanuts to babies ages 4 to 11 months sharply reduces peanut allergies among high-risk kids. But a new study reveals many caregivers don't know about the change.

Be careful of poop at the beach

The results of an Environment America survey of more than 3,000 beaches are in. According to the survey, roughly one-half of those tested had potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination for at least a day in 2022. Mostly, it's pollution from things like sewage and stormwater runoff — and of course, heavier storms are one of the results of climate change. Many states post updated data on beach safety test results, so consider some research before your next beach outing.

Pets get hot, too

If it feels hot outside to you, it's even hotter to your pet. NPR's Rachel Treisman wrote about how to keep pets safe and comfortable in extreme heat. Look out for hot asphalt, take steps to cool off any pet with a temperature more than 105 degrees, and remember that yes — they can get sunburned, too!

What science in the news should we dig into next? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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This episode was produced by Berly McCoy and Michael Levitt, edited by Rebecca Ramirez, Brent Baughman and Christopher Intagliata, and fact checked by Brit Hanson. Hans Copeland and Maggie Luthar were the audio engineers.

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