On the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to allow the sale of hearing aids over the counter and online:Rachel Smith, º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ clinical associate professor and director of the audiology clinic at the º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ Speech and Hearing Centers
“The intent of the FDA was to broaden access. You can get glasses at an optometrist, or an ophthalmologist, or you can get them at a local drugstore. … They’re looking to make hearing aids the same way.â€
WPRI, Channel 12
On bringing ticks that have been stored in a research lab fridge back into action with just a puff of her breath:Jannelle Couret, º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ assistant professor of biological studies
“It’s like being outside. You walk by and take a breath and they say, ‘What’s that? Smells like a good meal.’â€
The Providence Journal
Couret is working on a $2.6- million National Institutes of Health grant to study the evolution of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in black-legged ticks.
On a call by the top U.S. addiction researcher to deregulate methadone, a medication that can reduce opioid dependency:Jeffrey Bratberg, º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ clinical professor of pharmacy
“Methadone has saved countless lives in Canada, Australia, several countries in Europe, and around the globe, providing more destigmatized care in more places safely and effectively.â€
CBS News
On how the movements of right whales, sightings of which have decreased in the Gulf of Maine over the past decade, aren’t totally understood by scientists:Robert Kenney, º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ emeritus marine research scientist
“Right whales are perverse beasts. Every time you think you know what they’re doing, they do something different.â€
Mother Jones

Photo: istock
