Pollution
How to Protect Yourself from Smoky Wildfire Air
As giant plumes from fires in Canada billow over the U.S., experts explain what smoke does to your health—and how to protect yourself
Stories by Lauren J. Young
Public Health
Why Are COVID Rates Increasing in the Summer?
COVID hospitalizations are slowly rising again this summer, causing scientists and clinicians to rethink if or when the disease will become a seasonal illness
Drug Use
Could Weight-Loss Drugs Curb Addiction? Your Health, Quickly, Episode 12
Drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic might help people tackle substance abuse as well as shed pounds.
Diet
Your Genes May Influence What You Like to Eat
New research identifies genome areas linked to dietary patterns and our taste for things such as tea, tobacco and grapes
Neurology
How Dangerous Are Soccer Concussions? They May Cause Lasting Damage
As the 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off, repeated concussions and head injuries in the sport raise discussion about the lifelong consequences on the brain
Exercise
How to Keep Muscles Strong as You Age
Here’s why older adults naturally lose muscle mass over time and how regular physical activity and resistance training can help
Drug Use
New Drug for Cannabis Use Disorder Shows Promise in Early Trials in Humans
A new pill could be the first to help the more than 14 million people in the U.S. who struggle to control their marijuana use
Natural Disasters
Five Things You Need to Know about Wildfire Smoke Right Now
Where is it coming from? How long will it last? What's in the smoke? Whose health is at risk? How do you clean your own air?
Public Health
How Fungal Meningitis Outbreaks Can Happen after Cosmetic Procedures and Other Surgeries
A cluster of U.S. residents who traveled for surgery have developed severe fungal infections in the spine and brain. Here’s what you need to know about the disease
Cancer
When Should You Get a Mammogram?
Medical boards and task forces recommend mammogram screenings for breast cancer begin at age 40. But people in high-risk groups may want to consider getting tested even earlier
Public Health
The End of the COVID Emergency and What It Means for You
What you pay for tests, vaccines, and medicine will change
Public Health
U.S. COVID Public Health Emergency Is Ending. Here's What That Means
As the federal public health emergency is set to expire on May 11, here’s what you need to know about future COVID testing, treatment and vaccines
Pollution
New Technique Can Map Ocean Plastics from Space
Researchers figured out how the flow of microplastics flattens ocean waves, letting satellites paint a clearer picture for future policy and cleanup efforts
Animals
The Lifesaving Sled Dog Balto Had Genes unlike Those of Dog Breeds Today
The genome of the 1920s Siberian husky Balto suggests that greater genetic diversity and less inbreeding contribute to better health
Vaccines
How Often Should People Get COVID Boosters?
The FDA has authorized a second updated COVID booster for older people and immunocompromised individuals. Most healthy adults still have to wait
Public Health
Rural Children Now Grow Slightly Taller Than City Children in Wealthy Countries
A new international study finds that the growth and development benefits of children living in cities may have diminished in the past three decades
Public Health
Millions of People Living with HIV Are Alive, Thanks to a 20-Year Public Health Effort
Being infected with HIV is no longer a terminal diagnosis, but researchers are looking to fill the gaps that remain to ensure treatment reaches all who need it
Public Health
How to Avoid the Dreaded Norovirus
The so-called winter vomiting disease has been closing schools and hitting long-term care facilities this year. Here’s what you should know
