Health
Health, medicine, wellness, and the science of living well.
This emerging treatment could help people avoid knee replacement surgery
A minimally invasive procedure called genicular artery embolization could offer a new middle ground between conservative treatments and knee replacement for osteoarthritis. By blocking tiny blood vess
Your smartwatch isn't accurately counting how many calories you burn, study says
A new study finds that consumer-grade fitness wearables are generally inaccurate when calculating calories burned. NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with the study's lead author Jason Kostrna.
Brain scans reveal a possible cause of long COVID fatigue and brain fog
Researchers have found evidence that long COVID may damage dopamine releasing neurons in the brain, potentially explaining persistent fatigue, low motivation, slowed movement, and memory difficulties.
Stem cells reverse stroke damage and restore movement in mice
Stem cell transplants helped regenerate stroke-damaged brain tissue in mice, producing new neurons and restoring lost motor function. The treatment also improved blood vessels, inflammation, and the b
Stopping Ozempic may raise heart attack and stroke risk
A large study suggests the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound can disappear surprisingly quickly when treatment stops. After two years off the medic
Scientists create a needle-thin brain implant that can do three jobs at once
A new needle-thin brain implant can record neural activity, deliver drugs, and stimulate multiple brain regions using a single flexible fiber. Successful tests in mice suggest it could give scientists
Chronic stress may be quietly reshaping your heart
Chronic inflammation tied to stress, lifestyle, mental health, and socioeconomic conditions may silently change the heart for years before any symptoms appear. People with the highest inflammation lev
Stanford scientists discover the human brain may actually be two separate organs
Scientists have found that the human brain develops from two distinct cellular systems, suggesting that evolution fused together two ancient nervous systems with very different jobs. The discovery als
Is produce from a home garden safer than store bought? 'It depends'
A record-breaking summer for foodborne illness prompted more consumers to grow produce at home. But experts say it's the farming practices, not size, that matters for food safety.
Is homegrown food safer?
Home gardening is getting a boost in part from fears of foodborne illness. Experts say what is, or is not, safer when it comes to home grown.
Which emergency foods should you stock up on?
The BBC's Annabel Rackham shares some dos and don'ts, following government advice in case of food supply chain disruption.
Millions take calcium and vitamin D for bone health. A major review finds little benefit
A sweeping review of more than 153,000 adults found that calcium and vitamin D supplements, alone or together, do little to prevent fractures or falls in most older people. Researchers say the finding
8 common food additives linked to high blood pressure and heart disease
Common preservatives hiding in processed foods may carry unexpected heart risks, with heavy consumption linked to substantially higher rates of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Research
PHOTOS: The precarious life of fisherfolk
In the bustling heart of the southern Indian city of Chennai is a market that never sleeps, where residents from the poorest neighborhoods wage a battle of survival with the sea.
Ancient DNA reveals how plague kept returning for 400 years after the Black Death
Ancient DNA reveals that plague repeatedly returned to Europe for more than 400 years after the Black Death, evolving into new lineages and spreading through trade, migration, and war. Researchers als
Hidden gut defect that may explain why IBD keeps coming back
Researchers have uncovered a hidden molecular warning sign of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can linger even when patients feel well and appear to be in remission. By studying around 900 human
A deadly ebola relative is surging after years in the shadows
A growing Bundibugyo virus outbreak is showing how a little-known relative of Ebola can become a major threat when diagnosis and treatment options are limited. Experts warn that preparing only for fam
Scientists solve a 50-year mystery and discover a new human blood group
Scientists have identified the genetic cause behind the mysterious AnWj blood group antigen, solving a puzzle that began in 1972 and establishing a new blood group system called MAL. The discovery cou