Health
Health, medicine, wellness, and the science of living well.
Stanford scientists discover immune cells that explode like microscopic bombs
Stanford researchers discovered immune cells in flatworms that explode within minutes, killing nearby bacteria and foreign cells before vanishing completely. Their unusually fast and localized attack
Cancer-fighting chewing gum cuts HPV levels by up to 93%
A specially engineered chewing gum reduced HPV by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer. The treatment preserved beneficial mouth bacteria, raising hopes for a sa
Two people in Michigan have died from cyclosporiasis
Michigan has announced the first two deaths related to an outbreak of illnesses caused by the Cyclospora parasite.
A common sugar may help cancer cells break free and spread
Chemotherapy-surviving ovarian cancer cells may release fructose to help neighboring tumor cells loosen, escape, and spread. The discovery suggests that sugary diets and cholesterol-lowering drugs cou
Your brain may be wired to regain lost weight
Weight loss is not simply a test of willpower. The human brain evolved to protect body fat during times of scarcity, and it can treat a previously higher weight as the new normal, triggering stronger
Infertility doctor secretly fathered dozens of children: how strangers became family. Part 3
Dozens of people who grew up around Philadelphia learned decades later they shared the same biological father, a pioneering infertility doctor.
A simple supplement could help the immune system fight cancer and viruses
Low arginine levels may allow cancer cells and viruses to slip past the immune system by reducing production of a crucial cellular warning protein. In mice, arginine-rich diets led to fewer colon tumo
Scientists may have found aging’s hidden trigger for brain disease
Scientists have identified a molecular switch that may help explain why aging makes the brain more vulnerable to diseases such as ALS and Huntington’s. In worms, the protein EPS8 builds up with age an
Two new compounds could reveal hidden drivers of Alzheimer’s disease
Vanderbilt researchers created the first selective compound designed to inhibit TAOK-1, a poorly understood protein connected to Alzheimer’s disease. They also discovered a second compound that activa
Common advice about kids' snacking is outdated. Here's what parents should know
The ultraprocessed food industry changed snacking culture for families. There are many options of processed foods that are designed for on-the-go convenience. What should snacking look like for kids?
Common advice about kid snacking is outdated. Here's what parents should know
Pediatricians recommend kids eat about five times a day: three meals and two snacks. Parents often carry snacks so kids can eat on the go. Here's what science says about snacking.
Two deadly flowers could inspire powerful new medicines
Scientists have figured out how two famously poisonous plants create chemicals with surprising medical potential. After tracking thousands of genes in wolfsbane and larkspur, they identified six enzym
Starting uni? What to know about the free NHS meningitis B jab in England
It follows the UK's largest and fastest growing meningitis B outbreak to date in Kent earlier this year.
How one man's love of flyfishing carried him through tough times
An avid fly fisherman in Vermont shares his love of the craft and how its shaped his mental health journey.
Without this protein, damaged muscle turns to fat and scar tissue
A protein once thought to mainly protect chromosome ends may also be essential for keeping muscle stem cells ready to repair injuries. Researchers found that TRF2 helps these cells maintain their iden
Trust in public health institutions is eroding. What can officials do?
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe discusses America's declining trust in public health officials with Marianne Udow-Phillips, a lecturer at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.
E-bike injuries are on the rise for children and teens
Doctors are seeing more children injured - some badly - from e-bikes and e-scooters. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Dr. Cornelia Griggs and Caitlin Coit of Mass General Brigham for Children Hospital.
This once-a-week workout may help cut belly fat, study shows
A surprisingly small dose of exercise may deliver major health benefits for adults carrying excess fat around the waist. In a four-month trial involving 315 adults with central obesity, researchers fo