Health & Medicine

More Stories in Health & Medicine

  1. A vial of blood sit on top of piece of paper with the results of a cholesterol test.
    Health & Medicine

    HDL ‘good’ cholesterol isn’t always good for heart health

    High levels of HDL cholesterol don’t appear to protect against heart disease, while harm from low levels may depend on race, a study reports.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  2. An illustration of a man blowing his nose on a pink background with a giant box of tissues, red ski cap, and pills in the middle ground.
    Health & Medicine

    Why it’s easier to catch a cold, the flu or COVID in the winter

    Low humidity protects viruses and cold temperatures may blunt some immune responses, making viral infections like colds, flu and COVID-19 more likely.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  3. medical illustration of a human body with lungs and a zoom in view that shows Blastomyces fungal spores in the lungs
    Health & Medicine

    4 key things to know about lung infections caused by fungi

    News that three kinds of fungi are more widespread than previously thought prompted reader questions about risk, symptoms and more. We answer them.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  4. an illustration of a DNA helix with hands inserting missing peices on either side
    Genetics

    50 years ago, scientists sequenced a gene for the first time

    Within five decades, scientists went from sequencing a single gene to sequencing the entire human genome.

    By Cassie Martin
  5. An illustration of the spores of a soil fungi called Histoplasma.
    Health & Medicine

    Fungi that cause serious lung infections are now found throughout the U.S.

    Doctors should be on the lookout for three types of fungi that, when inhaled, can lead to serious infections, researchers say.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  6. A woman wearing a face mask stands inside a home, looking out through a window
    Health & Medicine

    Brain scans suggest the pandemic prematurely aged teens’ brains

    A small study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have aged teen brains beyond their years.

    By Freda Kreier
  7. a natural embryo and a synthetic embryo against a black background
    Health & Medicine

    These 5 biomedical advances gave 2022 a sci-fi feel

    Big steps in biology and medicine include pig to human organ transplants, synthetic embryos and a fully complete human genome.

    By Meghan Rosen
  8. Five Black men, all wearing hats, stand near an old building
    Health & Medicine

    Medical racism didn’t begin or end with the syphilis study at Tuskegee

    Racism that fueled the syphilis study still permeates the U.S. health care system, causing disparities in access to medical care and health measures.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  9. an illustration showing a woman falling. She is chained to a huge spikey red COVID-19 virus. Other viruses around her are also chained to falling people.
    Health & Medicine

    2022 was the year long COVID couldn’t be ignored

    Long covid’s heavy toll grew clearer as millions of people reported lingering symptoms, and scientists and doctors looked for treatments.

    By Laura Sanders