Health & Medicine

  1. Science & Society

    Screen addiction affects teens’ mental health. How to spot it, and help

    Banning screens is often not an option. So Science News spoke with experts studying screen use and addiction in teens to help families navigate this complex issue.

    By Sujata Gupta
  2. Health & Medicine

    U.S. measles outbreaks may end a hard-won victory over the virus

    Dropping vaccination rates and changes in U.S. vaccine policy have public health experts concerned that annual measles outbreaks could become more frequent.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  3. Health & Medicine

    Here’s how air pollution may trigger lung cancer

    Exposure to air pollution may trigger DNA mutations that cause lung cancer in nonsmokers.

    By Meghan Rosen
  4. Health & Medicine

    U.S. FDA may nix black box warning on some menopause estrogen treatments

    Experts worry the warning on vaginal estrogen menopause treatments is doing more harm than good and is not supported by science.

    By Tina Hesman Saey and Sofia Caetano Avritzer
  5. Health & Medicine

    ‘Rehab’ exposes the dark underside of U.S. drug treatment centers

    In Rehab, journalist Shoshana Walter investigates the systemic pitfalls of drug treatment programs, which prevent people’s recovery from addiction.

    By Meghan Rosen
  6. Humans

    No, shaken baby syndrome has not been discredited

    Defense lawyers have called shaken baby syndrome, or abusive head trauma, junk science. But doctors say shaking a baby is dangerous.

    By Tara Haelle
  7. Health & Medicine

    Protein signatures may one day tell brain diseases apart before symptoms

    Blood tests could pave the way for distinguishing between Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and some dementias, aiding early treatment for brain diseases.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  8. Health & Medicine

    Organ age, not just your birthday, may determine your health risks

    Blood proteins that reveal some organs age faster than others — and that may predict disease and lifespan.

    By Celina Zhao
  9. Chemistry

    Gut microbes may flush ‘forever chemicals’ from the body

    Experiments in mice show that some gut bacteria can absorb toxic PFAS chemicals, allowing animals to expel them through feces.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  10. Health & Medicine

    These 5 nutrients might be lacking in your diet

    U.S. diets should include more of vitamins D and E, fiber, calcium and magnesium — all are essential nutrients that could offer health benefits.

    By Meghan Rosen
  11. Health & Medicine

    Chronic low back pain may be less likely if you walk – a lot

    Adults who walked more than 100 minutes per day were less likely to have chronic low back pain than those who walked fewer than 78 minutes per day.

    By Meghan Rosen
  12. Health & Medicine

    Vaccine policy in the U.S. is entering uncharted territory

    A key advisory group vows to base decisions on evidence, boost confidence in vaccines and protect health. Experts fear the opposite is happening.

    By Tina Hesman Saey