health
A New Study Helps Untangle the Role of Tau in Dementia
Understanding the protein’s role in the cell shows what's happening in neurodegenerative diseases before symptoms emerge.
How to Get a Covid-19 Booster Shot
Here's everything you need to know about finding and receiving the booster shot in the age of Omicron.
Sick Pet? These Are the Best Virtual Vet Services
These days, your pet can get medical help without leaving home. These are our favorite televet services.
Bird Flu Is Back in the US. No One Knows What Comes Next
The fast-moving pathogen, which has already invaded Europe, was found in East Coast ducks. The last outbreak that tore through the US killed 50 million birds.
10 Good N95, KN95, and Surgical Face Masks to Buy Right Now
Here are the best disposable masks we've tested and researched so far—and where you can find them.
A Project to Count Climate Crisis Deaths Has Surprising Results
Climate change is already killing people, but countries don’t have an easy way to count those deaths. A new project might change that.
Your Medical History Might Someday Include ‘Climate Change’
Last summer, a doctor wrote “climate change” in his patient’s chart. But is medicine really ready to address systemic health impacts?
Our Favorite Period Products
Try a subscription service—or opt for budget- and eco-friendly gear like a menstrual cup, period underwear, or reusable pads.
The Best of CES 2022
These are the products, prototypes, and ideas that did the best job of signaling the future at this year’s consumer tech showcase.
How Do You Design a Better Hospital? Start With the Light
A new trend in patient-centered design focuses on making environments more comfortable and less scary.
The Best Posture Correctors to Put a Stop to Your Slouch
You're hunched over your desk and phone for hours. We rounded up gadgets to help you straighten up—including a DIY trick and yoga advice.
Could Being Cold Actually Be Good for You?
Researchers are exploring the health benefits of literally chilling out.
Covid Will Become Endemic. The World Must Decide What That Means
The task of 2022 will be figuring out how much action we’re willing to take and how much disease and death we’ll tolerate.
Predicting Death Could Change the Value of a Life
New technology promises to forecast the length of your life. But for disabled people, measuring mortality can prove fatal.
Lab-Grown Embryo Research Is Poised to Transform Medicine
New advances in stem cell science could alleviate devastating early-life conditions. But this comes with a moral conundrum.
Antibodies Are Being Created to Fight Disease in New Ways
Targeting cancers and viruses, better knowledge of the human immune system is leading to new medicines.
My Brain Is Already Cyborg
We disabled people have been cyborgs since the dawn of time—but it took the pandemic for me to realize that my mind is one, too.
Growing Peppers on the ISS Is Just the Start of Space Farming
The chile peppers thrived in a controlled microgravity environment. But to develop agriculture away from Earth, NASA will have to think outside the box.
Got Jet Lag? Consider Hacking Your Circadian Rhythm
Manipulating the master clock could help astronauts, pilots, shift workers, and even holiday travelers. The solution is simpler than you think.
This Startup Is Making—and Programming—Human Cells
Creating bespoke cells could transform testing and help develop new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Some Cancer Studies Fail to Replicate. That Might Be OK
A years-long effort to validate key cancer biology hit roadblocks and found problems. But maybe this will incentivize scientists to share data.
The Withings ScanWatch Is a Classy Everyday Fitness Tracker
This refined and elegant smartwatch boasts ECG and SpO2 sensors, fitness and sleep tracking, and stellar battery life.
More Companies Offer Fertility Benefits. It’s Only the Beginning
Employer support for staff who wish to freeze their eggs has great potential—but broader support for parents still lags behind.
The UK Government Wants to Sequence Your Baby’s Genome
Genomics England plans to test a program that will offer whole genome sequencing to newborns—opening a Pandora’s box of ethical concerns.