Lifestyle
‘I cannot guarantee complete confidentiality,’ VA therapists ordered to tell veterans
By Katia Riddle Panic, fear, uncertainty, and anger. Those are the emotions mental health clinicians who work for the US Department of Veterans Affairs describe as they prepare for the VA’s mandatory return-to-office directive. Some are being summoned to offices as soon as Monday, April 14. Representatives from the VA say they are planning to…
HIV, Trans Health, and Covid Research Targeted by Trump Cuts to NIH
The Science Fields and State Hit Hardest by Trump NIH Cuts, in 4 Charts An analysis reveals which fields of science and U.S. states are being hit hardest by National Institutes of Health grant terminations By Max Kozlov, Chris Ryan & Nature magazine Scientists and others have been protesting the massive cuts to research at…
Health secretary RFK Jr. endorses the MMR vaccine — stoking fury among his supporters
Geoff Brumfiel An endorsement of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has provoked an angry outcry from anti-vaccine activists. “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy said in the third paragraph of a lengthy post on…
Colon cancer survivors who exercise regularly live longer
Maria Godoy Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, and it’s on the rise among younger adults in the U.S. But research recently published in the journal Cancer, finds regular exercise can help survivors live longer — in some cases, even longer than people who’ve never had colon cancer. “I…
Second child dies from measles-related causes in West Texas, where cases near 500
By The Associated Press A second school-aged child in West Texas has died from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed Sunday, as the outbreak continues to swell. Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized” and was not…
Utah’s Decision to Ban Fluoride Is a Bad Move for Kids
Opinion Cross CurrentsFridays Utah’s Decision to Ban Fluoride Is a Bad Move for Kids Becoming the first state to ban fluoride is going to cost Utah, both financially and dentally By Megha Satyanarayana Keep in touch with Cross Current: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Megha Satyanarayana Utah has just become the first…
Don’t overthink the torpedo bats
Linda Holmes On Monday, March 31, at the Philadelphia Phillies’ home opener at Citizens Bank Park, with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, with the count at one ball and one strike, Phillies slugger Bryce Harper smacked the ball, hard. You could hear it — smack. And that home crowd (which I…
What does gender have to do with conservation?
In a remote, arid region of southwest Madagascar, the main source of local income is women’s work. In this case, it’s octopus fishing. Each day, as the men of the community set sail at dawn to fish in deep waters, women wait for the tide to recede. Joined by their children and armed with well-used…
As Happened in Texas, Ignoring EPA Science Will Allow Pollution and Cancer to Fester
Opinion As Happened in Texas, Ignoring EPA Science Will Allow Pollution and Cancer to Fester Trump administration plans to destroy EPA science will leave the air we breathe and the water we drink more polluted By Jennifer Sass Cows graze near the Oak Grove Power Plant in Robertson County, Texas, subject to EPA (Environmental Protection…
A midwife says of the aid cuts in Afghanistan: ‘No one prioritizes women’s lives.’
By Diaa Hadid , Khwaga Ghani An Afghan midwife describes how a woman died in childbirth, along with her baby. She was snowed into her village and couldn’t reach a hospital. Just weeks before, the health clinic in her village had closed. If it was open, a midwife could have helped her. Other midwives, based…
As Measles Continues to Rise, CDC Muffles Vaccine Messaging
As Measles Continues to Rise, CDC Muffles Vaccine Messaging By burying an assessment with updates and recommendations about the U.S.’s current measles outbreaks, the CDC has signaled an alarming shift in its public messaging By Jen Schwartz edited by Jeanna Bryner A health worker prepares a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center…
Charity-seekers from all over Pakistan flock to Karachi at Ramadan to collect alms
By Betsy Joles KARACHI, Pakistan — On a recent Monday afternoon, 61-year-old Sayani Soomar, a widow, sits on a curb in a busy Karachi commercial area with a paper sign asking for help. She holds in her lap packages with pills for high blood pressure, her husband’s death certificate and an electricity bill — evidence…
Amid Trump Cuts, Climate Researchers Wait for the Ax to Fall
Climate Researchers Wait for the Ax to Fall Climate experts whose research is funded by federal grants hide, whisper and wait for their jobs to disappear By Ariel Wittenberg, Chelsea Harvey & E&E News The Trump administration has slashed jobs and funding at the National Institutes of Health. CLIMATEWIRE | The National Institutes of Health…
What green card and visa holders should know before traveling abroad
Juliana Kim Traveling or returning to the U.S. from abroad has become increasingly risky for some — even for people with valid visas and green cards. In recent weeks, international tourists, visa holders and lawful permanent residents — also known as green card holders — have been facing tougher scrutiny at airports and border crossings.…
Long wait for a rushed doctor’s visit? Maybe you’ll get more with a ‘membership’ fee
From By Karen Brown Michele Andrews had been seeing her internist in Northampton, Massachusetts for about 10 years. She was happy with the care, although she did start to notice it was harder to get an appointment. This story was produced in partnership with KFF Health News. “You’d call and you’re talking about weeks to a…
Fat Doesn’t Deserve Its Bad Rap
Opinion Fat Doesn’t Deserve Its Bad Rap Fat is one of the most active, dynamic organs we have. Why can’t we learn to love it? By Bethany Brookshire We starve it. Sweat it off. Freeze or carve it out. We claim that two thirds of Americans have too much of it, and then we take…
The Trump administration restructures federal health agencies, cuts 20,000 jobs
By Selena Simmons-Duffin , Diane Webber The Trump administration Thursday announced a major restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will cut 20,000 full-time jobs. The cuts include employees who have taken the Trump administration’s Fork in the Road offer and early retirement, plus an additional reduction in force of 10,000…
Exhibit takes visitors inside the annex where Anne Frank lived
By Sarah Ventre NEW YORK — The rooms are small and cramped, but they’re full of the details that would make a house into a home: colorful rugs, neatly made beds, a board game on the table and even pictures of the British royal family on the wall. But this isn’t exactly a home —…
HHS’s Long COVID Office Is Closing. What Will This Mean for Future Research and Treatments?
HHS’s Long COVID Office Is Closing. What Will This Mean for Future Research and Treatments? The Office for Long COVID Research and Practice was instrumental in coordinating the U.S. government’s initiatives to treat, diagnose and prevent the mysterious postviral condition that affects millions of people today By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser Under…
What’s soil blocking? This seeding method helps gardeners use less plastic and peat
Neda Ulaby Spring means it’s time for gardeners to think about seedlings, those little baby plants all ready to get plunked into the ground. And a hands-on technique for growing them, called “soil blocking,” is capturing the attention of serious gardeners. Among them is Christopher Hallett. He’s a farm manager at Growing Hope Urban Farm,…
Reporter’s Notebook: Eight theories why fentanyl deaths are plummeting
Brian Mann The last six months I’ve been tracking something really cool and mysterious happening on American streets. For the first time in thirty years, drug deaths are plunging at a rate that addiction experts say is hopeful — but also baffling. In the past, even the most ambitious, well-funded efforts to slow drug deaths…
RFK, Jr., Wants to Make Baby Formula Safer, but Trump Budget Cuts Imperil That Effort
RFK, Jr., Wants to Make Baby Formula Safer, but Trump Budget Cuts Imperil That Effort A new Trump administration health initiative called Operation Stork Speed aims to improve the safety of infant formula and reduce contamination risk, but budget and staffing cuts may hinder that By Tanya Lewis edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Earlier this week…
South African ambassador expelled from US welcomed home by supporters
Ebrahim Rasool, declared persona non grata by Washington, was surrounded by crowds at Cape Town airport The South African ambassador who was expelled from the US and declared persona non grata by the Trump administration was welcomed home on Sunday by hundreds of supporters who sang songs praising him. Crowds at Cape Town International airport…
Flights resume at London Heathrow after a daylong closure sparked travel chaos
By The Associated Press LONDON — London Heathrow Airport said it was “fully operational” on Saturday, after an almost daylong closure sparked by an electrical substation fire. But airlines warned that severe disruption will last for days as they scramble to relocate planes and crews and get travelers to their destinations. The airport’s boss said…
Homeland Security makes cuts to civil rights and immigration oversight offices
Ximena Bustillo The Department of Homeland Security is cutting jobs in the oversight divisions focused on civil rights as a part of a broader reduction in force effort across the federal government. The affected offices, confirmed by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, are the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Office of the…
USAID Funding Saved Millions of Children’s Lives. Recent Cuts Put It in Jeopardy
USAID Funding Saved Millions of Children’s Lives. Recent Cuts Put It in Jeopardy USAID investments significantly reduced deaths among children under age five and women of reproductive age, studies show By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Tigray people, fled due to conflicts and taking shelter in Mekelle city of the Tigray region, in northern…
Tren de Aragua — all you need to know about the Venezuelan gang
By John Otis BOGOTA, Colombia — The Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang that President Trump is targeting in his latest wave of deportations, formed in a Venezuelan prison but has branched out to become a multinational crime organization that has pulled off brazen attacks in places ranging from New York City to Santiago, Chile.…
After al-Assad’s Ouster, Many Syrians Struggle With Returning Home
Syria After Civil War Syria’s interim president has said that millions would return after President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, but many houses and other buildings were destroyed in 13 years of civil war. Syria’s interim president has said that millions would return after President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, but many houses and other buildings were destroyed in…
What we know about the search for a U.S. student missing in the Dominican Republic
By Ayana Archie A person of interest has been named in the investigation of a missing 20-year-old U.S. college student who disappeared last week in the Dominican Republic while on spring break with friends. The missing woman, Sudiksha Konanki, traveled to Punta Cana with five other people last Monday, according to the Dominican Republic’s national…
Kansas Tuberculosis Outbreak Emphasizes the Importance of Public Health Infrastructure
On COVID’s Fifth Anniversary, the U.S. Remains Vulnerable to Infectious Disease On COVID’s fifth anniversary, the U.S. is facing an outbreak of tuberculosis in Kansas that makes strong public health systems as important as ever. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. This week…
She got her dream job at CDC back. But she’s already moving on
Yuki Noguchi Cancer outreach worker Bri McNulty, 23, was one of 750 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was terminated abruptly over email in mid-February, amid a slew of federal workforce dismissals. On Tuesday, McNulty got an equally surprising email hiring her back. She was one of an unknown number of…
Trump’s CDC Firings Will Gut Public Health at the State and Local Level
Trump’s CDC Firings Will Gut Public Health at the State and Local Level The Trump administration’s sudden dismissals have stripped training programs across the nation that bolstered state and local public health departments By Rachana Pradhan & KFF Health News A sign outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The Trump administration’s sudden firing…
As Canadians cancel trips due to Trump, the U.S. tourism industry could lose billions
By Joe Hernandez Leena Yousefi and her family typically visit Hawaii four or five times a year. The Vancouver attorney used to live in Maui and had booked another trip for this year. But that was before President Trump, shortly after taking office in January, said he would impose 25% tariffs on many Canadian goods…
Meet the Syrians behind the music that inspired a revolution
By Emily Feng , Jawad Rizkallah HOMS, Syria — His face is everywhere in Syria. It’s plastered on the country’s new flags, on sweaters and on the side of buses. His voice, untrained and unfiltered, is ubiquitous, too: used in cellphone ringtones and blared from loudspeakers. His name is Abdel Basset al-Sarout. Once the goalkeeper…
Consumers can buy Zepbound direct from the drugmaker if they’ll pay out of pocket
By Sydney Lupkin Every month, roughly 100,000 people buy Zepbound directly from Eli Lilly through its website. “It’s about the size of a small city,” says David Ricks, Eli Lilly’s CEO. That’s about 10% of the 1 million people who use the blockbuster obesity drug every month, though the numbers can vary, he says. The…
Cutting a Parent Out of Your Life Isn’t Always the Right Solution
Opinion The Science of ParentingMondays Cutting a Parent Out of Your Life Isn’t Always the Right Solution Popular culture paints going “no contact” as the best way to deal with hard family relationships. But it’s not always the right choice By Joshua Coleman & Karl Pillemer edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get…
Mental health crisis ‘means youth is no longer one of happiest times of life’
UN-commissioned study in UK, US, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand finds satisfaction rises with age For more than half a century, the midlife crisis has been a feature of western society. Fast cars, impulsive decisions, and peak misery between the age of 40 and 50. But all that is changing, according to experts. In…
The International Space Station May Need More Microbes to Keep Astronauts Healthy
The International Space Station May Need More Microbes to Keep Astronauts Healthy The overly sterile environment of the International Space Station is missing important microbes, a new detailed map shows. If we want to live off Earth, we may need to take more of our bacterial friends with us By Allison Parshall edited by Lee…
Africa’s medical system risks ‘collapse in next few years’, warns health leader
Focusing foreign aid on infectious diseases has allowed a rise in cancer and diabetes that African governments don’t have resources to fight, says Dr Githinji Gitahi Health services in Africa are at risk of “collapse in the next few years” due to soaring chronic diseases, a senior public health leader has warned. Foreign aid to…
Transgender Youth Have Better Emotional Health after Taking Hormones, New Study Finds
Transgender Youth Have Better Emotional Health after Taking Hormones, New Study Finds Hormone therapy improves transgender young people’s well-being and social relationships, but Trump’s recent executive order and state bans threaten to take it away By Tyler Santora edited by Tanya Lewis A demonstrator at the Rise Up for Trans Youth rally against President Donald Trump’s executive…
How is Pope Francis doing? The Vatican says he rested well and met church officials
By Fatima Al-Kassab , Willem Marx ROME — Pope Francis “rested well throughout the night,” according to a statement from the Vatican Tuesday morning, as he appears to make a slight recovery from double pneumonia and other ailments. He has also resumed some of his duties as pontiff while in the Gemelli hospital in Italy’s…
Health care workers are rushing to learn about immigration law in case of ICE raids
From By Jackie Fortiér The lobby at the St. John’s Community Health clinic in South Los Angeles bustles with patients. But community health worker Ana Ruth Varela is worried that it’s about to get a lot quieter. Many patients, she said, are afraid to leave their homes. “The other day I spoke with one of…
Trump Denied Knowledge of Project 2025—Now His Health Care Plans Follow It Closely
Trump Denied Knowledge of Project 2025—Now His Health Care Plans Follow It Closely During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump distanced himself from the conservative governing plan Project 2025. But it’s increasingly viewed as a blueprint for his administration’s plans for federal health programs By Stephanie Armour & KFF Health News Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of…
Carl Zimmer on His New Book Air-Borne and What Public Health Experts Learned from the COVID Pandemic
The Air around Us Is Full of Life By Rachel Feltman, Naeem Amarsy, Jeffery DelViscio & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. You probably don’t spend too much time thinking about the air you breathe—at least relative to the amount of time you spend actually breathing…
Why Is the Trump Administration Villainizing Mental Health Meds for Kids?
Opinion Cross CurrentsFridays Why Is the Trump Administration Villainizing Mental Health Meds for Kids? A federal commission to examine U.S. chronic disease could undercut real treatment for kids with depression, ADHD and other mental health challenges By Megha Satyanarayana edited by Dan Vergano Keep in touch with Cross Current: Get email alerts for this weekly…
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread
Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread Low vaccination rates and undetected infections are driving the measles outbreak in West Texas By Amy Maxmen & KFF Health News Most unvaccinated people will contract measles if they’re exposed to the airborne virus, which can linger for up to two hours indoors. Those…
Trump’s picks to oversee Medicare and biomedical research will divest stock
By Sydney Lupkin , Rob Stein If Dr. Mehmet Oz is confirmed to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, he said in an ethics letter dated Feb. 16 that he will sell health care stock and leave his role as an advisor to iHerb, LLC, a nutritional supplement company that he has promoted…
Trump Administration’s Attacks on Science in First 30 Days
Science under Siege during Trump’s First 30 Days The Trump administration has acted fast to attack science with a range of funding and policy tactics By Jeff Tollefson, Max Kozlov, Alexandra Witze, Dan Garisto & Nature magazine U.S. President Donald Trump looks at an executive order on halting federal funds for schools and universities that…
Kenya’s wildlife tourism, a casualty of COVID, gets a lifeline
From July to October each year, millions of wildebeests, zebras and other wildlife travel from Tanzania to Kenya’s Maasai Mara region — a phenomenon known as “The Great Migration.” But the animals are not usually the only ones that flood the region during this time: Typically, thousands of tourists flock to the Maasai Mara to…
Funding cuts leave a forest at risk
One of the world’s most important places for nature is a small strip of mountainous forest no more than about 40 miles wide. And for want of a relatively small amount of money, its long-term health is in doubt. Not many people have heard of Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, home to one of the last large…
Republican proposals to cut Medicaid could be politically fraught
From By Phil Galewitz Medicaid is under threat — again. Republicans, who narrowly control Congress, are pushing proposals that could sharply cut funding to the government health insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, as a way to finance President Trump’s agenda for tax cuts and border security. Democrats, hoping to block the GOP’s plans…
Health agencies lose staff in key areas as Trump firings set in
By Will Stone , Pien Huang Termination letters landed in the mailboxes of hundreds of employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health over the weekend, as the Trump administration moved ahead with firings announced verbally Friday. That’s according to more than half…
Men Actually Crave Romantic Relationships More Than Women Do
Men Actually Crave Romantic Relationships More Than Women Do Multiple-study analysis looks at why men’s emotional intimacy is much more difficult outside of romantic relationships By Clarissa Brincat edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Research explores why men seem to find romantic relationships more important than women do. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Drawing on…
She suspected a heart attack, but was diagnosed with broken heart syndrome
Allison Aubrey If you’ve ever had a scary experience, when your adrenaline is pumping, as you deal with a threat or shock, you may relate to Maria Carraballo’s experience. While on vacation in Puerto Rico, Carraballo, 75, was swimming with her two young grandsons, when the current began to pull them away from the shore.…
Trump’s Proposal to Expel Palestinians From Gaza Hangs Over Rubio’s Israel Trip
Trump Administration Scholars of international law say President Trump’s vision for American control of a Gaza without Palestinians would be ethnic cleansing and a war crime. By Edward Wong and Isabel Kershner Edward Wong reported from Washington, and Isabel Kershner from Jerusalem. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel…
Indonesian province leaps ahead in conservation
One of Indonesia’s easternmost regions is taking an unprecedented step toward sustainability. Last week, the government of the province of West Papua, on the island of New Guinea, announced legislation establishing it as Indonesia’s first “conservation province.” What this means is that the government will ensure that all future economic activity and development will be…
Indonesia protects ‘walking sharks.’ Are other sharks next?
The Indonesian government has granted six species of threatened “walking sharks” the highest level of protection across all national waters — a move experts hope will lead to the conservation of other sharks, whose numbers have plummeted due largely to the shark fin trade. “Walking sharks are small, charismatic and absolutely harmless to humans. Our…
Unease grows at the CDC as Trump administration keeps grip on research, messaging
By Pien Huang , Will Stone The situation is far from normal at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, current and former CDC officials tell NPR, even as a clampdown on external communications is starting to ease. New layers of review from political appointees installed by the new Trump Administration remain in place amid…
Look for ‘Slow Flower’ Bouquets, Plants Grown without Health-Harming Chemicals Used in Overseas Operations
The Beauty of ‘Slow Flowers’ versus the Pretty Poison of Plants Grown with Dangerous Chemicals New “slow flower” farms grow beautiful blooms—without health-harming chemicals used by overseas operations that dominate the U.S. flower market By Maryn McKenna edited by Josh Fischman Dahlias bloom at the Maine Flower Collective, a group of local growers. On a…
Bo-Kaap: the candy-coloured corner of Cape Town facing tourism v heritage dilemma
Some locals in picturesque district of Bo-Kaap are fed up with influx of visitors, and worry about impact of gentrification After Table Mountain, the candy-coloured houses of Bo-Kaap have become one of Cape Town’s most iconic images, a key stop in any tourist’s visit to the South African city and a must-have for Instagram feeds.…
Trump’s ban on gender-affirming care for young people puts hospitals in a bind
Selena Simmons-Duffin Kristen Chapman had already moved her family from Tennessee to Virginia to try to find a state that would be more welcoming to her transgender daughter, Willow. After months waiting for an appointment at the gender-affirming care clinic at VCU Health in Richmond, Willow had one on the calendar on Jan. 29. President…
4 things you didn’t know elephants do for you
Editor’s note: On April 18, 2018, Conservation International released its virtual reality film, “My Africa.” The film tells the story of a young Samburu woman in Kenya whose community is working to save elephants, reknitting an ancient coexistence between people and wildlife. In honor of this film, Conservation News is telling stories about the people,…
Expert: Rollbacks of environmental protections imperil nature — and human health
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, countries around the world have been shrinking or eliminating areas set aside to protect nature — some to drill for fossil fuels, others for urban development. Yet the environmental rollbacks that some governments claim could help humanity recover economically from the coronavirus could put humanity more at risk of future…
Trump Executive Orders Create Confusion for Science and Health Agencies
Funding Freeze and Communications Hold Create Confusion for U.S. Researchers Researchers in the U.S. are grappling with Trump administration executive orders around health and science agency funding and communications. By Rachel Feltman, Max Kozlov, Lauren J. Young, Fonda Mwangi & Madison Goldberg [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman.…
Senate Democrats call for answers on health communications freeze and funding delays
Carmel Wroth In a letter sent Wednesday night to Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink, a group of 34 Democratic senators called for the federal health agency to end its freeze on “external communications and funding.” “We write to express our deep concern over the Administration’s recent decision to freeze external communications…
Maryland federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán A federal judge in Maryland on Wednesday blocked President Trump’s executive order to end citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to parents in the country without legal status. Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are…
Trump Administration Closes Climate Health Office
Trump Administration Shutters Climate Health Office A climate office at the Department of Health and Human Services has been shuttered, and its staff was placed on administrative leave By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News An elderly man faints in front of the Supreme Court in June 2024 as temperatures in Washington, D.C., rose into the…
New Game Card “Beat”
🎮 BEAT Party Game Card: The Game That Takes Truth to the Limit is Now on Kickstarter If you’ve ever felt that a simple “Truth or Dare” wasn’t enough, BEAT Party Game Card is here to revolutionize how we play with the truth. This bold and exciting board game, created by Monkey Republic Games, has…
Vagus nerve stimulation may tame autoimmune diseases
Jon Hamilton Tiny pulses of electricity may provide the next big advance in treating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The pulses would be delivered via implanted devices that stimulate the vagus nerve, and they are showing promise in people with arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s, and multiple sclerosis. Currently, autoimmune diseases are usually treated…
RFK, Jr., Confirmation Hearing Is Tomorrow. Here’s What to Know
4 Things to Know as RFK, Jr., Confirmation Hearing Approaches Some health professionals have spoken out about President Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for Secretary of Health and Human Services By Arthur Allen & KFF Health News Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, on…
Did your date give you ‘the ick’? Here’s the science behind the feeling
By Andrea Muraskin The food was top-notch, the atmosphere was cozy and my date aimed to entertain. I love a good personal story, so I invited him to relate one that he’d referenced in his profile. Good fodder for a first date, I thought. At one point in the story, as he recounted it, a…
Trump administration purges websites across federal health agencies
By Will Stone , Selena Simmons-Duffin At the direction of the Trump administration, the federal Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies are purging its websites of information and data on a broad array of topics — from adolescent health to LGBTQ+ rights to HIV. Several webpages from Centers for Disease Control and…
Senator calls RFK Jr.’s position on race and vaccines dangerous
By Will Stone It was one of the more tense exchanges in an already heated confirmation hearing as senators put Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s record on vaccines — and his shifting stances on their safety and efficacy — under the microscope. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat from Maryland, pointed to past comments made by Kennedy…
After fires, LA students yearn to get back to school, and a normal life
Jonaki Mehta Augusta Robbins and her family have been hopping between temporary housing for the last three weeks or so. When the smell of smoke crept into their family home on January 7th, the second grader was playing laser tag. Now, not only has Augusta lost her home, but most of her school is gone,…
Recapping RFK, Jr’s First Day of Confirmation Hearings in 5 Takeaways
RFK Jr., Confirmation Hearing Showed 5 Ways He Threatens Public Health From Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s views on vaccines to Medicaid, here are some ways his nomination for head of the Department of Health and Human Services could have sweeping effects on health care By Tanya Lewis edited by Lauren J. Young Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,…
Trump Asks SpaceX to Return NASA’s ‘Stranded’ Astronauts to Earth ASAP
Trump Asks SpaceX to Return NASA’s ‘Stranded’ Astronauts to Earth ASAP Despite a recent request from Trump, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were already scheduled to return to Earth on a Crew Dragon capsule this spring By Mike Wall & SPACE.com NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Well, this…
How districts are responding after Trump cleared the way for immigration arrests at schools
From By Robin Young , Hafsa Quraishi President Donald Trump has put an end to a longstanding policy that restricted federal agents from making immigration arrests at sensitive locations like churches, hospitals and schools. The Migration Policy Institute estimates 733,000 school-aged children live in the United States without legal status. Chalkbeat reporter Kalyn Belsha says…
Israeli troops fire on displaced Palestinians hoping to return to homes, killing 2
By Willem Marx Israeli troops have blocked thousands of displaced Palestinians from traveling back to their homes in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip, amid Israeli accusations that Hamas had breached the ceasefire deal by delaying the release of specific hostages. Israeli soldiers fired on the large crowds of Gaza residents hoping to return…
The Health Effects of FDA-Authorized ZYN Nicotine Pouches
What’s in ZYN, the FDA-Authorized Nicotine Pouch? Is It Harmful? ZYN, the popular brand of flavored nicotine pouches, recently earned FDA authorization for reducing smoking, but some questions linger. Experts explain the efficacy and potential health risks of nicotine pouches By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser ZYN smokeless nicotine pouch containers for sale…
Once off-limits to Syrians, Assad’s former summer residence now attracts tourists
Hadeel Al-Shalchi QARDAHA, LATAKIA, Syria — There is a long, winding road leading to what was once the family home of ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad just outside Latakia on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. On either side of the road in the village of Burj al-Islam, there are lush orange trees and olive trees. The quiet…
The U.S. just experienced its slowest annual sales of homes since 1995
Laurel Wamsley The final figures for home sales last year are in, and the story is quite grim: 2024 was the slowest year for existing home sales in nearly three decades. Existing-home sales last year totaled 4.06 million, the lowest on an annual basis since 1995, according to the National Association of Realtors on Friday.…
Italy says Libya war crimes suspect was sent home due to ‘social dangerousness’
General Osama Najim was released on a technicality and repatriated by Italy without any prior consultation, says international criminal court Italy’s interior minister said on Thursday a Libyan man detained under an international war crimes arrest warrant and then unexpectedly released had been swiftly repatriated because of his “social dangerousness“. Osama Najim, also known as…
RFK Jr. plans to keep a financial stake in lawsuits against the drugmaker Merck
By Sydney Lupkin Even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as the next Health and Human Services secretary, he still plans to collect fees from Wisner Baum, a law firm suing Merck over claims that the pharmaceutical company failed to properly warn consumers about risks from its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, according to new filings…
One Family in Gaza Returned Home. But Home Was Gone.
Middle East “It took us a few minutes to accept that this pile of rubble was our home,” said Islam Dahliz, whose family was ordered by Israeli forces to evacuate Rafah in May. By Vivian Yee and Bilal Shbair Vivian Yee reported from Cairo, and Bilal Shbair from Rafah, Gaza. Minutes after the fighting stopped…
The Health Risks of Alcohol, a Red Dye Ban and Commercial Space Launches
A Mixed Bag for Private Spaceflight, a New Spider Species and the Health Risks of Alcohol We discuss a big week for commercial spaceflight, a red dye ban and a scary spider species in this news roundup. By Rachel Feltman, Madison Goldberg & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: “It Doesn’t End Here (Instrumental),” by Nehemiah Pratt] Rachel…
If a Sports Bra & Tank Top Had a Baby It’d Be This Cami- Get 3 for $19
Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Some brands featured in this article are partners of Amazon’s Creator Connections program, which means E! may make an increased commission on your purchase if you buy something through our links. Learn more. Once you…
Opinion: Great writers on Los Angeles
Scott Simon Los Angeles has long been a kind of dreamscape, the city of the silver screen, on the edge of a great ocean, that draws in people from all over the world, despite the looming threats of being shaken by earthquakes or scorched by wildfires. Many great writers have been drawn to Los Angeles.…
A California fifth grader interviews his firefighter father
By Lauren Migaki , Janet W. Lee When the fires in Los Angeles broke out just over one week ago, fire captain Shane Lawlor was quickly dispatched to the Palisades. He has been at work ever since. On his first day, Lawlor was on his team’s fireline for 20 hours straight with no breaks for…
BMI Sidelined in New Obesity Definition That Favors Health Evaluation
BMI Sidelined in New Obesity Definition That Favors Health Evaluation Instead of using the controversial body mass index, or BMI, to assess weight, an international group of scientists proposes an approach that looks at how excess body fat affects health By Giorgia Guglielmi & Nature magazine Amid the rising buzz around Ozempic and similar weight-loss…
Some Los Angeles homes made it through the firestorm. Here’s how
Lauren Sommer More than 10,000 houses have been destroyed in Los Angeles, the charred piles of wood and metal all that remains after the fast-moving wildfires. But within that wreckage, some homes are still standing, seemingly untouched. It’s a phenomenon that’s been seen in other high-intensity fires, something that can feel like a stroke of…
How the Gaza war has remade the Middle East
Greg Myre TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which may now be drawing to a close, has dramatically reshaped much of the Middle East and is still delivering aftershocks. When Hamas launched its surprise attack into southern Israel on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, it was operating under Middle East rules…
The Supreme Court’s Trans Health Case Shows Why Patients Should Make the Decisions
Opinion The Supreme Court’s Case on Trans Health Shows Why Patients Should Make the Decisions Supreme Court arguments over trans health care makes plain how badly we need personalized health care in all of medicine By Meredithe McNamara & Dan Murphy edited by Dan Vergano A transgender rights supporter takes part in a rally outside…
The FDA calls for at-a-glance nutrition labels on the front of packaged foods
Maria Godoy The Food and Drug Administration wants to change how packaged food is sold in the U.S. In the waning days of the Biden administration, the agency has proposed requiring a new label on the front of most packaged food and drinks aimed at helping Americans make healthier food choices. The proposed labels would…
Los Angeles Firefighters Risk Cancer from Urban Smoke
Los Angeles Firefighters Risk Cancer from Urban Smoke Wildfires are storming into urban areas more frequently, and toxins in homes and cars are increasing cancer risk for firefighters By Ariel Wittenberg & E&E News A firefighter battles a house fire along PCH as the Palisades Fire burns in Malibu Wednesday. CLIMATEWIRE | Firefighter Matt Alba…
Why Urban Wildfires like L.A.’s Release Such Toxic Smoke
What Makes Urban Wildfire Smoke So Toxic Wildfires burning in cities unleash a toxic, unpredictable combination of compounds into the air By Allison Parshall edited by Dean Visser Smoke over destroyed homes in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, US, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Firefighters are making some progress on controlling…
Destructive Los Angeles Fires Explained in Photos
Photos Show Why Los Angeles Fires Were the Worst in City’s History The ferocity and scale of the fires that tore through the Los Angeles area become clearer in photographs By Andrea Thompson & Amanda Stosz A home on Mariposa Street in Altadena, Calif., goes up in flames during the Eaton Fire on January 8.…
‘I feel blessed to get weight-loss jab’ – but can the NHS afford it for all?
Ray, 62 from south London, became one of the first patients to receive the weight-loss jab Wegovy on the NHS last year and has lost 14kg (just over two stone) in five months. BBC Panorama joined him as he was prescribed his first dose at London’s Guy’s Hospital, where he was told he would probably…
Southern California wildfires destroy or damage many houses of worship
By Jason DeRose , Sarah Ventre A cantor at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels led the congregation in a haunting refrain during a special Mass this week for victims and first responders of the Los Angeles wildfires: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” The fires in Los Angeles County continue…
More than 100 famous works by Australian authors rescued from oblivion by literary heritage endeavour
Three-year project returns out-of-print classics – including six Miles Franklin winners – to circulation and into ebook format for the first time More than 160 books by noted Australian authors have been rescued from oblivion, including six winners of the Miles Franklin literary award. The three-year project, which culminated at the end of last year,…