Health & Safety

This week in science: a paralyzed man walks again and a sticker-like vaccine patch

4:42pm June 01, 2023

Short Wave hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber talk about a paralyzed man that walked again, a sticker vaccine and the science behind a crop of new RSV vaccines.

By boosting memory consolidation, scientists may be able to help Alzheimer's patients

4:19pm June 01, 2023

by Jon Hamilton

During sleep, the brain strengthens memories it expects to use in the future. Now, scientists say they've found a way to enhance this process. This research might someday help people with memory loss.

Joy Ryan and her grandson Brad at the National Park of American Samoa. The pair visited all 63 U.S. national parks together

Health & Safety

How a 93-year-old visited every national park and healed a family rift in the process

3:05pm June 01, 2023

by Ari Daniel

Grandma Joy Ryan, the 93-year-old behind @grandmajoysroadtrip on Instagram, says she's the "oldest old lady to ever visit every national park."

Queue Listen Now

Samira Muhammadi, the owner of Banowan-e-Afghan restaurant, prepares food for a birthday party.

Health & Safety

A pop-up restaurant in Kabul is run by women for women. The Taliban is watching

12:57pm June 01, 2023

by Maija Liuhto

This start-up aims to provide both food and economic opportunity to Afghan women. But success means first overcoming economic crises, cultural taboos and Taliban interference.

Health & Safety

The story of how the birth control pill was invented and tested

5:21am June 01, 2023

by Gabrielle Emanuel

As the FDA considers whether to make birth control pills available over the counter, some are looking back at the controversial history of the development of "the pill."

Many medical students do not attend lectures in the first two years, instead opting to watch recorded classes on their own time.

Medical students aren't showing up to class. What does that mean for future docs?

5:01am June 01, 2023

Most first- and second-year medical students don't attend lectures. A student and a professor suggest it's a good time to think a lot about medical education, starting with "flipping the classroom."

This image provided by Health Canada shows the final wording of six separate warnings that will be printed directly on individual cigarettes as Canada becomes the first in the world to take that step aimed at helping people quit the habit. The regulations take effect Aug. 1 and will be phased in.

Individual cigarettes in Canada will soon carry health warnings

4:50am June 01, 2023

by The Associated Press

The move was first announced last year by Health Canada and is aimed at helping people quit the habit. The regulations take effect Aug. 1 and will be phased in.

Video games can be both beneficial and risky for teens. Parent can guide them better if they explore their games with them.

Health & Safety

Worried about your kids' video gaming? Explore their online worlds yourself

5:57pm May 31, 2023

by Yuki Noguchi

Games probably won't rot your kid's brain. But kids do need guidance in using them wisely. Here's how to help them, starting with spending some of your own time in the games your kids can't put down.

Queue Listen Now

Abbie Harper worked for a helpline run by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), which is now being phased out. Harper disagrees with the new plan to use an online chatbot to help users find information about eating disorders.

Health & Safety

National Eating Disorders Association phases out human helpline, pivots to chatbot

5:42pm May 31, 2023

by Kate Wells

In recent years, the demands on the NEDA helpline, and the humans who ran it, escalated. The organization says it was unsustainable. But some have worries about new plans for an online chatbot.

A mother reacts to the bankruptcy deal involving Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin

4:35pm May 31, 2023

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Kara Trainor, whose son was born dependent on opioids because of her addiction, about what the Purdue Pharma settlement could mean for her and her family.