Health & Safety

A boy has a smoke in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

What's The Rate Of Smoking In The 13- To 15-Year-Old Crowd?

5:28pm June 05, 2017

by Emily Sohn

A lot of them smoke, though percentages vary widely from country to country for various reasons. When cigarettes sell for 10 cents each, that's definitely a boost for smoking.

Babies get less sleep at night and sleep for shorter stretches when they sleep in their parents' room after 4 months old, a new study finds.

Babies Sleep Better In Their Own Rooms After 4 Months, Study Finds

3:40pm June 05, 2017

by Tara Haelle

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep in their parents' room for at least six months. But some experts say scientific evidence does not back up the guidelines.

Chester with Ivory (left), 11, Skylar (right), 12, and Kameron (center), 21 months.

In Texas, Abstinence-Only Programs May Contribute To Teen Pregnancies

12:23pm June 05, 2017

by Lauren Silverman

Teenage pregnancy rates have declined across the country, but some parts of Texas have made much less progress on that. Abstinence-only sex ed policies may be one reason why.

Queue Listen Now

Price Of Corn, A Kenyan Staple, Soars

8:11am June 04, 2017

by Eyder Peralta

Food prices are soaring in Kenya and now a beloved staple, ugali, is out of reach for many working-class people. The government blames the high prices on drought, while some blame corruption.

Michael Bloomberg Aim To Fight Noncommunicable Diseases Complicated By President's Pitch

8:11am June 04, 2017

Michael Bloomberg and Dr. Kelly Henning talk to NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro about how the fight against noncommunicable diseases may be complicated by the president's plan to cut global health spending.

Actor Alan Alda poses for a portrait during the International Film Festival in Toronto.

Alan Alda's Experiment: Helping Scientists Learn To Talk To The Rest Of Us

8:11am June 04, 2017

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

The actor's new book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?, is all about communication — and miscommunication — between doctors, scientists and civilians.

When it comes to millennials, it's likely no surprise that the generation that takes advantage of the Internet the most is also the generation that devotes the most time and money to the $10 billion self-care industry.

The Millennial Obsession With Self-Care

8:03am June 04, 2017

by Christianna Silva

Why are millennials so dedicated to self-care, while their parents are considerably more averse to the phenomenon?

Mariatu Kamara is a former prostitute who was trained to become a motorbike taxi driver. Despite police harassment and restrictions on where taxis can operate, she is determined to make her new life work.

Health & Safety

A Different Kind Of Pickup: Prostitutes Turn To Driving Motorbike Taxis

7:00am June 04, 2017

by Olivia Acland

A group of 18 prostitutes and 17 unemployed women in Sierra Leone were trained to drive motorcycle taxis. The money was great. But now there's a big catch.

Although illness struck the Borowicks' home twice, they managed to find strength and courage through humor.

Our Last Year Together: What My Camera Captured As My Parents Died Of Cancer

5:00am June 04, 2017

by Nancy Borowick

Photographer Nancy Borowick captured her parents' deep love and joy in life, even as they endured treatment in their 50s for the cancers they knew would soon kill them.

On May 24, George Mwinnyaa graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a bachelor's degree in public health.

My Improbable Graduation: From A Tiny Village In Ghana To Johns Hopkins

1:05pm June 03, 2017

by George Mwinnyaa

George Mwinnyaa didn't get high enough scores for admission in his homeland. So he put his dreams on hold. Here's how he came to earn his diploma at Johns Hopkins University.