A Surprising Theory About Jamaica's Amazing Running Success
How did a modestly-sized, developing country become dominant in sprinting?
Health & Safety
U.N. Admits Role In Haiti Cholera Outbreak That Has Killed Thousands
In 2010, months after Haiti's devastating quake, a catastrophic cholera epidemic began. Scientists traced the outbreak to U.N. peacekeepers. Nearly six years later, the U.N. has acknowledged a role.
Eating Yogurt Is Not Enough: Rebalancing The Ecosystem Of 'The Microbes Within Us'
Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes, says someday we might be able to improve our health by taking probiotics, but "we are still in the very early stages of working out how to do this."
Better Burgers, More Healthful Hot Dogs: Could A Pinch Of Seaweed Be The Answer?
Processed meats used in hot dogs and hamburgers are high in levels of salt and fat. Some scientists want to boost these foods' nutritional profile by adding seaweed to the meats.
To Fight Off Diabetes, Latina Women Find Power In A Group
La Comunidad, a grassroots effort in Winston-Salem, N.C., offers treatment to a population at high risk of developing diabetes. Group meetings led by non-medical facilitators help reduce costs.
Study Of Sudden Cardiac Death Exposes Limits Of Genetic Testing
Some genetic tests for a common cause of sudden heart failure can be wrong, researchers say, because the underlying science didn't take into account racial diversity.
Florida Keys Opposition Stalls Tests Of Genetically Altered Mosquitoes
The Food and Drug Administration has approved release of genetically engineered mosquitoes in an effort to halt the spread of Zika virus. But residents of the Florida Keys aren't keen on the concept.
A Swimmer's 'Period' Comment Breaks Taboos In Sports — And In China
When Olympian Fu Yuanhui said "my period started last night," she shed light on shifting attitudes toward menstruation in her homeland.
Scientists Engineer An Opioid That May Reduce Pain With Less Risk
Opioids lock to a receptor in the brain that controls pain relief, pleasure and need. A new compound may offer relief without as much risk of addiction or overdose. But it's only been tested in mice.
Aetna CEO To Justice Department: Block Our Deal And We'll Drop Out Of Obamacare
A July letter from Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini to the Justice Department said the company would pull back from health insurance exchanges if the government opposed the company's merger with Humana.