Health & Safety

She Offered The Robber A Glass Of Wine, And That Flipped The Script

5:00am July 21, 2016

by Alix Spiegel

NPR's Alix Spiegel, co-host of the podcast and program Invisibilia, tells the story of a robbery that was halted when a woman decided to respond to the threat in an unexpected way — with kindness.

Grains, beads and bangles unearthed from dig sites in Banda, Ghana, tell of a time when droughts did not bring famine. (Above) Archaeologists Amanda Logan and Osei Kofi dig into the floor of a house from the 1500s.

An Archaeological Mystery In Ghana: Why Didn't Past Droughts Spell Famine?

5:53pm July 20, 2016

by Winifred Bird

A terrible drought hit Ghana in the 1400s, far worse than today's conditions. Yet people had enough to eat, while today they go hungry. What changed? In a word, colonialism, a new study suggests.

A Broward County, Fla., employee takes water samples in a yard to test for mosquito larvae in June. It's part of the county's mosquito control program.

Florida Officials Probe Zika Case That May Not Be Related To Travel

5:33pm July 20, 2016

by Rob Stein

The Florida Department of Health says it's possible that a Zika infection in Miami-Dade County is not related to travel in a country where Zika is spreading. An investigation is underway.

Kathy Snook, Terri Anderson and Gary Snook traveled from Montana to Dr. Forest Tennant's office in West Covina, Calif.

Montana's 'Pain Refugees' Leave State To Get Prescribed Opioids

5:24pm July 20, 2016

by Corin Cates-Carney

With rising awareness of opioid abuse, some pain patients say doctors are less likely to prescribe them. One Montana sufferer goes to great lengths to get his prescription — he flies to California.

Health & Safety

Africa Unveils All-Africa Passport — But So Far Only 2 People Have One

5:17pm July 20, 2016

by Gregory Warner

Economists say it'll be good for Africa, making it easier for businesspeople, workers and tourists to cross borders.

An anti-abortion demonstrator outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., in March. Last month the high court struck down a Texas law that imposed tight regulations on abortion providers.

Anti-Abortion Groups Take New Aim With Diverse Strategies

4:39pm July 20, 2016

by Julie Rovner

After a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last month reaffirmed a woman's right to an abortion, anti-abortion groups are rethinking their approach. And they don't all agree on the best next steps.

Taking The Battle Against Lyme Disease Ticks To The Backyard

4:17pm July 20, 2016

by Carolyn Beans

Scientists have tested all sorts of strategies to keep Lyme disease ticks from biting us. One is to make it less likely you'll cross paths with the critters in your yard. Sawdust mulch, anyone?

A demonstration dose of Suboxone film, which is placed under the tongue. It is used to treat opioid addiction.

Maryland Switches Opioid Treatments, And Some Patients Cry Foul

6:18pm July 19, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

The state switched funding Suboxone strips for treatment of opioid abuse because they were being trafficked in jails. But some patients say the pill that was substituted isn't working for them.

Queue Listen Now

Cargo ships berth in Qingdao, a port city on China's east coast.

The Smoggy Seas: Cargo Ships Bring Pollution, Health Risks

6:00pm July 19, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Eight of the 10 busiest ports are in East Asia. A new study shows how the growing number of cargo ships are polluting the air and threatening health.

Friends and family carry Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch's body at her funeral.

'Honor Killings' Are A Global Problem — And Often Invisible

5:50pm July 19, 2016

by Malaka Gharib

The murder of the social media star Qandeel Baloch is not just a Pakistani problem. So-called "honor killings" happen all over the world. Activists are trying to stop them.