In the weeks around the 2026 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, my phone kept buzzing with alerts about GLP-1 drugs and cancer. The headlines were everywhere…
Category: Anthropology
Earthquakes in Venezuela expose a severely under-resourced and unprepared healthcare system
Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, causing major damage in Caracas and a nearby coastal city, La Guaira. At the time of publication, 3,685 people have been declared…
From maternal health to influenza rates, gaps in CDC’s public health data are creating dangerous blind spots for disease tracking and prevention
Public health relies on data – whether it is tracking the effectiveness of a given year’s flu vaccine, monitoring blood lead levels around the country or estimating the prevalence of…
Ivermectin isn’t a cancer miracle drug, but influencers claim otherwise – here’s how to avoid sprinting past scientific evidence
Though researchers have been studying the animal deworming drug ivermectin for decades, there is no evidence that it’s a safe or effective way to treat cancer in people. However, a…
Nearly 20% of new moms have anxiety or depression, but a promising psychedelic treatment is on the horizon
About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher…
Why are our fingers different lengths?
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Why are our fingers different…
Exposure to everyday chemicals can add up – a toxicologist offers simple steps to reduce your dose
Imagine an ordinary Tuesday. You wash your hair, put on deodorant, drink coffee, pack lunch in a plastic container and commute through traffic to get to work. At work, the…
Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, yet its presence is ubiquitous in social settings and celebrations
Few substances are as deeply woven into everyday life as alcohol. It is a fixture at holiday celebrations, work-related social gatherings, sporting events, airports, and brunch or dinner tables. A…
How did it feel to be an American colonist in 1776? Probably itchy, achy and slightly nauseated
Trade the tricorn hats, bonnets and homespun shirts for flip flops, sneakers and soccer jerseys, and the intrepid revolutionaries of 1776 would have looked a lot like the people of…
How health insurers get a free pass to deny coverage from a 52-year-old law meant to protect worker pensions
Florence Corcoran, an employee of South Central Bell Telephone Company, was eight months into a high-risk pregnancy when her obstetrician recommended she spend the final month on bed rest in…
