As you may have seen in news headlines or social media memes, there’s explosive diarrhea going around. Understanding how the immune system responds to the parasite that causes the unfortunate…
Category: Anthropology
How vaccine skeptics use storytelling effectively to create powerful but medically inaccurate messaging
As long as there have been vaccines, there have been people who doubted their science and safety. Back in 19th-century England, people rioted against a mandatory smallpox vaccine, claiming that…
What makes muscles contract? A physiologist explains how muscles move
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]. What makes the cells of…
The Benadryl Challenge isn’t going away – here’s how public health officials are trying to stop this deadly viral trend
A dangerous social media trend that started in 2020 has persisted into 2026, with heartbreaking consequences. In May and June 2026, four American teens died participating in the “Benadryl Challenge.”…
South Dakota’s abortion pill advertising ban runs into free speech roadblock
South Dakota is having trouble enforcing a law banning advertising about abortion pills. On July 17, 2026, less than three weeks after the ban took effect on July 1, U.S.…
Millions of family caregivers manage complex diets for older relatives – often with little nutritional guidance
My first science experiment was in sixth grade for our county’s science fair. Over three months, I tested how my grandfather’s blood sugar responded to green leafy vegetables versus brown…
Replacing gas stoves with electric stoves greatly reduces asthma symptoms
More than one-third of American households rely on natural gas stoves to prepare their meals. Burning natural gas generates carbon dioxide, which is the main driver of climate change. But…
Why Americans seeking affordable doctor visits and medicines abroad may misjudge healthcare quality
As healthcare costs continue to rise, more Americans are looking beyond their regular doctor’s office for care. Some travel to Mexico for prescriptions, routine visits or diagnostic tests. Others turn…
I’m a Philly neonatologist, and every time I discharge a baby from the NICU, I worry about the air they’ll breathe at home
Discharge day in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, should feel like a finish line. After weeks or months of monitors, alarms, oxygen, feeding tubes, blood tests and waiting,…
Time for a clock change? Congress considers daylight saving time … again
In the 108-year history of daylight saving time in the United States, the country has three times moved to institute it year-round: during each of the two world wars and…
