MEDICINE

11 Facts That Could Save Your Life

We’re covering practical tips (like the scent that will alert you to an impending electrical fire) to decidedly stranger ones (how to get out of a kangaroo attack) in the latest episode of The List Show.

When Drinking Too Much Tea Could Get a Woman Sent to a Psychiatric Hospital

If you were a woman in the 19th century, virtually anything could get you committed to a psychiatric hospital—including drinking too much tea.

“The Plague Hospital,” a painting by Francisco Goya.

13 Facts About the Black Death

The Black Death—the world's second bubonic plague pandemic—decimated the populations of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in the 14th century. But there was a silver lining.

Watch: Mysterious Footage from a 1950s Psychiatric Hospital

Uncovered on the grounds of the now-demolished Bahr Treatment Center in Indianapolis, this time capsule contained film reels that are still shrouded in a layer of mystery.

Do Sharks Really Not Get Cancer?

As the thinking goes, sharks don’t get cancer, so the pills will keep you from getting it, too. But there’s a problem with that theory.

You can thank Letitia Mumford Geer for this.

Remembering Letitia Mumford Geer, the Nurse Who Invented the One-Handed Syringe

The syringes used by medical professionals today can be traced back to her 1899 patent.

Retro Pepsi-Cola logos from the mid-20th century.

Pop Star: How Pepsi Got Its Name

Pepsi-Cola was named for two ingredients that it doesn't (and possibly never did) contain.

10 Facts About the Flu

Discover the history of the flu and its devastating impact on the world, from the deadliest influenza pandemic to today’s vaccines.

Common Misconceptions About OCD

Having an intrusive thought doesn’t mean you have OCD.

Astronaut Kellie Gerardi conducts research aboard the Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

“Humanity’s Next Giant Leap”: Citizen Astronaut Kellie Gerardi Envisions the Future of Spaceflight

Bioastronautics researcher Kellie Gerardi envisions a future when space is open to all.

Searching for ideas on what to spend your FSA funds on this year? Consider these.

14 Creative Ways to Spend Your FSA Money Before the Deadline

Unsure how to spend your FSA money? From new glasses to over-the-counter (OTC) medication, here are some health products you can purchase using FSA funds.

What Are Frankincense and Myrrh, Anyway?

Frankincense and myrrh are a fragrant part of traditional Christmas celebrations, but what exactly are these pebble-like perfumes?

Use of the word ‘placebo’ in a medical context is more recent than you might think.

Why Is It Called the “Placebo Effect”?

What is a placebo? Technically, a Latin phrase meaning ‘I will please.’ It’s also a Catholic prayer and a clever insult.

A surgeon waving a dismembered arm might have sparked the Doctor’s Riot of 1788.

The Anatomy Riots: When Americans Protested Grave Robbing by Taking to the Streets

In the 18th and 19th centuries, robbing graves of their corpses for dissection at medical schools was an all too common practice—and sometimes, enraged citizens rose up in protest.

Should she drink about seven more of those?

5 Misconceptions about Health and Wellness

How much water should you really drink a day? Well, it’s complicated.

How an Unfortunate Misunderstanding Spawned a Medieval Mummy-Eating Fad

Eating centuries-old mummies was a hot health trend in medieval Europe.

Pigs could be the next step in organ transplantation.

Scientific Progress Goes 'Oink': Part-Human Kidneys Have Been Grown in Pig Embryos

Kidney transplants my one day get an assist from porcine vessels.

Antibiotics are the first treatment for necrotizing fasciitis.

What You Should Know About Necrotizing Fasciitis, the Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection

Here's how to stay safe when you take a dip at beaches, lakes, or rivers.

Guests look at a portrait of Henrietta Lacks.

How Henrietta Lacks Became the Mother of Modern Medicine

Though she died of cancer in 1951, Henrietta Lacks's immortal cells became the foundation for countless medical advancements.

A new Alzheimer's drug shows promise for those in the early stages of the disease.

The FDA Has Just Given Rare Approval to a New Alzheimer's Drug, Leqembi—Here's What We Know So Far

Leqembi could slow the progression of Alzheimer's, but the side effects can be severe.

Can Doctors Self-Prescribe Medications?

Doctors can self-prescribe, but it's generally discouraged and the practice has quite a few stipulations.

Does CPR Still Require Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation?

“Hands-only CPR” has gained popularity in recent years. So what is it, and when should you use it?

Martin Couney with two of the premature "incubator babies" in his care.

Preemies on Parade: How a Fake Doctor's Coney Island Incubator Shows Ended Up Saving Thousands of Lives

For many premature babies in the early 20th century, their best chance at life involved being put on display on the Coney Island boardwalk.

Laudanum was used by a number of writers and artists in the Victorian Era.

The Lure of Laudanum, the Victorians’ Favorite Drug

In an era before modern medicine, laudanum and other opium derivatives became seen as wonder drugs.