HEALTH

AirNow’s Interactive Map Shows You the Air Quality Index in Your Area

If you’re in the red on AirNow’s air quality map, you should stay inside.

Canadian wildfires have covered New York City in a dull amber pall.

4 Ways to Stay Safe When Wildfire Smoke Causes Poor Air Quality

Canadian wildfires have caused air quality alerts to go into effect across the U.S. Here’s how to stay safe.

Want Cleaner Air at Home? You Can Get One of Amazon’s Best Air Purifiers on Sale for 40 Percent Off

Want cleaner air at home? You can get a Winix air purifier for 40 percent off right now on Amazon.

6 Ways to Clean Your Ears Without Cotton Swabs

The American Academy of Otolaryngology officially advised against using cotton swabs to clean one's ears. Here are six doctor-approved methods to try instead.

10 Myths About Donating Blood, Debunked

The rules for donating blood have recently changed.

Contestants chasing cheese down Cooper’s Hill during 2022's Cheese-Rolling contest.

Canadian Woman Wins First Prize in Cheese-Rolling Race After Knocking Herself Unconscious

Nineteen-year-old Delaney Irving was unconscious when she crossed the finish line of Gloucester's 2023 cheese-rolling contest.

Before you head to the beach, don't forget to apply sunscreen to these key spots.

6 Areas You’re Probably Forgetting When You Use Sunscreen

Even if sunscreen is part of your daily routine, there might be some major areas—like your eyelids—where you’ve been forgetting to apply it.

11 Myths About Ticks, Debunked

Before venturing outdoors, read up on the most common myths about ticks.

How to Tell If Your Blue Cheese Has Gone Bad

Fuzzy gray or black patches of mold or shiny pink or yellow spots of yeast are indications that your blue cheese is past the point of no return.

8 Bodily Secretions You’d Rather Not Think About

Rheum, cerumen, and mucus are just a few of our gross bodily fluids.

How Long It Takes Those Oats in Your Pantry to Go Bad

Some varieties spoil faster than others.

Does Ripping Off a Bandage Quickly Really Hurt Less?

To put it in scientific terms, is one ‘ouch’ better than five ‘ows’?

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?

Not all states are equally good to retirees.

The 10 Best (and Worst) States to Retire, Ranked

No, Florida is not number one. (But it's close.)

The Reason You Should Never Pet a Service Dog

Noble working doggos practically scream for scratches, but you must resist the urge.

California might prompt sweeping changes in how candy is manufactured.

A New California Bill Could See Skittles and Other Candies Pulled From Shelves

Controversy over red dye no. 3 could soon spill over into the candy aisle.

Adam Rainer, The Little Person Who Became a Literal Giant

Under 5 feet tall as an adult, Adam Rainer had the growth spurt to end all growth spurts.

And so Krypton sent their only son, Kal-El...

Failure to Launch: Why Winston Churchill's ‘Sarcophagus-Like’ Airplane Pod Never Took Off

The UK’s Prime Minister was in poor health but still needed to fly. The solution? Stuff him in a big egg.

Electrolytes are important, yes. But you don't necessarily need drinks full of them.

What Are Electrolytes, and Why Do We Need Them?

Sports drinks are full of them. But are they good for you, or just really expensive pee?

The 10 Riskiest Foods, Based on Recall Data

There have been quite a few lettuce recalls over the last several years—but onions are responsible for more illnesses.

Turns out that gas stove might not be all it's cracked up to be.

Should You Replace Your Gas Stove With an Electric One? Here’s What Chefs and Scientists Say

The debate over gas vs. electric stoves is hotter than ever. But now that professional chefs and scientists are weighing in, there's a clear frontrunner.

A young woman gets tested for syphilis in a "trailer-laboratory" in Washington, D.C. in 1937.

Why Did States Require Blood Tests for Marriage Licenses?

Requiring blood tests to get a marriage license had nothing to do with an Oedipal fear of accidentally marrying a close relative.

We have some bad news about your ‘hypoallergenic’ pet.

Is There Such Thing as a Hypoallergenic Pet?

We asked some allergy experts if a truly hypoallergenic animal actually exists.

DNA Analysis of Beethoven's Hair Reveals New Clues About His Death

The composer suffered from hearing loss and a number of mysterious ailments before his death at age 56. His hair is providing some answers.