Health

Find out where your state falls on the list.

Legionella in a Petri dish under UV light.

The unusual respiratory illness was named for a 1976 outbreak among attendees of an American Legion conference.

To curb teen pregnancies, schools in the ‘80s forced kids to care for another delicate dependent: an egg.

Shiitake mushrooms (left) are edible, while fly agaric (right) is extremely toxic, causing serious symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and hallucinations.

The definitions of toadstools and mushrooms are a bit intertwined.

Showers are great for getting a fresh start to your day or winding down for the night.

The answer isn‘t as straightforward as you’d think.

You don't want to come across a bearded fireworm on your beach day.

Texans should take special caution on beaches—these fireworms pack a powerful sting.

Some people swear by the cleaning properties of citrus, but it’s not a magic bullet.

Some people swear by the cleaning properties of citrus, but will it really get your dishwasher clean?

Arts and crafts can be fun and beneficial for your mental health.

Don’t underestimate the power of a productive crafting session.

You're not going to stand as tall at 70 as you did at 30. Here's why.

Watermelon is packed with vitamin A, B-6, and C and makes a tasty snack for your dog.

Strawberries, zucchini, carrots, and cucumbers are all safe for dogs to eat.

A health care worker prepares to deliver an mpox vaccine during the 2022 outbreak.

All of the WHO's declarations of emergency since 2007 have been for viral diseases, including the most recent one for mpox.

May want to think twice about drinking straight from the faucet, too.

Depending on how weird your home’s tap water tastes, it could be due to the pipes or an old water heater, or be a problem with the water itself.

A scanning electron micrograph of ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ particles (colorized red), the bacterium that causes TB.

Ailments as diverse as tooth decay and malaria have caused suffering for thousands, even millions, of years—and they’re not done with us yet.

Take the hassle out of pulling fresh clothes out of your washing machine.

Yes, you should clean your washing machine monthly. Here's how.

Mercury in seafood is another growing concern thanks to global warming.

Deodorant sticks often come with one outer cap and one inner cap, but the purpose of that extra inner cap isn’t really clear.

Does this image of overlapping multicolored rings remind you of anything, hm?

Condoms in the Olympic Village have been a tradition—and a public health service—since 1988.

Great Britain's Kieran Bird at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It's to get the blood flowing—or is it?

An Olympic swimmer sports circular bruises from cupping therapy.

In events where success or failure can be measured in tiny increments, it’s not surprising athletes will turn to any potential advantage. But does cupping actually work?

Transorbital lobotomies have now entered the chat.

These gory yet fascinating reads delve into the weirdest chapters of medical history, from the dancing plague of 1518 to the bizarre saga of Typhoid Mary.

A century-old law keeps American sunscreen from offering the best UV protection possible.

According to one study, only 11 of 20 American sunscreens tested met EU standards.

Don’t let heatstroke ruin their fun in the sun.

Every pet owner should learn the signs of overheating and the best ways to prevent it.

If you’re eating a healthy and balanced diet, you may not need extra vitamins.

Too much of anything, even a helpful or healthy thing, can hurt you. Medication? Definitely. Water? Absolutely. Exercise? You bet. Vitamins? Quite possibly.

Don't crack open a cold coffee before you check the label.

The word to look for on the label is ‘Snapchill.’

The 20 Happiest States in 2024

What Is Legionnaires’ Disease?

When Schools Made Kids Care for ‘Egg Babies’ to Thwart Teen Pregnancies

Mushrooms vs. Toadstools: What’s the Difference?

Should You Shower at Morning or Night? Here’s What the Experts Say

Beachgoers, Beware: Venomous Fireworms Have Been Spotted on Texas Shores

Should You Use a Lemon to Clean Your Dishwasher?

Arts and Crafts May Boost Mental Well-Being as Much as Employment, Study Says

Short Order: The Reason Why We Shrink in Height As We Get Older

20 Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can't Eat

8 Times the World Health Organization Declared a Public Health Emergency (Including for Mpox)

Why Does My Tap Water Taste So Funny?

6 of the World’s Oldest Diseases

The Right Way to Clean Your Washing Machine

Climate Change Is Making Seafood Dangerous to Eat

Why Does Deodorant Have Two Caps?

A Stimulating History of Free Condoms at the Olympics

Why Do Olympic Swimmers Slap Themselves?

Why Are Some Olympic Swimmers Covered In Dark Circles?

10 Riveting Nonfiction Books on History’s Greatest Medical Mysteries

Why American Sunscreen Falls Short of the Rest of the World

How to Spot—and Prevent—Overheating in Pets This Summer

Is It Possible to Overdose on Vitamins?

Hundreds of Canned Coffee Products Recalled Over Botulism Fears