Medicine

From facts about the COVID-19 vaccine to tidbits from vaccine history, here’s everything you ever wanted to know about immunization.

A doctor with the latest in medical technology: A head mirror.

It's a favorite accessory of doctors in movies, television, and Spirit Halloween stores. But what does it do?

The next time someone hands you a paper bag to breathe into during a panic attack, you’ll know what to do—or what not to do.

Back in the day, you might have encountered someone with a bridge to sell you.

From fake relics to fake princesses to medical fraud involving goat testicles, history is rife with con jobs that managed to fool unsuspecting marks.

FDA approval and FDA clearance aren’t used for the same products—but they’re both valid messages to see on packaging.

Here's how to make sure your masks are legitimate.

Packaging that says "FDA approved" is a clear sign that your N95 face mask is fake. Here's how to identify the real thing.

Are N95 masks reusable? It depends on a few factors—here’s how to tell when yours is ready to be replaced.

Watercolor drawing of the leg of a patient, age 50, who had scurvy for 12 months' standing.

Scurvy’s mysterious cause wasn’t identified until the 20th century. Here are a few facts from the disease's long and miserable history.

From really expensive NFTs to newly discovered shipwrecks to the latest developments in the world of K-Pop, here are a few things we learned in 2021.

Catherine the Great (at getting vaccinated).

When it came to endorsing the smallpox vaccine, Catherine the Great led by example (and then by telling her subordinates to vaccinate their villages).

Pneumonia can take on various forms, most of which suck.

A 'walking' form of any illness sounds promising, but there are some key differences between these two pneumonia diagnoses you should be aware of.

Sleep isn't always as easy as babies make it look.

Vincent van Gogh’s favorite cure for insomnia was camphor. Don’t try that at home (or anywhere), kids.

Many of Australia’s koalas have chlamydia, which is making it extra difficult for them to keep their population numbers up.

James Gillray's 1802 cartoon depicted anti-vaxxers' predictions of the smallpox vaccine's effects.

Life-saving medical advances shouldn't be scary, but these notorious anti-vaxxers in history didn't get the memo.

Preschoolers waiting to be vaccinated for smallpox outside their doctor's office.

The prospect of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schools has been ruffling some feathers lately. It’s not a new issue.

Roughly 5.86 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, and these are the 25 countries with the highest vaccination rates worldwide.

They really could be immunologists, virologists, or epidemiologists.

What does an epidemiologist do? Not the same thing as an immunologist or a virologist. Here’s how to keep them straight.

Next time your nose gets stuffy, make sure you know how to blow it correctly.

You're probably blowing your nose too hard. Here's the right way to clear your sinuses, according to experts.

MATTHIASRABBIONE/iStock via Getty Images

If you think you've been stung by a bee, you should act fast. Here's how to remove the bee stinger and treat the sting.

This man has never gotten a vaccine for the common cold. He's being a bit dramatic about it.

Science has done some incredible things, but finding a cure for the leaky sniffles has proven elusive.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? What do COVID-19 vaccine side effects really mean? Here’s the truth about some prevalent misinformation.

You might think that urine is just bodily waste—but you would be wrong. It's been used in cleansers, medicine, and infertility treatments for centuries.

Clara Barton photographed by Charles R. B. Claflin in 1865.

Who was Clara Barton, really? Transcribing her personal documents can help shed light on a complex question.

American doctor and epidemiologist Jonas Salk, who developed the first vaccine against poliomyelitis, looks on as a colleague gives the injection to a woman.

From eradicating smallpox to battling the COVID-19 pandemic, these vaccine pioneers have helped make colossal strides in public health.

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‘FDA Cleared’ vs. ‘FDA Approved’: What’s the Difference?

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How Long Do N95 Masks Last?

11 Facts About Scurvy

100 Things We Learned in 2021

A Letter From Catherine the Great Extolling the Benefits of Vaccines Just Sold for More Than $1 Million

Pneumonia vs. Walking Pneumonia: What's the Difference?

8 Facts About Insomnia

Australia Is Vaccinating Hundreds of Its Koalas Against Chlamydia

8 of History's Most Misguided Anti-Vaxxers

Mandatory Vaccines for Schools Began in Boston Nearly 200 Years Ago

These 25 Countries Have the Highest COVID-19 Vaccination Rates

Immunologist vs. Virologist vs. Epidemiologist: What’s the Difference?

The Right Way to Blow Your Nose

The Best Way to Treat a Bee Sting

Why Isn't There a Vaccine for the Common Cold?

5 COVID-19 Vaccine Myths, Debunked

9 Fascinating Facts About Urine

The Library of Congress Needs Your Help Transcribing Clara Barton's Diaries, Correspondences, and Other Rarely Seen Papers

11 Vaccine Pioneers You Should Know