public health

Latest in public health

Clinical sample of the monkeypox virus.

Health

More than a million monkeypox vaccines are on their way in the US More than a million monkeypox vaccines are on their way in the US

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Three kids in COVID masks with bookbags right before summer vacation and COVID vaccines are available for their age group

Health

COVID vaccines for children under 5 are near. Here’s how to prepare. COVID vaccines for children under 5 are near. Here’s how to prepare.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

person opening faucet with water flowing

DIY

PFAS are toxic and they’re everywhere. Here’s how to stay away from them. PFAS are toxic and they’re everywhere. Here’s how to stay away from them.

By Sofia Quaglia

March For Our Lives teen protesters speaking out for gun control after mass shootings

Health

Kids’ mental health becomes part of the plea for gun control Kids’ mental health becomes part of the plea for gun control

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Person with short brown hair in a white t-shirt and a COVID surgical mask checking their temperature on a thermometer for COVID rebound infection

Health

What we know about COVID rebound so far What we know about COVID rebound so far

By Philip Kiefer

Wind turbines along desert road.

Environment

Low-carbon energy minimizes racial disparities in neighborhoods with air pollution Low-carbon energy minimizes racial disparities in neighborhoods with air pollution

By Carla Delgado

US Army service members in surgical masks saluting the coffin of a veteran who died of COVID-19

Health

What 1 million COVID deaths looks like from the frontlines What 1 million COVID deaths looks like from the frontlines

By Philip Kiefer

a close up of a person pulling a cigarette out of a pack

Health

The FDA is prepping its biggest cigarette crackdown since the ’60s The FDA is prepping its biggest cigarette crackdown since the ’60s

By Kate Baggaley

White electric fan in living room.

Environment

Feeling hot? Try these eco-friendly tips for cooling down. Feeling hot? Try these eco-friendly tips for cooling down.

By Carla Delgado

The CDC needs the public’s help to reverse the upward trend in STIs

Health

The CDC needs the public’s help to reverse the upward trend in STIs The CDC needs the public’s help to reverse the upward trend in STIs

By Kate Baggaley

Groceries on a countertop

Environment

Which expiration dates actually matter? Which expiration dates actually matter?

By Carla Delgado

Plastic water bottle

Environment

Microplastics have officially been found in our bodies. Here’s what that means for human health. Microplastics have officially been found in our bodies. Here’s what that means for human health.

By Carla Delgado

Environmental Protection Agency

Environment

The EPA is trying to ban asbestos—again The EPA is trying to ban asbestos—again

google adds time availability for care providers in search

Technology

Google is launching major updates to how it serves health info Google is launching major updates to how it serves health info

By Charlotte Hu

Pile of plastic bottles and waste.

Environment

It is time to make plastic-recycling labels less confusing It is time to make plastic-recycling labels less confusing

By Carla Delgado

Dallas-Forth Worth water gardens as an example of green infrastructure and walkable cities

Environment

Walkability won’t solve neighborhood health inequities Walkability won’t solve neighborhood health inequities

Two condoms on blue and yellow background.

Health

Why the FDA finally approved a condom for anal sex Why the FDA finally approved a condom for anal sex

By Sara Kiley Watson

Street with trash, drink bottle, paper.

Environment

Most roadside litter comes from just down the street Most roadside litter comes from just down the street

By Carla Delgado

SARS-CoV-2 virus, the origin of the Omicron, BA.2, and Delta variants, under a microscope

Health

‘Stealth Omicron’ is spreading slowly in the US ‘Stealth Omicron’ is spreading slowly in the US

By Popular Science Team

N95 Masks laid out on a blue background

Health

Masks can work—even if you’re the only one wearing them Masks can work—even if you’re the only one wearing them

By Philip Kiefer

Cemetary with large stone chapel and headstones.

Health

COVID-19 is overcrowding cemeteries and causing heavy metal pollution COVID-19 is overcrowding cemeteries and causing heavy metal pollution

By Anuradha Varanasi

People wear COVID masks in on public transportation

Health

The 5 phases of COVID’s endgame The 5 phases of COVID’s endgame

Environment

Hitting Biden’s greenhouse goals could save billions in health-related costs Hitting Biden’s greenhouse goals could save billions in health-related costs

By Sara Kiley Watson

Multicolored masks for COVID-19 hanging from clothesline.

Health

What to do with your old cloth masks What to do with your old cloth masks

By Sara Kiley Watson

This Roundup ingredient is riddled with controversy—here’s why

Environment

This Roundup ingredient is riddled with controversy—here’s why This Roundup ingredient is riddled with controversy—here’s why

By Isobel Whitcomb

Environment

Pesticides can hurt agricultural communities—so why do farmers fight back against bans? Pesticides can hurt agricultural communities—so why do farmers fight back against bans?

By Angely Mercado

What happens if you eat too many Tums?

Science

What happens if you eat too many Tums? What happens if you eat too many Tums?

By Claire Maldarelli

The top 10 health and medicine breakthroughs of 2021

Technology

The top 10 health and medicine breakthroughs of 2021 The top 10 health and medicine breakthroughs of 2021

By Claire Maldarelli, Rebecca Sohn

How to enjoy fake meat in a way that actually helps the planet

Environment

How to enjoy fake meat in a way that actually helps the planet How to enjoy fake meat in a way that actually helps the planet

By Sara Kiley Watson

Will cracking my knuckles give me arthritis?

Science

Will cracking my knuckles give me arthritis? Will cracking my knuckles give me arthritis?

By Nicole Wetsman

HPV vaccination in the UK has prevented thousands of cases of cervical cancer

Health

HPV vaccination in the UK has prevented thousands of cases of cervical cancer HPV vaccination in the UK has prevented thousands of cases of cervical cancer

oil spill on water sea surface

Environment

Yemen’s defunct oil tanker could set off a public health crisis Yemen’s defunct oil tanker could set off a public health crisis

By Angely Mercado

Red and yellow onions

Health

A salmonella outbreak has hit 37 states, and onions are to blame A salmonella outbreak has hit 37 states, and onions are to blame

By Elana Spivack

PFAS are everywhere—and the EPA has a new plan to fight back

Environment

PFAS are everywhere—and the EPA has a new plan to fight back PFAS are everywhere—and the EPA has a new plan to fight back

By Angely Mercado

man wiping his nose with a tissue

Health

A comprehensive guide to coronavirus symptoms A comprehensive guide to coronavirus symptoms

Biden’s new COVID vaccine mandates, explained

Health

Biden’s new COVID vaccine mandates, explained Biden’s new COVID vaccine mandates, explained

By Claire Maldarelli

a statue of a firefighter sits with the One World Trade Center tower in the background

Health

What 20 years of screening 9/11 first responders for health risks has taught us What 20 years of screening 9/11 first responders for health risks has taught us

By Betsy Ladyzhets

Health

Here’s where all the COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently stand Here’s where all the COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently stand

By Kate Baggaley

How does menstruation affect my muscle performance?

Health

How does menstruation affect my muscle performance? How does menstruation affect my muscle performance?

By Claire Maldarelli

Kidney beans black beans, corn, and tomatoes can all increase your daily fiber intake

Health

Up your daily fiber intake for a happy microbiome Up your daily fiber intake for a happy microbiome

By Claire Maldarelli

two gloved hands hold up a black and white globe with a medical mask stretched over it against a blue background with several red coronaviruses on it

Health

How long will we keep wearing masks? How long will we keep wearing masks?

By Eleanor Cummins

Health

You could get the plague (but probably won’t) You could get the plague (but probably won’t)

By Claire Maldarelli

inside of walnut

Health

4 ways plant protein is healthier than animal protein 4 ways plant protein is healthier than animal protein

By Sara Chodosh

You can injure yourself stretching—but it’s not easy

Science

You can injure yourself stretching—but it’s not easy You can injure yourself stretching—but it’s not easy

By Claire Maldarelli

Willow trees could be a sustainable (and beautiful) way to treat wastewater

Health

Willow trees could be a sustainable (and beautiful) way to treat wastewater Willow trees could be a sustainable (and beautiful) way to treat wastewater

By Angely Mercado

You might be overusing hand sanitizer

Science

You might be overusing hand sanitizer You might be overusing hand sanitizer

By Claire Maldarelli

Our go-to weapon against heatwaves? A dirty backup power source.

Environment

Our go-to weapon against heatwaves? A dirty backup power source. Our go-to weapon against heatwaves? A dirty backup power source.

By Angely Mercado

As people unmask, other viral diseases are making a dangerous comeback

Health

As people unmask, other viral diseases are making a dangerous comeback As people unmask, other viral diseases are making a dangerous comeback

Laughing gas could help people with hard-to-treat depression

Health

Laughing gas could help people with hard-to-treat depression Laughing gas could help people with hard-to-treat depression

By Ellie Shechet

The FDA approved the first new Alzheimer’s drug in nearly 20 years. But does it work?

Health

The FDA approved the first new Alzheimer’s drug in nearly 20 years. But does it work? The FDA approved the first new Alzheimer’s drug in nearly 20 years. But does it work?

Cities have unique microbiomes which could be key to keeping us healthy

Health

Cities have unique microbiomes which could be key to keeping us healthy Cities have unique microbiomes which could be key to keeping us healthy

By Ellie Shechet

Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks—but there’s a catch

Health

Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks—but there’s a catch Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks—but there’s a catch

By Claire Maldarelli, Emily Cerf

The US joined the push to waive COVID-19 vaccine patents. Will it actually help?

Health

The US joined the push to waive COVID-19 vaccine patents. Will it actually help? The US joined the push to waive COVID-19 vaccine patents. Will it actually help?

By Marion Renault

It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too

Environment

It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too

By Shaena Montanari

a person showing a sunburn on their shoulder and back, probably looking for a sunburn treatment.

DIY

A sunburn treatment that actually works A sunburn treatment that actually works

By Sandra Gutierrez G., Claire Maldarelli

Pfizer and Moderna are studying their COVID vaccines in kids as young as 6 months

Health

Pfizer and Moderna are studying their COVID vaccines in kids as young as 6 months Pfizer and Moderna are studying their COVID vaccines in kids as young as 6 months

Tiny air pollutants may come from different sources, but they all show a similar biased trend

Environment

Tiny air pollutants may come from different sources, but they all show a similar biased trend Tiny air pollutants may come from different sources, but they all show a similar biased trend

By Ellie Shechet

person getting a covid-19 vaccine

Health

The CDC recommends that the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine resume The CDC recommends that the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine resume

By Claire Maldarelli

person getting a vaccine

Health

Everyone over 16 can now get the COVID vaccine. How do we make sure they get it? Everyone over 16 can now get the COVID vaccine. How do we make sure they get it?

Two adults and a child walk wearing masks.

Health

The majority of US COVID-19 cases now trace back to the UK variant The majority of US COVID-19 cases now trace back to the UK variant

san francisco bay area golden gate bridge

Environment

Living in the same city doesn’t mean breathing the same air Living in the same city doesn’t mean breathing the same air

By Ellie Shechet

grassy area burning in a forest fire

Environment

Forest fires leave behind charcoal—and it might be toxic for years Forest fires leave behind charcoal—and it might be toxic for years

By Philip Kiefer

Clean glass of filtered water

Health

Simple filters made from conifer trees could have a huge impact on the clean water crisis Simple filters made from conifer trees could have a huge impact on the clean water crisis

By Shaena Montanari

Health

The next pandemic could be lurking anywhere. Can this wildlife-tracking app help prevent it? The next pandemic could be lurking anywhere. Can this wildlife-tracking app help prevent it?

By Brian Barth, Flávia Milhorance