Stories by Sara Novak

A comprehensive study found differences in numerous health conditions in firstborn children versus those born second

An analysis found that, following Trump’s claim that acetaminophen was linked to autism, orders for the drug for pregnant patients in emergency rooms dropped, while the number of children prescribed an unproven autism treatment increased

The remains of a teenage boy who lived around 27,000 years ago suggest he was attacked by a cave bear—some of the first direct evidence of a predator attacking an ancient human

The sharp, elongated bills of green hermit hummingbirds aren’t just fine-tuned for feeding; they also allow males to joust like knights over mates

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

A study in mice and on human blood uses a new protein to snag carbon monoxide before it latches onto blood cells

Too few people get diagnosed and treated for postpartum depression. But a blood test could change that

A gun safety check of where your child is going for a playdate or sleepover may save lives

Animals were able to see colors long before species developed the riot of colors that enlivens our world today

Using teeth-whitening treatments to achieve a brighter smile may be appealing, but experts say overdoing it could cause lasting damage

Phone apps can tell whether your kid is playing hooky. But remotely surveilling your child might not be great for navigating the trials of the teen years

Dogs can smell when people are stressed, and it seems to make them feel downhearted

A number of whole-body deodorants are coming to market. But are they safe and effective?

The lack of a safety net in the U.S. is a big factor that explains why Americans feel lonelier than Danes or Swedes

The crime issue, a focus of the 2024 presidential election, is sometimes rooted in the misplaced fears of people who live in some of the safest places

Ancient Egyptian mummies reveal what diseases afflicted people in the great civilization, as well as the protective role the Nile could play

A newly discovered genetic mechanism helped eliminate the tails of human ancestors

Most primate societies have long been assumed to be male-dominated, but a new study shows many have females in charge or feature power sharing

Some of the tens of thousands of suicide deaths in the U.S. each year would not have happened if people in the community had been schooled to provide advice about gun safety

Some states have begun to buy into the need for off-site firearm storage to protect those at risk of suicide

Many young adults, facing the largest student loan burden in history, report depression, anxiety and an overhanging sense of dread

Recovery-oriented cognitive therapy helps people getting out of prison to reengage with society and build a new life

In some states, punitive drug laws require physicians to report a pregnant person with a substance use disorder, leading to the removal of their child after birth

A way of life nurtured for hundreds of years in the U.S. Southeast guards coastlines from climate change