Climate Change
Extreme Heat Saps Billions in Worker Productivity
Annual worker productivity losses from extreme heat amounted to $44 billion on average across 12 cities and are projected to rise to $84 billion by 2050
Public Health3530 articles archived since 1845
Public Health
The Hidden Toll of Wildfires
A huge aerial campaign seeks to understand the effects of biomass smoke on human health
Public Health
Why So Few Young Kids Are Vaccinated against COVID—And How to Change That
A small fraction of young children in the U.S. are vaccinated against COVID. Pediatricians can help
Cancer
Most People at Risk for Lung Cancer Never Get Screened: Here’s How to Fix That
U.S. lung cancer screening guidelines miss people who have never smoked, as well as many women and Black people. Expanding outreach and eligibility could help
Cancer
Almost Half of Cancer Deaths Are Preventable
Data show that smoking, drinking alcohol and having a high body mass index are the biggest contributors to cancer worldwide
Public Health
A New Way to Measure Heat Risks for People
Facing more sizzling summers, Colorado tests a new risk formula that raises the likelihood of health warnings
Public Health
A Community-Led Response Can Help Stem Racial Disparities in COVID
Pittsburgh’s Black residents are at a high risk of contracting COVID. A Black-led coalition is trying to reduce it
Public Health
Back-to-School Special: Kids, Tests and Long COVID Reassurance | COVID, Quickly, Episode 37
This is our back-to-school special episode. We’ll talk about why COVID testing is about to become a school problem—and about whether or not kids have risk for long COVID.
Public Health
A Cure for Vaccine Hesitancy Could Start in Kindergarten
Teaching simple basics in school about masks, handwashing and ethics can stave off misconceptions in adulthood
Public Health
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Why do we pay attention to the quality of our drinking water but not to our indoor air? Scientific American senior health editor Tanya Lewis explains how and why this matters...
Pharmaceuticals
Does a Smallpox Drug Work for Monkeypox? What Scientists Know
The antiviral Tecovirimat (TPOXX) shows promise against monkeypox, but human data and supplies are limited
Epidemiology
Long COVID in Children Appears Less Common Than Early Fears Suggested
Although the risk of long COVID is not insignificant, it is much lower than previously thought
Public Health
Scientists Reflect on Anthony Fauci’s Impact
From the AIDS epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic medical chief has advised seven presidents on numerous outbreaks
Climate Change
New Tool Helps Predict Where Wildfire Smoke Will Blow
Scientists are working on ways to better anticipate the pathways—and health dangers—of drifting wildfire smoke
Pollution
Cheap New Method Breaks Down ‘Forever Chemicals’
A new technique destroys persistent PFAS without requiring high pressures and temperatures
Public Health
Monkeypox Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection, and Knowing That Can Help Protect People
In the U.S., Black and Latino men who have sex with men are most vulnerable to monkeypox
Public Health
Nuclear War Could Spark Global Famine
Smoke from burning cities would engulf Earth after a nuclear war, causing worldwide crop failures and starvation, models show
Public Health
Monkeypox Explained: Transmission, Symptoms, Vaccines and Treatment
Frequently asked questions about how monkeypox spreads, who’s most at risk, and what vaccines and treatments are available
Public Health
Replacing Lead Water Pipes with Plastic Could Raise New Safety Issues
Industry-related groups say plastic is a safe material to replace lead pipes, but some researchers and health advocates are not so sure
Climate Change
How to Recognize Heat Illness and Stay Cool during Extreme Weather
Scientists and medical experts weigh in on how to recognize the signs of heat-related illness and avoid the worst health impacts from increasingly intense heat waves
