Discovery of Hepatitis C Snags Nobel Prize in Medicine
Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice share the award for identifying the virus behind the blood-borne liver disease
The Body807 articles archived since 1845
How the Immune System of Older Adults Like Trump Weakens with Age
As people age their innate and adaptive immune responses react more slowly, increasing their risk from diseases like COVID-19
Why Some People Are Still Getting Sick—but Not with COVID
Despite pandemic precautions, the common cold and other illnesses are still circulating
Dinosaurs Got Cancer, Too
Researchers seeking evidence for cancer in dinosaurs found it in a collection of bones at a paleontology museum in Alberta.
When and Why You Should Get a Flu Shot
Experts explain why getting vaccinated is important every year—and especially during a pandemic
How Good a Diet Is Intermittent Fasting?
The popular fasting diet regimen can work well for weight loss, but many other claims about its benefits remain to be proved
COVID-19 Can Wreck Your Heart, Even if You Haven’t Had Any Symptoms
A growing body of research is raising concerns about the cardiac consequences of the coronavirus
The Chance of Identical Fingerprints: 1 in 64 trillion
Originally published in June 1894
How Your Homes and Buildings Affect You
Journalist and author Emily Anthes talks about her book The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness.
How Many Hot Dogs Can a Human Theoretically Eat? A Sports Scientist Weighs In
As vendors gear up for the delayed start of the MLB season, we should reflect on the new world record just set in the Nathan’s Famous competition
How to Boost Your Immunity
Some simple, practical steps can raise your resistance to viruses
How Nature Helps Body and Soul
Journalist and author Florence Williams talks about her book The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative.
Heat and Racism Threaten Birth Outcomes for Women of Color
Environmental factors have adverse impacts on pregnancies, and there are clear racial disparities
‘Mini Organs’ Reveal How the Coronavirus Ravages the Body
The virus can damage lung, liver and kidney tissue grown in the lab, which might explain severe COVID-19 complications
Human Speech Evolution Gets Lip-Smacking Evidence
A study of our closest evolutionary relatives finds that the chimp behavior known as lip smacking occurs in the same timing range as human mouths during speech.
Why COVID-19 Makes People Lose Their Sense of Smell
We’re beginning to understand the mechanism behind this relatively common symptom
The Racist Roots of Fighting Obesity
Prescribing weight loss to black women ignores barriers to their health
How It Felt to Give My First Pelvic Exam
As a medical student, I found it surprisingly comfortable, because my “patient” was also my very patient instructor
Skinny Genes Tell Fat to Burn
A gene whose mutated form is associated with cancer in humans turns out to have a role in burning calories over a long evolutionary history.
Heat and Humidity Are Already Reaching the Limits of Human Tolerance
Events with extreme temperatures and humidity are occurring twice as often now as they were 40 years ago
