Food
Morel Mushrooms Can Be Deadly, Food Poisoning Cases Show
A deadly food poisoning outbreak highlights how little we know about morel mushrooms
Latest Health Stories
Epidemiology
The Real Story Behind ‘White Lung Pneumonia’
Separate outbreaks of pneumonia in children have cropped up in the U.S., China and Europe. Public health experts say the uptick in cases is not caused by a novel pathogen
Health Care
Do Fainter Lines on Home COVID Tests Mean You’re Getting Better?
The colors of lines on COVID tests can show whether you’re getting healthy or staying sick—if they’re interpreted the right way
Public Health
How to Avoid Holiday Hangovers, According to Science
Scientific American asked experts about the factors that shape how drunk someone gets during a night out and how bad a hangover they might have the next morning
Medicine
The Biggest Health and Medicine Stories of 2023
From new uses for weight-loss drugs to the first CRISPR gene editing therapy, these were some of the most impactful health stories of the year
Medicine
People with Sickle Cell Deserve More Respect from Health Care Providers
New CRISPR-based treatments for sickle cell disease bring hope, but medical providers still marginalize people with this condition far too often
Medicine
An Experimental Treatment Could Help COVID Smell Distortion
An injection that targets nerves in the neck appears to relieve parosmia related to COVID infection in some people, but more rigorous studies are needed
Drug Use
Is Cannabis Bad for Teens? Data Paint a Conflicting Picture
Ten years after cannabis was first legalized for recreational use in adults, scientists are struggling to provide evidence-based recommendations about the risks to young people
Public Health
Hottest Survivable Temperatures Are Lower Than Expected
Researchers say the primary “wet-bulb temperature” method for measuring dangerous heat underestimates deaths, particularly among elderly and health-compromised individuals
Public Health
PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Freshwater Fish, Yet Most States Don’t Warn Residents
Staggering amounts of toxic “forever chemicals” have been found in freshwater fish, but there is no federal guidance on what is a safe amount to eat
