Scientists are testing hundreds of different kinds of animals as well as waste and storm water for COVID-19, looking for reservoirs for possible mutation. They’ve learned even pets can possibly harbor the virus but probably aren’t a threat. An expert discusses how the knowledge will combat COVID variants.
Giving Cash To The Homeless
Homelessness continues to be a stubborn problem despite many well-intentioned programs. A new experimental study finds that giving homeless people thousands of dollars in cash helps get many of them off the streets for good, calling into question many assumptions about the homeless and how they got that way. Experts discuss the new program and its implications for ending homelessness.
The Pandemic in Historical Perspective
Plagues such as COVID-19 are nothing new, and this pandemic is far from the worst the world has ever faced. A physician and historian examines COVID in comparison to other pandemics and discusses the lessons that will serve us well in the future.
Assessing the Psychological Wreckage of the Pandemic
Many people are relieved that, thanks to vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be waning. But the mental health wreckage of the last year will take longer to overcome. Experts discuss how it’s showing up and what people can do to get back on track.
The Unmeasurable Presence of Pain
Pain varies from person to person and is totally subjective. It can’t be truly measured. This makes pain management one of the greatest challenges in healthcare. An expert discusses how pain works and how doctors struggle to contain it.
Why Knee Replacements May Go Wrong
Knee replacements are successful for 80 percent of recipients, yet many assume the success rate should be higher. Those who are not successful often are bitterly disappointed. However, patients and physicians can take steps to avoid a bad result. New techniques also offer much faster recovery. Experts discuss.
Pioneering Women Doctors
Today, women outnumber men in medical school. But 175 years ago, women were unheard of in medicine. An author discusses the ingenuity it took for two sisters to break barriers in medicine for women.
I’m Vaccinated. Now What?
Americans have waited anxiously for the COVID-19 vaccine. Now that it’s being rapidly deployed, how much will it change life for those who’ve received it? Experts offer a primer on exactly how the vaccines work, what activities recipients can and can’t safely do, and estimates of when masks won’t be necessary.
Epilepsy Myths
Epilepsy affects 3.5 million Americans, yet stigma prevents many from speaking out, which in turn prolongs the stigma. An award-winning writer who has epilepsy describes the discrimination faced by people with seizure disorders and dispels the many myths many people hold about them.
The Downside Of “Springing Ahead”
The annual switch to Daylight Saving Time brings more accidents, heart attacks, and other health effects. Surprisingly, they don’t completely go away until we go back to Standard Time in the fall. Experts discuss health and mental effects of body clocks not being in synch with the actual time, and how year-around consistency would help. But should it be Standard Time or DST? Experts discuss alternatives.
The Increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Despite social distancing, experts say people are increasingly “hooking up.” Sexually transmitted diseases are growing as a result. An expert discusses STDs in a pandemic.
How Hormones Control Our Lives
Hormones were unknown until a little more than 100 years ago, and experts admit we still have a lot to learn. An expert author details the discovery of hormones and how our growing knowledge has shaped treatment of many diseases and conditions.
Covid’s Effect On Women In The Workplace
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected women’s employment much more dramatically than men, especially women of color, both because of the fields they work in and the need to take care of children who are distance learning. Experts discuss how this affects families, the workforce overall, and what can be done to ease the problem.
Ending Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease has become one of the fastest growing diseases and causes of disability in the world. Evidence shows that environmental toxins such as pesticides play a role. Experts discuss what we know about Parkinson’s and how we could curtail its rise, saving lives and restoring quality of life.
