HEALTH

Who cut the cheese? Hard to say in a cabin this packed.

Yes, People Fart More on Planes—Here’s Why

There’s a scientific explanation for why folks fart more on airplanes, but it doesn’t make it any less aggravating.

The UK is stricter about its bottled water than the U.S., as it were.

Why Can’t You Buy Dasani Bottled Water in the UK?

Dasani bottled water was poised to take the UK market by storm, but shortly after it was released in 2004, Coca-Cola yanked it off shelves. Discover the real reasons why here.

If you’ve ever sent DNA to 23andMe, you may want to delete your data.

Sent DNA to 23andMe? Here’s How to Delete Your Data

With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy on March 23, your genetic information might be vulnerable. Here’s how to delete it.

Why Do Basketball Players Wear Arm Sleeves?

The sleeves might be performance enhancers. Or not.

Finland has cracked the code to happiness.

The 10 Happiest Countries on Earth, According to Gallup’s World Happiness Report

Each year, Gallup’s World Happiness Report ranks nations based on support systems, social trust, generosity, and more.

Beef tallow (not the best for an apple pie).

What Exactly Is Beef Tallow?

What it is, what it's used for, and whether it lives up to the hype.

Why Did Toys Disappear From Cereal Boxes?

The days of police badges and lightsaber spoons lurking in boxes are over. Kids now get QR codes. What happened?

6 Essential Facts About Hantavirus

Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself safe from the rodent-borne viral disease.

Room temperature is a frame of reference.

What Exactly Is ‘Room Temperature’?

Misunderstanding room temperature can have some surprisingly serious consequences.

People in high-risk groups may want to consider a measles vaccine booster.

Do You Need a Measles Vaccine Booster? Here’s What Experts Say

If you’re in a high-risk group, you may want to consider getting a booster for full protection against measles.

People with mind blindness cannot visualize things in their minds.

What Is Mind Blindness?

Aphantasia is a little-understood phenomenon that affects about 4 percent of the population. There are several theories behind what causes it.

You can avoid brain freeze with a couple of easy precautions.

What Causes Brain Freeze?

Here's what’s happening in your body when you eat ice cream or drink a chilled beverage too fast.

Where does your state rank in WalletHub‘s study?

The Best and Worst American States for Women

Explore WalletHub‘s rankings of the best and worst states for women, based on economic well-being, healthcare access, and safety metrics.

Tibetan Mastiffs are majestic and expensive.

The 10 Most Expensive Dog Breeds to Own

The upfront costs aren’t the only factors to consider when purchasing a pet.

Sleeping naked might improve your sleep quality.

Should You Sleep in the Nude? Here’s What the Experts Say

Sleeping in your birthday suit may feel good, but is it good for you?

8 Common Fears You (Probably) Don't Need to Worry About

There are things we’re all a little (or lot) afraid of, but the numbers tell us we don’t need to be. Read on for more statistically soothing details about some of the most common, but not commonly occurring, concerns.

What Happens When an Astronaut Gets Sick in Space?

Sick astronauts on a space mission can’t just pop down to Earth to see a doctor. Here’s how they deal with bumps, bruises, and worse.

Civil War medical officers including Jonathan Letterman, a surgeon who pioneered the ambulance-to-ER transport of wounded patients during the Civil War.

5 Medical Innovations from the Civil War

Civil War surgeons learned fast. Here are a few of the MacGyver-like medical solutions that have had a lasting impact.

The truth is, sometimes the answer varies.

Does Bagged Lettuce Still Need to Be Rinsed?

Are bagged salads and other leafy greens safe to eat without rinsing off first? Find out whether pre-washed produce still needs to be cleaned off beforehand, plus more.

20 Great Songs to Use for CPR

From Taylor Swift's "22" to Missy Elliott's "Work It," these CPR songs will help you find a life-saving tempo.

An illustration of the vagus nerve’s location in the human body.

9 Fascinating Facts About the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve does it all—tells your lungs to breathe, controls your heart rate, and even forms the foundation for a whole new medical field.

Customers will have to hold off on bulk-buying eggs for a while.

These 6 Grocery Chains Are Placing Limits on Egg Purchases

Avian influenza is causing top grocery chains to put restrictions on egg purchases.

Nurse Agnes from Uganda’s Bwindi Community Hospital prepares a vaccination against measles.

7 Facts About Measles

Before the measles vaccine, there were between 3 and 4 million cases in the U.S. per year. Now, it’s less than 500.

A detail of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Sick Child,’ a portrait of his sister who died of tuberculosis at age 15.

12 Facts About Tuberculosis, the Victorian “Robber of Youth”

Tuberculosis may seem like a historic malady, but it’s still the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Here’s what you need to know about its past and current outbreaks.