Health

A cutting-edge mosquito is flying into California and Florida soon.

Californians may not know it on sight, but there’s going to be something different about their mosquitoes this summer.

COVID can dramatically raise the risk of diabetes.

Coronavirus can attack insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to low insulin sensitivity that can adversely affect how the body uses energy.

When it comes to calories, burgers and fries aren't the worst offenders on the McDonald's menu.

The smallest bone in your body is one of a set of three whose collective name literally means ‘small bones.’

An 1858 cartoon shows Death rowing down the polluted River Thames.

In 1858, Londoners were overwhelmed with the stench rising from the River Thames. Joseph Bazalgette built an entire sewer system to get rid of of the smell.

According to a new study, your kitchen sponge is capable of harboring more bacterial diversity than a laboratory petri dish.

Shampoo bottles tell you to 'rinse and repeat,' but washing hair twice in a row only makes sense for some people.

Gotta pee but don't have a bathroom handy? Try dancing.

Busting out your best dance floor moves when you have to pee may actually prevent you from soiling yourself.

The next time someone hands you a paper bag to breathe into during a panic attack, you’ll know what to do—or what not to do.

Coffee has some surprising health benefits.

From reduced mortality to protecting your precious brain cells, coffee has broken free of its previously bad reputation.

Improve your home's air quality with these budget-friendly air purifiers under $100 on Amazon, including top-rated units from LEVOIT, Bissell, and Hamilton Beach.

Soon, patients in Canada will have a good reason to make spending more time in national parks part of their regular health routine.

When dropping hints about gifts to your Valentine, mention these pet-safe flowers to consider and toxic species to avoid.

Starting the last week of January, N95 masks from the Strategic National Stockpile will be free to people who know where to find them.

FDA approval and FDA clearance aren’t used for the same products—but they’re both valid messages to see on packaging.

COVID-19 home test kits can now be shipped right to your door.

The test kits will be shipped free, with up to four available per household. It's all part of a federal program to help track and manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here's how to make sure your masks are legitimate.

Packaging that says "FDA approved" is a clear sign that your N95 face mask is fake. Here's how to identify the real thing.

Are N95 masks reusable? It depends on a few factors—here’s how to tell when yours is ready to be replaced.

Watercolor drawing of the leg of a patient, age 50, who had scurvy for 12 months' standing.

Scurvy’s mysterious cause wasn’t identified until the 20th century. Here are a few facts from the disease's long and miserable history.

The CDC has advice for re-testing for COVID-19 after isolation.

Guidance around at-home testing before and after isolation for coronavirus is murky. The CDC is trying to fix that. Emphasis on trying.

At-home COVID-19 testing can skew data about community spread of the virus.

Self-administered coronavirus tests are hitting shelves, and it's important to know that a positive result should be reported to local health officials.

Catherine the Great (at getting vaccinated).

When it came to endorsing the smallpox vaccine, Catherine the Great led by example (and then by telling her subordinates to vaccinate their villages).

Pneumonia can take on various forms, most of which suck.

A 'walking' form of any illness sounds promising, but there are some key differences between these two pneumonia diagnoses you should be aware of.

Sleep isn't always as easy as babies make it look.

Vincent van Gogh’s favorite cure for insomnia was camphor. Don’t try that at home (or anywhere), kids.

Billions of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Are Set to Descend on California and Florida This Summer

Even Mild Cases of COVID Can Lead to a 40 Percent Greater Risk of Diabetes

The Highest-Calorie Item on McDonald’s Menu Isn't What You Expect

What’s the Smallest Bone in the Body?

How London's Great Stink Turned the Tide of Victorian Pollution

Ewww Alert: Your Kitchen Sponge Can Harbor More Kinds of Bacteria Than an Actual Petri Dish

Should You Really 'Rinse and Repeat' When Shampooing Your Hair?

Why Do Some People "Dance" When They Have to Pee?

Does Breathing Into a Paper Bag While Hyperventilating Actually Help?

5 Health Benefits of Black Coffee

12 of the Best Air Purifiers You Can Get on Amazon for Under $100

Doctors in Canada Can Prescribe Annual National Park Passes to Patients

Pet-Safe (and Toxic) Flowers to Be Aware of This Valentine's Day

The U.S. Government Is Distributing Free N95 Masks Across the Country—Here's How to Claim Yours

‘FDA Cleared’ vs. ‘FDA Approved’: What’s the Difference?

PSA: You Can Now Order Free COVID-19 Home Tests From USPS

How to Identify Counterfeit N95 Masks

How Long Do N95 Masks Last?

11 Facts About Scurvy

Want to Re-Test Yourself for COVID-19 After Isolation? Here's What the CDC Recommends

Why You Should Report a Positive At-Home COVID-19 Test Result—and How to Do It

A Letter From Catherine the Great Extolling the Benefits of Vaccines Just Sold for More Than $1 Million

Pneumonia vs. Walking Pneumonia: What's the Difference?

8 Facts About Insomnia