Health & Medicine

'Golden blood' is the rarest blood type in the world—fewer than 50 people are known to have it.

A scientist successfully treated her own breast cancer by injecting the tumor with lab-grown viruses.

Legionnaires' disease is named after a 1976 outbreak at a state convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia.

Bedbug problems have been increasing, and some 2023 research suggests the tiny insects may be capable of spreading 'superbug' MRSA.

See the global blindness burden by cause and continent.

Explore this blood type interactive to learn more about how the 8 most common blood types are defined.

A robot can now stand in for a phlebotomist and draw blood from adult patients after the FDA approved the device in August 2026.

Scientists are using CRISPR to genetically modify felines so they don't trigger allergies in humans.

About 95% of people are naturally immune to leprosy.

Narcolepsy occurs when the brain loses its ability to control its sleep-wake cycle.

Hear what it's like to have malaria from a patient who suffered from the mosquito-borne disease.

Sleeping on a problem does seem to help—in fact research published in 2026 suggests scientists can seed people's dreams with sound cues about a difficult puzzle during REM sleep and they'll be better able to solve it.

Gut microbiome experiments involving transfers of gut microbes from depressed people to rodents indicate that the rodents may then display depression-like symptoms.

Farts are tiny status reports from our gut microbiome, with American adults typically passing gas more than 30 times daily.

Jaundice, which can make the skin and eyes appear yellow, is a buildup of bilirubin, a waste product that forms when old red blood cells break down.

GLP-1s may weaken the effectiveness of birth control and affect other medications, hindering how and when they circulate through the blood.

If hearing is damaged, the brain may amplify remaining sounds, perhaps causing tinnitus.

See which countries have already reached their peak population, and when others will eventually reach theirs.

Tommy John surgery, which can save a pitcher's career, reconstructs a torn ligament in the inner side of the elbow that would otherwise stabilize the elbow during throws.

A rare complication of measles is that, although a patient may appear to recover, the virus can linger in the body and continue to replicate, leading to a progressive and fatal breakdown of the central nervous system that occurs years or decades after initial infection.

The additive effects of smoking, diabetes, and poor diet are the biggest risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer.

See this list of FDA-approved gene therapies, including offerings for inherited conditions as well as some forms of cancer.

There was a backlog of at least 25,000 untested rape kits in 2022, according to data submitted from 30 states and Washington, DC.

Cats have a mutation that prevents them from tasting sweetness, and goldfish rank among the world's supertasters. (Paywall may apply.)

Humans can have brain damage after four minutes without blood flow.

More than 90% of America's food allergies are triggered by 9 foods.

Humans have taste receptors throughout the body, including in the testes and lungs, but we don't taste what they detect because those areas lack taste buds.

When humans perceive touch, the information is sent to the thalamus and then to the primary somatosensory cortex, the part of the brain that receives sensory input.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted, either by a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and bleeds (hemorrhagic stroke).

Autism rate increases are mostly among those with milder symptoms, not individuals with severe symptoms.

Brain death is a uniquely modern problem stemming from modern ventilators.

Taxi and ambulance drivers appear to have the lowest risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease out of 443 occupations, which suggests that constant real-time navigation work strengthens the hippocampus and may help protect against the disease.

Our love of chocolate may have to do with how it ferments than previously realized—with specific microbes associated with more fruity or acetic tastes.

Male pattern baldness is not solely inherited from the maternal side; its causes are still under investigation, but scientists think the genetic component of this type of hair loss involves multiple genes.

In 2026, the FDA proposed a novel approach to expedite reviews of gene therapies for patients with rare genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, potentially bypassing the need for years-long clinical trials if approved. (Paywall may apply.)

The shingles vaccine may slow overall biological aging in older adults.

Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, and it's often contracted from inhaling contaminated mist or water.

Explore this database to discover Lyme disease incidence in your county.

The ancient Romans invented the first known artificial sweetener—it involved lead. (Paywall may apply.)

In 1951, a small French town was likely overtaken by the fungus that ultimately led to LSD.

The idea of a tongue map has been discredited, but taste sensitivity can vary across the tongue.

In a spring 2026 survey, more Americans said they support a ban on students using cellphones during the entire school day than oppose it.

Hookworm infection, though risky, may help fight certain health conditions.

'Bibliotherapy' is of increasing interest as a way to improve mental health and help navigate complex life situations—with people immersing themselves in the experiences of fictional characters or non-fiction and self-help books to find relief and gain personal insights. (Paywall may apply.)

Congress didn't renew temporary enhanced Affordable Care Act federal subsidies that expired at the end of 2025, a move that substantially raised ACA health insurance premiums.

Fungal diseases cost the US around $19B annually.

Celebrities are able to promote prescription drugs on social media without any required mention of potential side effects due to a legal loophole.

Measles cases in the US reached a 35-year high in 2026 as vaccination rates dropped.

Examine this captivating animation 'building' a human—illustrating the roughly 42 weeks of fetal development.

Scientists have found that kitchen sponges that don't appear dirty or greasy may still harbor bacteria that can cause foodborne illness, and the cleaning items should be discarded regularly, including after wiping surfaces that have come into contact with raw meat.