Accessibility links
Science The latest health and science news. Updates on medicine, healthy living, nutrition, drugs, diet, and advances in science and technology. Subscribe to the Health & Science podcast.

Science

New Birth Control Pill Raises Ethical Concerns

Earlier this month, the FDA approved Seasonale, a new oral contraceptive that allows women to reduce their monthly cycles to just four times a year. Some say Seasonale is merely another option for preventing pregnancy. But others warn about the ethical implications and potential risks of suppressing menstruation. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

New Birth Control Pill Raises Ethical Concerns

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1450206/1450207" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Curves Offers Weight-Loss Alternative for Women

Many health clubs lure customers by offering perks such as juice bars, massages and hot tubs. But Curves, a fast-growing franchise offering women a simple cross-training regimen, lacks such amenities. It doesn't even have showers. Laura Sydell reports.

Curves Offers Weight-Loss Alternative for Women

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1449487/1449488" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Theory Blames Whaling for Sea Life Decline

A new theory suggests a massive decline in seals, sea lions and sea otters in the North Pacific may have been triggered by over-fishing of great whales. Scientists say the decline in great whale populations may have forced killer whales, their natural predators, to turn to coastal marine species for food. Hear NPR's Christopher Joyce.

Theory Blames Whaling for Sea Life Decline

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1446385/1446386" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Rough Draft of Dog Genome Released

Scientists have created a rough draft of the dog genome using a novel approach that could help speed the sequencing of the genetic code for other mammals. Researchers say the dog genome could aid in the study of many genetic diseases that are virtually identical in humans and dogs. Hear NPR's Joe Palca.

Rough Draft of Dog Genome Released

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1446377/1446378" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Mental Illness in Children -- Part IV

The number of American children diagnosed and medicated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder more than tripled in the 1990s. Some scientists say it's good that children are getting treatment, while others worry that kids are being drugged for having normal childhood problems. NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports.

Mental Illness in Children -- Part IV

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1445751/1445752" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Flu Season Approaches

Flu shots will be available beginning next week, in advance of the winter flu season. The last two flu seasons have been mild, but health experts urge Americans to avoid complacency and get vaccinated. NPR's Joseph Shapiro reports.

Flu Season Approaches

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1444285/1444286" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

AIDS Ravages Swaziland

A new study by the aid organization Save the Children predicts that there will be 40 million orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa by the end of the decade, mostly as a result of AIDS. Millions of children across Africa have already lost their parents to the disease. Swaziland has one of the highest HIV rates on the continent, with more than one in three adults infected with the virus. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports.

AIDS Ravages Swaziland

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1444263/1444264" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Hands-On Study Reveals Hygiene Issues at Airports

A survey of airports in five American cities finds that 20 percent of women and 30 percent of men don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. The study cites much better hygiene habits in Toronto, where 96 percent of restroom users wash up. Hear Dr. Judy Daly of the American Society of Microbiology.

Hands-On Study Reveals Hygiene Issues at Airports

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1440436/1440437" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Giant Arctic Ice Shelf Splits Up

Scientists studying a massive ice shelf in northern Canada have discovered it is breaking up. Thousands of years old, the Ward Hunt ice shelf has been in decline for more than a century and could soon disappear completely. Hear NPR's Richard Harris.

Giant Arctic Ice Shelf Splits Up

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1440412/1440413" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Mental Illness in Children - Part II

A growing number of psychiatric researchers agrees that bipolar disorder occurs in children and not just in adults. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depression. Children as young as five or six years old suffer from the manic highs and deep depressions that characterize the disorder. In a second report on mental illness in children, NPR's Michelle Trudeau introduces one family whose young son has bipolar disorder.

Mental Illness in Children - Part II

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1439204/1439697" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

California Set to Adopt Health Reforms

Within the next couple of weeks, California's Gov. Gray Davis is expected to sign groundbreaking legislation that would require businesses to pay for health benefits for employees. But some companies say the extra expense could put them out of business. Hear NPR's Patricia Neighmond.

California Set to Adopt Health Reforms

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1439111/1439112" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Gates Donates Millions to Fight Malaria

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announces plans to award $160 million in grants for malaria research. Gates made the announcement while visiting Mozambique, one of the countries hit hardest by the disease, which each year kills more than 1 million people worldwide. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports.

Gates Donates Millions to Fight Malaria

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1439109/1439110" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">