Health & Safety

A New Orleans neighborhood confronts the racist legacy of a toxic stretch of highway

7:54pm December 17, 2023

by Drew Hawkins

There's a new federal fund to address highways that cut through minority and low-income neighborhoods, like New Orleans' Claiborne Expressway. But should the noisy highway be upgraded, or moved away?

Why declining social invites is OK

5:40pm December 17, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow talks to West Virginia University marketing professor Julian Givi about his research on the social ramifications of turning down invites.

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Images from some of our most popular global stories of 2023 (left to right): A woman from Brazil's Awa people holds her bow and arrow after a hunt; an artificial intelligence program made this fake photo to fulfill a request for "doctors help children in Africa" â AI added the giraffe; researchers are learning that a stranger's hello can do more than just brighten your day.

Our top global posts might change how you think about hunters, AI and hellos

2:17pm December 17, 2023

by Marc Silver

Our most popular global stories of 2023 offer insights into the stereotypes of male hunters/female gatherers, the biases of AI, the best way to end poverty and the impact of a stranger's greeting.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) celebrates his touchdown by using American Sign Language during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif.

DK Metcalf's ASL teacher says Seahawks receiver brings his own flair to the language

1:01pm December 17, 2023

by Adam Bearne

Darrell Utley had no idea his client was a football star when they began American Sign Language lessons.

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The Quaker Oats sign is seen in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in June 2021. Quaker Oats on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, recalled several of its granola products, including granola bars and cereals, saying the foods could be contaminated with salmonella.

Quaker Oats recalls granola products because of concerns of salmonella contamination

10:18am December 17, 2023

by The Associated Press

Quaker said that it has not received any reports of salmonella infections related to the recalled granola products. The full list of recalled foods includes granola oats cereals and Quaker Chewy Bars.

Health & Safety

Pod Corner: 'Imminent Danger'

5:29pm December 16, 2023

The new podcast Imminent Danger looks at the troubling medical career of one OB-GYN and what it tells us about how doctors are vetted in the United States.

Nearly 6% of preschoolers, ages 1 to 4, had been given the sleep supplement melatonin, according to a recent survey.

What parents need to know before giving kids melatonin

7:18am December 16, 2023

by Maria Godoy

Research shows nearly 1 in 5 school-age children are using melatonin to help them sleep. But these supplements are unregulated and pediatricians worry about their safety and the dose.

In this July 3, 2020, file photo, a makeshift memorial stands at a site across the street from where Elijah McClain was stopped by police officers while walking home in Aurora, Colo.

What is ketamine, the drug tied to actor Matthew Perry's death?

8:18pm December 15, 2023

by Jaclyn Diaz

Perry was using ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety. But his last infusion was likely not responsible for his death, according to his autopsy.

Health & Safety

Why do doctors still use pagers?

6:04pm December 15, 2023

At a surprisingly large number of hospitals, the pager remains the backbone of communication. The Planet Money team tries to understand why the pager has been so hard to replace.

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The WeightWatchers CEO tells NPR why the company is embracing weight loss drugs

6:04pm December 15, 2023

NPR's Juana Summers talks with WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani about the company's recent decision to provide weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.

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