Health & Safety

Nurse Issa French with his wife Anita, who's holding a copy of Time magazine's issue devoted to front-line workers. He's earned that title, treating more than 420 Ebola patients.

A Doctor's Gift To The Brave Nurses Of Sierra Leone

2:15pm August 13, 2015

by Amy Maxmen

Dr. Nahid Bhadelia volunteered to help fight Ebola in the African nation. When she learned that many of the nurses there didn't always receive a salary, she sprang into action via crowdfunding.

'Defunding' Planned Parenthood Is Easier Promised Than Done

6:08pm August 12, 2015

by Julie Rovner

Some Republican candidates for president claim they have defunded Planned Parenthood in their states already. But the truth, others say, depends on how you define "defund."

Health & Safety

People With Disabilities Can Now Save More

4:42pm August 12, 2015

Queue Listen Now

Can you guess which eyes belong to what animal? Top row, from left: cuttlefish, lion, goat. Bottom row, from left: domestic cat, horse, gecko.

Eye Shapes Of The Animal World Hint At Differences In Our Lifestyles

1:52pm August 12, 2015

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Tigers have round pupils, but domestic cats have vertical slits in the center of their eyes. What gives? A census of the shapes of animals' pupils suggests size and way of life each play a big role.

Queue Listen Now

Whistleblower Says Medicare Advantage Plans Padded Charges In Home Visits

1:15pm August 12, 2015

by Fred Schulte

Medicare Advantage health plans are privately run, but reimbursed by Medicare. A Texas lawsuit claims that, to inflate charges, 30 Advantage plans in 15 states exaggerated how sick patients were.

Some Cultures Treat Menstruation With Respect

8:49am August 12, 2015

by Susan Brink

Donald Trump has created a "menstruation moment" with his apparent implication (later denied) that a Fox News anchor who asked tough questions was having her period.

Map: Global Health Risks Remain Concentrated In Africa

If You Fall Ill Abroad, Should You Seek Local Help Or Head Home?

5:08pm August 11, 2015

by Nurith Aizenman

A guide to global medical care shows which countries are risky (you don't want to have a car accident in Botswana) and where you don't have to worry (care for heart attacks is solid in Sao Paulo).

Nychele Williams, 15, picks basil from the garden at Eastern Senior High School in Washington, D.C.

Healthy Eaters, Strong Minds: What School Gardens Teach Kids

12:08pm August 11, 2015

by Paige Pfleger

School-based urban gardens can have a measurable positive impact on kids — from improving their diets to helping boost engagement with academics.

The PharmaChk is a bit like a litmus test for drugs: You pop in a pill at one end, and in 15 minutes, a number appears on a screen telling you the drug's potency.

One Man's Quest To Combat Counterfeit Drugs — With A Suitcase

10:30am August 11, 2015

by Ina Yang

Fake and shoddy medications kill about 100,000 people around the world each year. Many "drugs" are no more than just chalk or water. An engineer in Boston is trying to change that.

Rates of unintended pregnancy among young women in the military are about 50 percent higher than among young women in the general population, research suggests.

Women In Combat Zones Can Have Trouble Getting Contraceptives

9:14am August 11, 2015

by Michelle Andrews

Fifteen percent of active duty service members are women, and 97 percent of those women are of childbearing age. So why is it still tough for many to get refills of contraceptives when deployed?