Health & Safety

German Government May Say 'Nein' To After Work Emails

2:46pm December 17, 2014

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

In a country that strives to protect work-life balance, there are calls to ban employers from sending work email after business hours. Some big companies are already doing that.

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Abuse Of Synthetic Drugs Declines Across U.S.

2:46pm December 17, 2014

by Jay Field

Use of synthetic drugs, like bath salts, by young people continues to decline across the nation, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

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25 Years Ago, 'Darkness Visible' Broke Ground Detailing Depression

11:29am December 17, 2014

Renee Montagne talks to writer Andrew Solomon, who has chronicled his own battle with depression, about how William Styron's work opened up discussions of mental illness.

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The dengue virus has an icosahedral shape, similar to the pattern on a soccer ball. Antibodies stop the virus by binding to its surface.

Dengue Fever Strikes Millions. Now Scientists Hope To Strike Back

11:28am December 17, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

It's called "breakbone fever" because that's how bad you feel when you get it. There's no cure. But scientists have found powerful antibodies that could lead to the development of a simple vaccine.

Health & Safety

Few Employers Cover Egg Freezing For Women With Cancer

8:56am December 17, 2014

by Michelle Andrews

Although egg freezing is the perk of the moment at some high-profile companies, the benefit isn't often available, even for women with serious illnesses that could affect their fertility.

The comic book superhero Priya survived a rape and now fights violence against women.

India's New Comic Book Hero Fights Rape, Rides On The Back Of A Tiger

6:46pm December 16, 2014

by Rhitu Chatterjee

Her name is Priya and she is the star of a new graphic novel in India. After she is gang-raped, her family and neighbors shun her — but then a Hindu goddess grants her special powers.

After a quick swipe and online registration, these test tubes were ready to ship back to the lab at the University of Colorado in Boulder for sequencing and analysis.

To Get To The Bottom Of Your Microbiome, Start With A Swab Of Poo

4:53pm December 16, 2014

by Katherine Harmon Courage

To find helpful patterns in personal microbe populations, scientists also need to gather a long list of information about the people who serve as homes for the microscopic critters.

Health & Safety

Guilford County Will Add Social Workers

3:32pm December 16, 2014

by Neal Charnoff

Help is on the way for beleaguered Guilford County social workers. An influx of state funding will allow the county to hire at least 12 new employees.

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Residents of New Georgia Signboard, a small village just north of Monrovia, pass the time by playing a fast-paced board game called Ludo.

A Game Of Ludo Helps Liberians Catch A Break From Ebola

2:52pm December 16, 2014

by Didrik Schanche

The fast-paced board game — it's a lot like Parcheesi — offers a way to escape the stress of life in the Ebola zone.

Dr. Kent Brantly speaks about the world's response to Ebola during the Overseas Security Advisory Council's Annual Briefing in Washington, D.C. last month.

Dr. Kent Brantly: Lessons Learned From Fighting Ebola

1:23pm December 16, 2014

by NPR Staff

"We run the risk of going from hysteria to a sense of indifference," says the now-recovered physician. "And I think that is even more dangerous than our fear."

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