Health & Safety

"I'm ecstatic. It's a blessing that they approved this therapy," said Victoria Gray, the first person in the U.S. to undergo CRISPR gene-editing for sickle cell, of the Food and Drug Administration's decision.

FDA approves first gene-editing treatment for human illness

8:09pm December 08, 2023

by Rob Stein

The Food and Drug Administration approved two genetic treatments for sickle cell disease, including one that uses gene-editing. The approvals offer hope for patients and signal a new medical era.

Queue Listen Now

How corn masa could help lower birth defect risks among Hispanic people

4:55pm December 08, 2023

by Bonnie Petrie

The CDC is urging manufacturers of a type of flour used to make foods like tortillas and tamales to add folic acid to help lower the risk of some birth defects in the Hispanic population.

New Forsyth County Senior Services center is an all-ages community spot

3:53pm December 08, 2023

by Dani O'Keefe

Forsyth County Senior Services has a new place for people of all ages to come together for creative and

Queue Listen Now

Ndileka Mandela, the eldest of Nelson Mandela's grandchildren, during her Zoom interview with NPR. A climate activist, she had spoken at COP28 earlier in the week, the climate summit, and returned home to Johannesburg to mark the 10th anniversary of her grandfather's passing.

Health & Safety

Ndelika Mandela on 'climate apartheid,' how to stay hopeful and her granddad's legacy

2:30pm December 08, 2023

by Ari Daniel

The eldest grandchild of Nelson Mandela had a busy week — speaking at the climate summit COP28 about the need to aid the Global South and throwing a party to mark the 10th anniversary of his passing.

This is the vaginal ring that releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine to ward off HIV infection. The ring is now going into wider distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, where girls and young women age 15 to 24 accounted for more than 77% of new HIV infections in 2022, according to UNAIDS.

Health & Safety

A vaginal ring that discreetly delivers anti-HIV drugs will reach more women

7:35am December 08, 2023

by Susan Brink

In sub-Saharan Africa, women are at high risk of contracting HIV. Some protective measures carry a stigma but this device enables them to take control without anyone knowing.

Health & Safety

California expands insurance access for teens seeking therapy on their own

5:01am December 08, 2023

by April Dembosky

A new California law will allow low-income teens on Medicaid to get therapy without parental approval. That's already allowed for teens on private insurance. But the change aroused opposition.

Chinese cities are turning quarantine centers into affordable housing for workers

6:27pm December 07, 2023

by Emily Feng

Chinese cities are turning quarantine centers built during the pandemic into affordable housing units for young workers — an attempt to help those who struggle in the current economic slowdown.

Queue Listen Now

A male Greater Honeyguide in Mozambique's Niassa Special Reserve.

This African bird will lead you to honey, if you call to it in just the right way

4:47pm December 07, 2023

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The wild honeyguide responds to distinct calls from local honey foragers. Says one researcher: The bird basically seems to be saying, "Hey, I'm here and I know where there's some honey, so follow me."

Activists protest the prices of prescription drug outside the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., in October 2022.

Health & Safety

White House proposes to 'march in' on patents for costly drugs

3:01pm December 07, 2023

by Sydney Lupkin

To lower drug prices, the Biden administration is looking to assert its authority to license drug patents that rely on government-funded research to drugmakers that would offer cheaper medicines.

Health & Safety

Medicare open enrollment ends today. Ignoring the deadline could cost you

1:40pm December 07, 2023

by Susan Jaffe

As the period for changing health plans ends, many seniors are tuning out. They could wind up with a surprise next year: higher costs and reduced access to health care providers.