Humans

Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange, said the projected rate increases for 2017 are linked to increases in the cost of health care in the state.

Covered California's Health Plan Rates To Jump Sharply In 2017

5:03pm July 19, 2016

After two years of moderate rate hikes, a double-digit increase in the cost of insurance premiums in California is likely to resonate across the U.S. in the debate about the benefits of Obamacare.

Ovarian tissue after the thaw — ready for reimplantation.

Twin Sisters Try To Get Pregnant With Ovaries They Froze In 2009

12:55pm July 19, 2016

by Rob Stein

Each twin had an ovary removed and frozen in 2009, when they were in their 30s, in hopes of buying more time to get pregnant and have babies. But will the thawed, reimplanted ovaries work?

Queue Listen Now

Science

What Science Says About Taking A Great Vacation

8:57am July 19, 2016

by NPR Staff

Summer vacations often take time, energy and money to plan. Expectations can run unreasonably high. This week, we dive into what social science research says about how to have a better getaway.

Queue Listen Now

Zika virus particles (colored purple in this scan) infecting cells. Each particle is about 40 nanometers in diameter.

A Case Of Zika Apparently Spread From A Patient To A Family Caregiver

6:44pm July 18, 2016

by Rob Stein

Federal and Utah health officials are investigating a case that may be the first instance of Zika spreading from one person to another in ways other than via mosquito bites, sex or the placenta.

Queue Listen Now

Breasts deemed "dense" in a mammogram tend to have less fatty tissue and more connective tissue, breast ducts and glands, doctors say. About 40 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 74 have dense breasts.

Got Dense Breasts? That Can Depend On Who Is Reading The Mammogram

6:28pm July 18, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

A big study suggests that radiologists vary widely in their assessment of density, a risk factor for breast cancer. And density is just one component of breast cancer risk, the researchers underscore.

Rise And Fall Of Theranos In A Biotech Cartoon

11:42am July 18, 2016

Hollywood has already cast Jennifer Lawrence to star in a movie about the embattled biotech firm. How did founder Elizabeth Holmes go from self-made billionaire to an estimated worth of $0? Read on.

Wellness Programs Take Aim At Workplace Stress

11:32am July 18, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

A recent poll shows stress tops the list for people concerned about the impact of their job on their health. Workplace wellness programs often address stress, but many employees don't sign up.

Queue Listen Now

Exercise physiologist Courtney Conners checks Mario Oikonomides' vital signs before his cardiac rehab workout at the University of Virginia Health System clinic.

Cardiac Rehab Saves Lives. So Why Don't More Heart Patients Sign Up?

10:39am July 18, 2016

by Julie Appleby

Research shows exercise-based cardiac rehab programs help heart patients heal faster and live longer. But fewer than a third take part. Time and cost are the main barriers, doctors and patients say.

Queue Listen Now

Despite The Headlines, Steven Pinker Says The World Is Becoming Less Violent

5:04pm July 16, 2016

Psychologist Steven Pinker's book The Better Angels of Our Nature explains that the world is actually growing less violent, even though the media may give a different impression.

Don't Do What I Do: How Getting Out Of Sync Can Help Relationships

7:00am July 16, 2016

by Christopher J. Hopwood

When someone's angry we tend to get angry in return. But responding in an unexpected way is a valid tool in psychotherapy, and it can help make everyday relationships work better, too.