Public Health
Ideology Can Skew Our Views on the Healthiness of Food
New research finds that marketing messages that are inconsistent with our values can lead us to view a food product as less healthy.
Marianne Williamson's Ideas About Health and Disability Are Downright Dangerous
The threats that Williamson's ideas present to disabled people are not just hypothetical.
Senior Citizens Have a Binge-Drinking Problem, According to a New Study
New research finds that a growing number of seniors are drinking too much, too often.
More Trees Mean Better Health Outcomes, According to New Research
New Australian research finds that, when a neighborhood's green space leads to better health outcomes, it's the canopy of trees that provides most of the benefits.
The EPA Won't Have to Hold Mining Companies Responsible for Clean-Up Costs, a Federal Court Rules
The agency claims modern mining practices have reduced the risk of pollution going unaddressed. Will taxpayers still have to pay a price?
Thousands of People Live Closer to Underground Gas Wells Than Previously Thought
Most of the wells are more than half a century old, and some residents might not even be aware of the hidden energy infrastructure beneath their own backyards.
California's Aggressive Pro-Vaccination Policies Have Made a Big Difference
A new study finds that the percentage of kindergartners in the state without up-to-date vaccinations dropped from nearly 10 percent in 2013 to under 5 percent in 2017.
Does the FDA's Plan to Regulate New Opioids More Strictly Go Far Enough?
The FDA has a key role to play in combating America's overdose epidemic, but advocacy groups debate whether it's doing enough.
Calling Addiction a Disease Can Sometimes Hamper Recovery
New research finds that an empowering message, emphasizing a person's potential to manage addictions, is much more helpful.
An Air Pollution Emergency in Mexico City (in Photos)
Authorities in Mexico City declared an environmental emergency on Tuesday after pollution reached potentially hazardous levels.
Air Pollution May Negatively Affect 'Every Organ' in the Human Body
A new report finds that inhaling air pollution doesn't just impact the heart and lungs: It can damage all parts of the body, and cause or worsen diseases.
Missouri Outlaws Rural Residents' Last Line of Protection Against CAFOs
Under the new law, local standards regulating industrial-scale livestock operations cannot be stricter than any of those set by the state.
Coca-Cola's Research Contracts Allowed It to Kill Unfavorable Studies
A new study finds the industry giant was frequently given the right to oversee and even terminate public-sector research.
Air Pollution Is Killing More People Than Smoking—and Fossil Fuels Are Largely to Blame
A new study finds that air pollution caused by fossil fuel emissions is killing millions and disrupting the water cycle.
Researchers Discover Microplastics in the Air of the Pyrenees Mountains
According to a new study, scientists found as much microplastic pollution in the air in this remote area as in densely populated cities like Paris.
More States Are Restricting Who Can Sue Agriculture Operations
Six states are restricting lawsuits against concentrated animal feeding operations in ways that will disproportionately affect low-income communities.
How Service-Industry Jobs Can Push Workers to Drink
New research finds that people whose jobs constantly call on them to feign friendly emotions often turn to the bottle after work.
The EPA's Internal Watchdog Warns of Discrepancies in Data on Chemical Releases
The EPA's Office of Inspector General issued an emergency alert on Monday warning about data discrepancies concerning toxic chemical releases.
The Houston Area Has Had Two Chemical Plant Fires in Two Weeks. Why Do They Keep Happening?
Frequent chemical fires in the Houston area signal larger deficiencies in oversight of the chemical industry at both the state and federal levels.
New Research Links Green Spaces to Lower Medicare Spending
A new study finds that counties with more forest and shrub land spend less per person on Medicare than those dominated by agriculture or urban vegetation.
How Well Do States Keep Lead Out of School Drinking Water?
Last year, a government watchdog report found that about 13 million American children went to schools where officials discovered lead in their drinking water. Now, advocacy groups have graded states' school water policies.
The Psychological Aftermath of Surviving School Shootings
The recent Parkland student suicides call attention to the long-term effects of school shootings on mental health, academic performance, and economic achievement.
A California Jury Found Roundup Caused One Man's Cancer in a 'Bellwether' Case
A legal expert says the decision doesn't bode well for Bayer, which is facing thousands of pending cases over Roundup.
A Chemical Fire in Texas Has Been Extinguished, but Questions Over Safety Linger
Public officials and Texas' environmental regulator maintain that the chemicals released in the fire did not pose a health risk.