Health & Medicine

Earth

Here’s a look at the world’s deadliest volcanoes — and the ways they kill

Scientists gathered data on nearly 280,000 global volcano deaths from 1500 to 2017 and sorted fatalities by cause of death, such as lava flows or gas.

Health & Medicine

‘Outbreak’ puts the life cycle of an epidemic on display

At the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the exhibit “Outbreak” highlights how infectious diseases shape our world.

Health & Medicine

Blame opioids for a fifth of young adult deaths in the United States

Of young adults aged 25 to 34 who died in 2016, 20 percent of those deaths were opioid-related.

Health & Medicine

Experts advise: Start colorectal screening at 45, not 50

The American Cancer Society recommends that colorectal screening begin at the age of 45 for average-risk individuals.

Health & Medicine

Finally, a plan on how to include pregnant women in clinical trials

The FDA is providing initial guidance on how to include pregnant women in clinical trials that study drugs, research that has largely excluded this group in the past.

Health & Medicine

Hurricane Maria killed at least 4,645 people in Puerto Rico, a study estimates

Researchers estimate Puerto Rico’s death toll from Hurricane Maria at more than 4,500 people based on household surveys — dwarfing the official count of 64.

Health & Medicine

Keeping people within U.S. blood pressure guidelines saves lives

Big reductions in heart attacks, strokes and deaths may be possible under 2017 blood pressure guidelines.

Health & Medicine

Even in the shade, a car’s interior can get lethally hot

A car’s interior can get lethally hot on summer days, even when it’s parked in the shade.

Health & Medicine

Here’s what we know about the deadly Nipah virus

The deadly and rare Nipah virus has killed at least 11 people in southern India, causing concern among epidemiologists.

Genetics

What genetic tests from 23andMe, Veritas and Genos really told me about my health

A Science News reporter tried out three consumer genetic testing companies to see what people really learn about their health.

Health & Medicine

Black children commit suicide at twice the rate of white kids

The suicide rates for young black kids are higher than those of their white counterparts, a pattern that flips in older kids, researchers find.

Health & Medicine

Ebola vaccinations begin in Congo

A vaccination campaign is up and running to fight the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo. It’s the first of its kind.