Diseases(Page 18)

Groundbreaking research on COVID-19, cancer, diabetes, and other health concerns.

Latest in Diseases

a person washing their hands

Why COVID-19 can’t beat a good hand-washing Why COVID-19 can’t beat a good hand-washing

a doctor crossing his arms

The American healthcare system is only making COVID-19 worse The American healthcare system is only making COVID-19 worse

Gates of the Arctic National Park

The melting Arctic gives scientists valuable access to long-dead viruses The melting Arctic gives scientists valuable access to long-dead viruses

By Marlene Cimons/Nexus Media

A Chinese doctor standing over a patient

What the official COVID-19 mortality rate actually means What the official COVID-19 mortality rate actually means

By Rachel Feltman

Person lathering hands under a running faucet

Hand washing trumps sanitizer when it comes to beating viruses Hand washing trumps sanitizer when it comes to beating viruses

By Sara Kiley Watson

a mug next to a pile of tissues

Thirteen science questions about COVID-19 from teens Thirteen science questions about COVID-19 from teens

By Rachel Feltman

What pregnant people need to know about COVID-19 What pregnant people need to know about COVID-19

By Kate Baggaley

a pile of pills

COVID-19 is exposing dangerous flaws in how we make and prescribe drugs COVID-19 is exposing dangerous flaws in how we make and prescribe drugs

a person sneezing

All the ways you can—and can’t—catch the coronavirus All the ways you can—and can’t—catch the coronavirus

By Kate Baggaley

a dirty green and white first aid bag

How to prepare for a viral outbreak like COVID-19 How to prepare for a viral outbreak like COVID-19

By John Kennedy

x-ray of bone with extra growths likened to dripping candle wax

Six rare bone disorders you probably haven’t heard of Six rare bone disorders you probably haven’t heard of

By Sara Chodosh

a woman at her desk looks at a thermometer

What COVID-19’s ‘inevitable’ spread in the United States actually means What COVID-19’s ‘inevitable’ spread in the United States actually means

king louis xiv of france

Thank syphilis for these three major fashion trends Thank syphilis for these three major fashion trends

By Popular Science Team

Photograph of Parasaurolophus fossil mount at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, 2017

Duck-billed dinosaurs had the same bone tumors as people Duck-billed dinosaurs had the same bone tumors as people

By Kate Baggaley

a person wearing a protective medical suit and face mask

Just how contagious is COVID-19? This chart puts it in perspective. Just how contagious is COVID-19? This chart puts it in perspective.

By Matthew R. Francis

A view over a plaza in Wuhan, China

The prejudice stemming from the coronavirus outbreak isn’t new The prejudice stemming from the coronavirus outbreak isn’t new

By Marisa Peryer/Undark

a pair of hands lathering soap on a black background

Want to stay healthy? Learn to wash your hands the right way. Want to stay healthy? Learn to wash your hands the right way.

By Rachel Feltman

A close-up of a spherical microbe covered in protrusions.

The novel coronavirus finally has a name—two of them, actually The novel coronavirus finally has a name—two of them, actually

generic vaccine

Cervical cancer could soon be a disease of the past Cervical cancer could soon be a disease of the past

By Kate Baggaley

a man holds a phone in his hands on the subway

Coronavirus shows our health agencies are ill prepared for fake news Coronavirus shows our health agencies are ill prepared for fake news

A lab with pipettes

A small coronavirus breakthrough could aid in the search for a vaccine A small coronavirus breakthrough could aid in the search for a vaccine

By Ian Christopher Davis/The Conversation

a doctor uses a tongue depressor to look down a child's throat

Strep throat is figuring out how to beat our go-to antibiotics Strep throat is figuring out how to beat our go-to antibiotics

baskets of fish at an outdoor market

We’re still not sure where the novel coronavirus really came from We’re still not sure where the novel coronavirus really came from

a woman wears a black face mask on the train in Taipei city in taiwan

The CDC just confirmed a second U.S. case of the Wuhan coronavirus The CDC just confirmed a second U.S. case of the Wuhan coronavirus

someone helps an older woman put on a face mask

The timing of the Wuhan coronavirus could be a global-health nightmare The timing of the Wuhan coronavirus could be a global-health nightmare

a woman wears a black face mask on the train in Taipei city in taiwan

The Wuhan coronavirus has officially hit the US—but don’t panic The Wuhan coronavirus has officially hit the US—but don’t panic

By Rachel Feltman

Amish couple riding on a horse-drawn wagon

A mysterious cluster of deaths amongst Amish children has finally been solved A mysterious cluster of deaths amongst Amish children has finally been solved

By Sara Chodosh

We know wildfire smoke affects our health, but the long-term consequences are hazy We know wildfire smoke affects our health, but the long-term consequences are hazy

By Brian Oliver/The Conversation

virus in a petri dish

A mysterious virus is sickening people in China A mysterious virus is sickening people in China

By Kate Baggaley

Elf on the Shelf and Krampus are more alike than you think Elf on the Shelf and Krampus are more alike than you think

By Popular Science Team

christmas family

Of course the most likely time to have a heart attack is on a holiday Of course the most likely time to have a heart attack is on a holiday

By Sara Chodosh

scientist in clean suit holding up a tray of cells stained purple

We’re finally figuring out how to forecast the flu—and this season isn’t looking good We’re finally figuring out how to forecast the flu—and this season isn’t looking good

By Sara Chodosh

fruit bats hanging in a tree

It’s time to start paying attention to Nipah virus It’s time to start paying attention to Nipah virus

Here’s how PrEP medications outsmart HIV Here’s how PrEP medications outsmart HIV

By Alex Schwartz

PreP HIV antiretroviral drugs

What it means to have ‘undetectable’ HIV—and why you need to know What it means to have ‘undetectable’ HIV—and why you need to know

By Alex Schwartz

a hand wearing blue gloves holds two vials of blood

This ‘new’ strain of HIV is actually a good thing This ‘new’ strain of HIV is actually a good thing

By Rachel Feltman

The weirdest things we learned this week: the origin of moron, forgotten scurvy cures, and bisexual space stations

The weirdest things we learned this week: the origin of moron, forgotten scurvy cures, and bisexual space stations The weirdest things we learned this week: the origin of moron, forgotten scurvy cures, and bisexual space stations

By Popular Science Team

Researchers may finally know what’s causing the mysterious polio-like illness in kids

Researchers may finally know what’s causing the mysterious polio-like illness in kids Researchers may finally know what’s causing the mysterious polio-like illness in kids

2019 has been a record-breaking year for this rare, deadly virus

2019 has been a record-breaking year for this rare, deadly virus 2019 has been a record-breaking year for this rare, deadly virus

By Nicole Wetsman

Viagra might help make stem cell transplants easier

Viagra might help make stem cell transplants easier Viagra might help make stem cell transplants easier

By Nicole Wetsman

A polio-like disease continues to afflict children and baffle researchers

A polio-like disease continues to afflict children and baffle researchers A polio-like disease continues to afflict children and baffle researchers

By Nicole Wetsman

Bacteria can change inside of us to beat antibiotics

Bacteria can change inside of us to beat antibiotics Bacteria can change inside of us to beat antibiotics

By Katarzyna Mickiewicz/The Conversation

This deadly fungal disease could use climate change to mobilize

This deadly fungal disease could use climate change to mobilize This deadly fungal disease could use climate change to mobilize

By Nicole Wetsman

Shiny tongues, leaky bladders, and the other strange symptoms of vitamin deficiencies

Shiny tongues, leaky bladders, and the other strange symptoms of vitamin deficiencies Shiny tongues, leaky bladders, and the other strange symptoms of vitamin deficiencies

By Sara Chodosh

Cancer has now surpassed heart disease as the number one killer in some populations

Cancer has now surpassed heart disease as the number one killer in some populations Cancer has now surpassed heart disease as the number one killer in some populations

The banana as we know it is doomed

The banana as we know it is doomed The banana as we know it is doomed

By Ellen Airhart

Running in the snow

Remember brown fat? We may finally know why it’s so darn good for you. Remember brown fat? We may finally know why it’s so darn good for you.

Legionnaires’ disease is totally preventable, but surprisingly deadly

Legionnaires’ disease is totally preventable, but surprisingly deadly Legionnaires’ disease is totally preventable, but surprisingly deadly

By Brian Labus/The Conversation

Artificial intelligence is taking an increased role in diagnosing and treating cancer

Artificial intelligence is taking an increased role in diagnosing and treating cancer Artificial intelligence is taking an increased role in diagnosing and treating cancer

By Nicole Wetsman

Why experts now say daily aspirin could do more harm than good

Why experts now say daily aspirin could do more harm than good Why experts now say daily aspirin could do more harm than good

By Sara Chodosh

Baseball players outlive most of us, but some positions are better than others

Baseball players outlive most of us, but some positions are better than others Baseball players outlive most of us, but some positions are better than others

By Sara Chodosh

People in cancer treatment during hurricanes have lower survival rates

People in cancer treatment during hurricanes have lower survival rates People in cancer treatment during hurricanes have lower survival rates

By Nicole Wetsman

Changing your diet and taking supplements may not do anything for your heart health

Changing your diet and taking supplements may not do anything for your heart health Changing your diet and taking supplements may not do anything for your heart health

By Sara Chodosh

The weirdest things we learned this week: Nazis ate camel poop and pregnancy tests spread a fungal plague

The weirdest things we learned this week: Nazis ate camel poop and pregnancy tests spread a fungal plague The weirdest things we learned this week: Nazis ate camel poop and pregnancy tests spread a fungal plague

By Popular Science Team

Poor lung cancer screening guidelines miss too many African American smokers

Poor lung cancer screening guidelines miss too many African American smokers Poor lung cancer screening guidelines miss too many African American smokers

By Nicole Wetsman

Too many antioxidants can give you cancer, and other facts about the misunderstood molecules

Too many antioxidants can give you cancer, and other facts about the misunderstood molecules Too many antioxidants can give you cancer, and other facts about the misunderstood molecules

By Sara Chodosh

‘Prob-eye-otics’ could be the future of eye disease treatment

‘Prob-eye-otics’ could be the future of eye disease treatment ‘Prob-eye-otics’ could be the future of eye disease treatment

By Tony St. Leger/The Conversation

Plants couldn’t run away from Chernobyl—but that’s what saved them

Plants couldn’t run away from Chernobyl—but that’s what saved them Plants couldn’t run away from Chernobyl—but that’s what saved them

By Stuart Thompson/The Conversation

The chickenpox vaccine keeps kids safe from more than just itchy red spots

The chickenpox vaccine keeps kids safe from more than just itchy red spots The chickenpox vaccine keeps kids safe from more than just itchy red spots

By Sara Chodosh

This island is many frogs’ last hope for surviving the world’s deadliest pathogen

This island is many frogs’ last hope for surviving the world’s deadliest pathogen This island is many frogs’ last hope for surviving the world’s deadliest pathogen

By Alex Schwartz

Soda sales fizzled thanks to Philadelphia’s pop tax

Soda sales fizzled thanks to Philadelphia’s pop tax Soda sales fizzled thanks to Philadelphia’s pop tax

By Nicole Wetsman

measles cases may 14 2019

We’re barreling toward a 25-year measles record We’re barreling toward a 25-year measles record

By Sara Chodosh

Only more measles cases will make people take vaccinations seriously

Only more measles cases will make people take vaccinations seriously Only more measles cases will make people take vaccinations seriously

By Sara Chodosh

California’s tap water could be a cancerous cocktail of pollutants

California’s tap water could be a cancerous cocktail of pollutants California’s tap water could be a cancerous cocktail of pollutants

By Nicole Wetsman