A new study shows how climate change will contribute to the spread of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus
health
If West Virginia’s Water Isn’t Safe for Pregnant Women, Is It Safe for Anyone?
Absence of evidence of a spilled chemical doesn’t mean evidence of its absence in the water supply
Officials Don’t Really Know How Dangerous the Chemical Spilled in West Virginia Is
Authorities have virtually no way of regulating many industrial chemicals. The latest spill could change that.
As the Hajj Unfolds in Saudi Arabia, A Deep Look Inside the Battle Against MERS
For more than a year, Saudi Arabia has struggled to control the new disease MERS. Now, with millions of Muslim pilgrims descending on the country, the challenge will get that much tougher.
You Are Your Bacteria: How the Gut Microbiome Influences Health
The bacteria in our gut already plays an important role in digestion. But new studies indicate that our bacteria could play a major role in whether or not we become obese
Infectious Disease Could Become More Common in a Warmer World — Especially for Plants and Animals
Climate change will make it easier for many infectious diseases to spread. Human beings will be able to adapt — or at least the richer ones will. But biodiversity will suffer as parasites and bacteria find a more welcoming environment
In Town vs. Country, It Turns Out That Cities Are the Safest Places to Live
A generation of movies have made us think that the American city is an inherently dangerous place. But a new study shows that you’re more likely to die violently in the quiet countryside
From AIDS to SARS to MERS, Emerging Infectious Diseases Remain a Dire Threat
New viruses like the pathogen that causes MERS are jumping across the species barrier, going from animals to human beings. Can we even eliminate infectious disease?
Second Suns: Saving Sight in the Developing World
A new book by the co-author of “Three Cups of Tea” profiles a pair of doctors who pioneered a way to solve the most preventable form of blindness
Why Summer in the City Will Get Deadlier
As the climate warms, heat-related deaths are almost certain to increase in cities like New York—unless we take steps to adapt to global warming