A vaccine for Lyme disease could be on the horizon The vaccine candidate is the furthest any shot has gotten since the last one was pulled in 2002. Scientists are testing other ways to block infection.

New clinical trial data from vaccine makers show that their Lyme disease vaccine reduced cases by about 70%.
www.sciencenews.org/article/lyme...

It doesn’t matter how much you sit — walking more could lower your risk of death and disease Sitting all day might not be as damaging as once feared—if you’re willing to move more. A massive study tracking over 72,000 people found that simply increasing daily steps can significantly reduce th...

"Sitting all day might not be as damaging as once feared—if you’re willing to move more. A large study found that simply increasing daily steps can significantly reduce the risk of death and heart disease, even for those who spend long hours sedentary."
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

What does PEPFAR’s future look like in the Trump administration? : Consider This from NPR PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has saved 26 million lives since President George W. Bush launched the program in 2003. But the Trump administration has made major changes to t...

PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has saved 26 million lives since President George W. Bush launched the program in 2003. 
www.npr.org/2026/04/20/n...

AI chatbots gave people alternatives to chemotherapy, study finds Popular artificial intelligence programs told users where to find alternative, potentially dangerous treatments for cancer and other health scenarios.

Popular artificial intelligence programs told users where to find alternative, potentially dangerous treatments for cancer and other health scenarios.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business with few safety guardrails Surging interest in the purported benefits of psychedelic drugs has given rise to a new industry: psychedelic retreats.

"What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business with few safety guardrails."
apnews.com/article/psyc...

Tobacco is still one of the world’s top killers – here are the key obstacles to enacting generational smoking bans A few US towns have banned cigarette sales to anyone born after a specific date, and several states are considering this path. A psychologist explains why such measures often face stiff resistance.

"Smoking is really bad for you. Most people know that. Even smokers think smoking is bad for one’s health. But most people don’t know just how bad it is."
theconversation.com/tobacco-is-s...

Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer Real estate investment trusts are landlords for thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. Some select the managers and keep close watch but deny blame for bad care.

Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer.
www.npr.org/2026/04/19/n...

Naomi Watts wants women to own their menopause journey: 'Why is it so taboo when we are half the population?' Actress and entrepreneur Naomi Watts founded Stripes Beauty with a singular mission: helping women take control of menopause health and aging with confidence.

Naomi Watts launched Stripes Beauty in 2022 to help women become educated on menopause and take control of their health journey and age with confidence.
www.cnbc.com/2026/04/18/n...

How To Make a High-Deductible Health Plan Work for You - KFF Health News Lower premiums often mean higher costs when you get sick and need care. Among the ways to plan ahead and soften the financial hit: health savings accounts, which act like a medical piggy bank.

"How To Make a High-Deductible Health Plan Work for You."
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Opinion | Your Patients Are Getting Surprise Ambulance Bills. Federal Law Still Allows It. Excluding ground ambulances from the No Surprises Act has clinical consequences

Approximately 85% of emergency ground ambulance rides are out-of-network. Roughly half of emergency ground ambulance rides resulted in an out-of-network charge for privately insured patients, with a median surprise bill of $450.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

The 45-year fight against HIV is one of humanity’s greatest victories. It’s also in danger. We have the tools to end the virus. The question is whether we’ll abandon them.

"The 45-year fight against HIV is one of humanity’s greatest victories. It’s also in danger. We have the tools to end the virus. The question is whether we’ll abandon them."
www.vox.com/future-perfe...

These Five Quick Tricks Could Help Boost Your Memory As a researcher investigating how electric brain stimulation can improve people's powers of recollection, I'm often asked how memory works – and what we can do to use it more effectively.

Smartphones reduce your working memory capacity. Even just having a phone nearby – no matter if it's face down and on silent. The reason is that part of your brain is still subtly monitoring it which is why researchers call smartphones a "brain drain."
www.sciencealert.com/these-five-q...

Your New Therapist: Chatty, Leaky, and Hardly Human - KFF Health News With high demand for mental health care, a wave of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots are being marketed as therapy apps — with little evidence they work and few regulations.

With high demand for mental health care, a wave of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots are being marketed as therapy apps — with little evidence they work and few regulations.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

How to make an exercise routine stick, even when you're tired Too tired or busy to stick to your exercise routine? A sports medicine expert explains how to stay motivated.

"A practical strategy is to reduce the barrier to entry. Instead of committing to a full workout, start with 5 to 10 minutes of light activity. In many cases, that initial movement leads to completing a longer session."
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how...

Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later.

Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial. Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later.
www.nbcnews.com/health/cance...

Weapons-grade chemical carfentanil surges as dangerous substitute for fentanyl Carfentanil has experienced a drastic resurgence across the U.S., causing hundreds of unsuspecting drug users to overdose.

Carfentanil, a weapons-grade chemical that authorities say is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl, has seen a drastic resurgence across the U.S., killing hundreds of unsuspecting drug users.
apnews.com/article/carf...

Kratom-related calls to U.S. poison centers rise 1,200% in a decade Researchers say in 2025 poison control centers received thousands of kratom-related calls. California's center reports similar findings.

Kratom-related calls to U.S. poison centers rise 1,200% in a decade.
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Can I trust health advice from an AI chatbot? Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

"AI is designed to give very confident, very authoritative health advice, and that conveys a sense of credibility, so the user assumes that AI must know what it's talking about even if it's wrong."
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Pesticides may wreak havoc on the gut microbiome Disruption of intestinal ecosystem could contribute to diabetes and other health issues, scientists say

Pesticides may wreak havoc on the gut microbiome. Disruption of intestinal ecosystem could contribute to diabetes and other health issues.
www.science.org/content/arti...

Why scientists are nervous about fungi They can pose a threat to human health — yeast infections are but one example. Scientists say not enough attention is paid to their ability to develop resistance to medications that treat them.

"For fungi, because they're similar to human cells, it's quite difficult to find a drug which kills the fungus but does not harm the human cell. So in the past 75 years, we have developed only five classes of antifungals."
www.npr.org/2026/04/17/g...

Researchers eye potential Down syndrome fix via advanced gene editing Researchers have developed a modified version of the CRISPR gene-editing tool that in early laboratory experiments suggests it may have the potential to “silence” ​the extra chromosome that causes Dow...

Researchers have developed a modified version of the CRISPR gene-editing tool that in early laboratory experiments suggests it may have the potential to silence ​the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome.
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Some American farmers bet on solar. Then Trump changed the rules Farmers in the U.S. operate on the thinnest of margins, and some have looked to renewable energy as a way to cut costs on electricity.

The Biden administration supercharged a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps businesses and farms finance solar, wind and energy-saving upgrades. However, the program hasn’t awarded any money since September.
apnews.com/article/clim...

What I learned when I gave up sugar for six weeks Foods with added sugar are everywhere – even in some surprising places. So how easy is it to go without sugar and what difference can it make to your health?

Emerging research also suggests that diets high in sugary foods are associated with greater mental distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...

A Colorado hospital profits from resolving language barriers Without qualified interpreters at doctors' offices, non-English speakers can face bad — even fatal — health outcomes. A hospital in rural Colorado is training its existing bilingual staff to address t...

Without qualified interpreters at doctors' offices, non-English speakers can face bad — even fatal — health outcomes. A hospital in rural Colorado is training its existing bilingual staff to address the service gap.
www.npr.org/2026/04/16/n...

Reversible Male Contraceptive Halts Sperm Production in Mice The last time a male contraceptive was approved for use in the United States was in the 1980s.

The last time a male contraceptive was approved for use in the U.S. was in the 1980s. In 2026, alternatives to condoms and vasectomies are on the horizon. The next generation of male contraceptives is already in phase 2 human clinical trials.
www.sciencealert.com/reversible-m...

Haiti hunger crisis deepens as almost 6 million face acute food insecurity Mass displacement, economic strain and gang violence are keeping the ‌Caribbean nation in the grip of a deepening humanitarian crisis.

About 5.8 million Haitians - more than half the ​population - are facing acute food insecurity, with more than 1.8 million of them ⁠in the emergency phase and in urgent need of food ​assistance.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...

Public health veteran is Trump’s pick to lead CDC as administration shifts tone on vaccines | CNN President Donald Trump’s new pick to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a public health veteran who has led vaccination programs, a new sign of the administration’s shifting vie...

President Trump’s new pick to lead the CDC is a public health veteran who has led vaccination programs, a new sign of the administration’s shifting views on vaccines.
www.cnn.com/2026/04/16/h...

Why Canada’s health-care system is eyeing the global helium shortage closely From the party décor industry to the health-care system, a worldwide helium shortage – the fifth in two decades – runs the risk of threatening operations in Canada.

“We often think of helium as a novelty item with balloons, but it’s far from that. So much of it is used for high-tech applications that are central to our way of life.”
The war has cut off one-third of the world’s helium supply.
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...

E-Bikes And E-Scooters A Growing Menace On City Streets, Study Says THURSDAY, April 16, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Battery-driven bicycles and scooters are becoming a public hazard, endangering both riders and pedestrians, a new st

E-bikes and e-scooters are causing more serious wrecks. They now account for more than half of all bike- and scooter-related trauma cases. More than two-thirds of patients need to be admitted to a hospital, and a third suffer brain injuries.
www.healthday.com/health-news/...

Four benefits of going out in the rain Humans are more sensitive to the smell of rain than sharks are to blood. And rain has some surprising benefits for our bodies too – especially when it comes to our mood.

From its distinctive smell to the negative ions it releases, rain has some fascinating benefits for our bodies – especially when it comes to our mood.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...