Life is still fun without alcohol! In fact, for many people, it’s better than ever. No hangovers, no mood swings, no brain fog… it’s wonderful. But so much of our social culture is wrapped up in alcohol, that being alcohol-free can sometimes be isolating and lonely. Particularly when it’s all so new. Never Fear, Sober …
Riva Siggins had two photos from the same race. One showed the version of her legs she felt comfortable posting. The other showed cellulite across the backs of her thighs, captured from an angle most people would probably delete without thinking twice. Siggins nearly did exactly that, until she decided the second photograph was the …
A 15-year-old boy in Georgia lost between 25 and 30 pounds in just a few weeks, and the reason was not a diet or a growth spurt. He was vomiting so often that his body began running dangerously low on nutrients, eventually leaving him with neurological symptoms that sent his doctors searching for a much …
Six days before Tucker Budzyn died, his owner had given millions of people a reason to believe the beloved golden retriever might pull through. Tucker had lymphoma, but his chemotherapy appeared to be working, and after just one week of treatment, he had already reached partial remission. Then everything changed almost overnight. On September 5, …
Thousands of patients with fever, exhaustion, and digestive problems had been tested for known tick-borne infections, yet many were left without a clear explanation for their symptoms. Researchers investigating these unexplained illnesses have now identified a previously undescribed virus that may account for some of those cases. The virus, called Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), …
When three people in Maine were recently diagnosed with active tuberculosis, the news landed with a mixture of surprise and concern. For many in the United States, tuberculosis feels like an old-world illness, relegated to history books or far-off places. Yet this bacterial infection—responsible for more deaths worldwide each year than any other infectious disease—has …
An immune cell can reach a tumor and appear ready to attack, yet sometimes it stops before doing anything. One reason may be sitting directly on the surface of the cancer cell: a coating made of sugars. Every cell in your body carries molecules called glycans on its surface. They help cells recognize one another, …
COVID-19 may leave behind more than the memory of an infection. A large new study suggests that when the illness becomes severe, it can disturb viruses that have been quietly living in the body for years. These viruses are not necessarily new infections. Some, including Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus, can remain …
Have you ever reached for a sugar-free protein bar, piece of gum, or candy because you thought you were making the healthier choice? Sugar-free products are often marketed as a smart way to reduce your intake of added sugar, and ingredients such as sorbitol have become common replacements for traditional sweeteners. Sorbitol is a sugar …
A research team at the University of Florida has developed an experimental mRNA vaccine that could fundamentally change how cancer is treated. Unlike existing cancer vaccines that target a single tumor type or require customization for each patient, this “universal” approach is designed to work against any cancer by boosting the immune system’s ability to …
Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material changes how cells function and develop, leading to a range of health challenges. These can include differences in learning and memory, congenital heart defects, thyroid disorders, and an increased risk of …
Someone had to walk into a shrinking Brazilian rainforest, find a tree that grows nowhere else on Earth, and collect its leaves before this discovery could ever make headlines. Researchers studying the plant have now found compounds that showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory experiments, with one molecule appearing to interact strongly with a …