Health/Science
Dozens of boys are dying in South Africa's traditional circumcision rites 150,000 uncounted COVID-19 deaths occurred early in the pandemic New study challenges how humans got to the Americas Making menstrual leave official: 2 paid days off a month for period pain RFK Jr. makes food sound like a miracle drug
American Airlines and Google say AI helped reduce contrails that trap heat
What Americans are giving up to afford ACA health insurance
Scientists make breakthrough in the study of whale sounds
Scream your way to happiness? Maybe not, but scream clubs promise relief
World Happiness Report highlights social media's negative impact
HELSINKI (AP) – Heavy social media use contributes to a stark decline in well-being among young people, with the effects particularly worrying in teenage girls in English-speaking countries and Western Europe, according to the World Happiness Report 2026 published Thursday. The report found that Finland is the happiest land in the world for the ninth year in a row.
Flu vaccines didn't work that well in the US, officials find

NEW YORK (AP) – As the U.S. flu season winds down, health officials say the flu vaccine didn’t work very well, with one of its worst effectiveness rates in more than a decade. A new strain that dominated the early winter was not well matched to the vaccine, leading to an intense early onslaught of flu.

 

Oldest known whale recording could unlock mysteries of the ocean

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – A haunting whale song discovered on decades-old audio equipment could open up a new understanding of how the huge animals communicate, according to researchers who say it’s the oldest such recording known.

Judge blocks US government from slimming down vaccine recommendations

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child, and said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in revamping a key vaccine advisory committee.

See how mezcal is made in Mexico

SANTA MARIA ZOQUITLAN, Mexico (AP) – Mexico’s agave spirit mezcal is still produced much as it has been for generations. The work is slow and physical, guided by knowledge passed down within Indigenous families.

From rockets to cancer research, here's how pi is embedded in our lives

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Math nerds and dessert enthusiasts unite to celebrate Pi Day every March 14, the date that represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi. Representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, pi is approximately equal to 3.14159 – but its digits go on forever.

Stair climbers love their exercise, which draws attention of security guards

NEW YORK (AP) – Tom McGee began climbing stairs for exercise 20 years ago as part of an effort to stay off cigarettes. It hasn’t always been easy: His climbs in hotel stairwells sometimes draw the attention of security guards.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has breast cancer but will keep working

WASHINGTON (AP) – White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer but plans to continue working through her treatment, retaining her place as one of President Donald Trump’s closest aides during a period of political turbulence.

After attacks on Iran's oil facilities, toxic black rain endangers the public

Clouds of toxic smoke unleashed into the atmosphere by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities made a dangerous return to Earth in the form of “black rain,” prompting international health officials to warn of serious risks to the public. Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing.

Raucous bird tornado as snow geese make annual flight to Arctic

KLEINFELTERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) – A few dozen birdwatchers gathered in the predawn darkness to wait for the moment when thousands of migrating snow geese stopped honking and preening to suddenly take flight from a Pennsylvania reservoir.

All but 2 of Austria's 96 glaciers have retreated over last 2 years
Thailand's 'Death Fest' invites visitors to embrace mortality
Louisiana's alligator farms raise the reptiles for meat, skins - and conservation