https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/health/RSS feed for HealthenThu, 22 Oct 2026 18:15:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-in-four-cases-of-depression-could-be-caused-by-a-dysregulated-body-clock-study-says-180989736/Outside experts warn that more research is needed before "circadian depression" can be classified as a subtypeThu, 22 Oct 2026 18:15:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-in-four-cases-of-depression-could-be-caused-by-a-dysregulated-body-clock-study-says-180989736/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-understand-social-divides-in-medieval-england-archaeologists-examined-tooth-enamel-from-lead-mining-communities-180989722/Some residents of the Peaks District in the 13th century may have experienced worse lead pollution than city-dwellers during the Industrial Revolution. Female skeletons showed higher lead levels and earlier ages of deathWed, 21 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-understand-social-divides-in-medieval-england-archaeologists-examined-tooth-enamel-from-lead-mining-communities-180989722/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/microplastics-have-been-linked-with-myriad-human-health-problems-scientists-may-have-finally-figured-out-how-they-harm-the-body-180989694/Lab experiments suggest that tiny bits of plastic can react with water inside us to produce highly reactive molecules. They can lead to damaging oxidative stress and inflammationFri, 16 Oct 2026 17:03:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/microplastics-have-been-linked-with-myriad-human-health-problems-scientists-may-have-finally-figured-out-how-they-harm-the-body-180989694/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wildlife-biologists-start-vaccinating-shy-albatross-by-hand-taking-aim-at-the-spread-of-avian-flu-in-tasmania-180989684/If all goes to plan, officials hope to vaccinate up to 100 of the large seabirds on Albatross Island, giving each two doses of the vaccine. Afterward, they plan to keep tabs on the birds using remote cameras and follow-up visitsThu, 15 Oct 2026 15:21:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wildlife-biologists-start-vaccinating-shy-albatross-by-hand-taking-aim-at-the-spread-of-avian-flu-in-tasmania-180989684/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-tiny-sardinian-village-might-be-a-new-blue-zone-and-could-hold-the-secrets-to-female-longevity-180989660/In Bolotana, a town on the Italian island with about 2,300 residents, women who reach the age of 70 are about three times as likely to live to 100 than women in the United States, according to a new studyTue, 13 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-tiny-sardinian-village-might-be-a-new-blue-zone-and-could-hold-the-secrets-to-female-longevity-180989660/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/volunteers-are-helping-unearth-one-of-englands-oldest-leprosy-hospitals-giving-a-glimpse-into-how-victims-of-the-disease-were-treated-in-medieval-times-180989665/Researchers believe that the Hospital of the Holy Innocents, founded in the 11th or 12th century, may have had "little houses with a little yard" for up to 20 people with leprosy. "You’d need to have resources to get in here," one archaeologist says.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:13:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/volunteers-are-helping-unearth-one-of-englands-oldest-leprosy-hospitals-giving-a-glimpse-into-how-victims-of-the-disease-were-treated-in-medieval-times-180989665/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-industrialization-gut-our-microbiomes-a-new-study-on-rural-foraging-communities-in-south-america-and-africa-hints-the-answer-is-yes-180989658/Two groups—the Tsimane forager-horticulturists in Bolivia and the Hadza hunter-gatherers in Tanzania—remarkably share more than 1,200 gut microbe species. However, around 60 percent of them are rare or absent in people living in industrialized places, according to researchersTue, 13 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-industrialization-gut-our-microbiomes-a-new-study-on-rural-foraging-communities-in-south-america-and-africa-hints-the-answer-is-yes-180989658/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-took-a-cheek-swab-from-the-worlds-oldest-tortoise-his-dna-could-reveal-hints-to-longevity-180989663/Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is about 194 years old and the oldest land animal alive today. Discoveries about his genetics could provide clues to extending lifespan in humansFri, 09 Oct 2026 17:28:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-took-a-cheek-swab-from-the-worlds-oldest-tortoise-his-dna-could-reveal-hints-to-longevity-180989663/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flu-season-started-early-in-parts-of-the-us-and-experts-say-you-should-consider-getting-the-seasonal-jab-asap-heres-what-to-know-180989639/The season usually starts in October or November. But some western states, including California, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, began seeing a rise in flu cases as early as AugustThu, 08 Oct 2026 15:24:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flu-season-started-early-in-parts-of-the-us-and-experts-say-you-should-consider-getting-the-seasonal-jab-asap-heres-what-to-know-180989639/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-chemists-win-nobel-prize-for-unraveling-a-mystery-of-molecular-handedness-helping-drugmakers-develop-safer-medications-180989643/Many molecules come in two mirrored forms—like left and right hands—but living organisms generally contain only one. However, chemists couldn't figure out how to make just one version in the lab. Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai share the prize for their work solving the puzzleWed, 07 Oct 2026 19:10:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-chemists-win-nobel-prize-for-unraveling-a-mystery-of-molecular-handedness-helping-drugmakers-develop-safer-medications-180989643/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/employee-of-a-russian-anti-plague-lab-dies-of-pneumonia-sparking-concerns-over-the-disease-behind-the-black-death-heres-what-to-know-180989630/No official cause of her pneumonia has been confirmed, and Russian health officials say that none of the deceased individual's close contacts tested positive for the plague. Pneumonic plague is a rare, deadly form of the diseaseWed, 07 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/employee-of-a-russian-anti-plague-lab-dies-of-pneumonia-sparking-concerns-over-the-disease-behind-the-black-death-heres-what-to-know-180989630/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-brain-implant-allows-people-with-paralysis-to-speak-and-gesture-at-the-same-time-via-a-mind-controlled-virtual-avatar-180989604/The experimental technology is still in the early stage and was fully tested in just two participants. But it could one day help people with motor problems communicate with more nuance or help them control robotic prosthetic limbsTue, 06 Oct 2026 16:08:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-brain-implant-allows-people-with-paralysis-to-speak-and-gesture-at-the-same-time-via-a-mind-controlled-virtual-avatar-180989604/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trio-of-scientists-wins-medicine-nobel-for-a-method-to-turn-nerve-cells-on-and-off-with-light-helping-to-unravel-the-brains-mysteries-180989618/Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel received the 2026 award for their contributions to a revolutionary technique in neuroscience called optogenetics, which allows researchers to examine precise connections between neuronal activity and behavioral outcomes in live animalsMon, 05 Oct 2026 19:33:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trio-of-scientists-wins-medicine-nobel-for-a-method-to-turn-nerve-cells-on-and-off-with-light-helping-to-unravel-the-brains-mysteries-180989618/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/is-more-protein-always-better-despite-the-craze-around-the-nutrient-research-backed-evidence-about-its-benefits-is-complicated-180989584/It can be difficult to see through the array of flashy, protein-packed products and determine whether you need more of it—and which foods to consume to get it. We asked health experts about the benefits and drawbacks of chasing proteinWed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/is-more-protein-always-better-despite-the-craze-around-the-nutrient-research-backed-evidence-about-its-benefits-is-complicated-180989584/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mri-scans-might-reveal-signs-of-alzheimers-disease-seven-years-before-a-telltale-marker-appears-in-the-brain-180989570/Not all researchers are convinced that the brain changes detected via MRI are robust enough to become a diagnostic tool. But the findings could help researchers better understand the mechanisms that drive the neurodegenerative diseaseTue, 29 Sep 2026 20:33:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mri-scans-might-reveal-signs-of-alzheimers-disease-seven-years-before-a-telltale-marker-appears-in-the-brain-180989570/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-invent-a-digestible-paper-based-battery-that-can-power-swallowed-or-implanted-medical-devices-180989549/So far, the technology has been tested only in pigs. If it's successful in humans, it could one day power tools that monitor your health or deliver drugs or electrical currents inside the bodyFri, 25 Sep 2026 18:37:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-invent-a-digestible-paper-based-battery-that-can-power-swallowed-or-implanted-medical-devices-180989549/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-humble-history-of-the-bedpan-180989560/Over the past few centuries, inventors have tweaked the design of the receptacles here and there, but overall, not much has changed about the dependable medical supplyThu, 24 Sep 2026 19:04:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-humble-history-of-the-bedpan-180989560/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-boosting-mental-health-to-reducing-dementia-risk-heres-why-reading-is-extremely-good-for-you-according-to-science-180989548/Mounting evidence suggests that regularly cozying up with a book can increase brain and mental health, improve literacy and math skills, and even slow cognitive decline. What's more, fiction seems to have the added benefit of introducing readers to others' perspectivesWed, 23 Sep 2026 16:33:51 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-boosting-mental-health-to-reducing-dementia-risk-heres-why-reading-is-extremely-good-for-you-according-to-science-180989548/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-woman-who-lived-in-imperial-china-may-have-had-her-nose-cut-off-as-punishment-for-theft-or-adultery-180989551/Researchers found signs of healing on her 700-year-old skull, which suggests that she survived the painful sanction—and may even have gone on to wear a prosthesisWed, 23 Sep 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-woman-who-lived-in-imperial-china-may-have-had-her-nose-cut-off-as-punishment-for-theft-or-adultery-180989551/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-say-the-human-brain-might-be-made-of-two-distinct-nervous-systems-that-got-squished-together-180989539/Two separate types of progenitor cells give rise to the front and back of the organ, according to a new study. The findings can help researchers study human diseases that affect the hindbrain, since its nerve cells have previously been difficult—if not impossible—to make in the labTue, 22 Sep 2026 15:54:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-say-the-human-brain-might-be-made-of-two-distinct-nervous-systems-that-got-squished-together-180989539/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-brain-shrinks-as-we-age-and-during-major-transitions-but-surprisingly-it-seems-to-take-a-break-from-rewiring-during-menopause-180989527/Puberty, pregnancy and menopause are the three major hormonal transitions for the female brain. Researchers already knew that during the first two, the organ fine-tunes itself in response to hormonal shifts, but they haven't been sure about the thirdMon, 21 Sep 2026 18:51:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-brain-shrinks-as-we-age-and-during-major-transitions-but-surprisingly-it-seems-to-take-a-break-from-rewiring-during-menopause-180989527/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alcohol-related-cancer-deaths-have-more-than-doubled-in-the-united-states-over-the-past-30-years-study-suggests-180989531/While scientists say their findings don't necessarily mean you need to cut alcohol from your life entirely, knowing the potential risks—especially if you're already at an elevated risk of developing cancer—can help guide your decisionsMon, 21 Sep 2026 15:32:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alcohol-related-cancer-deaths-have-more-than-doubled-in-the-united-states-over-the-past-30-years-study-suggests-180989531/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/from-22000-miles-up-this-satellite-tracks-airborne-health-threats-almost-in-real-time-180989523/The new instrument, called TEMPO, captures hourly snapshots of the pollutants swirling in the daytime atmosphere over North America—“chemical weather” reports that are helpful to public health researchers and government officialsFri, 18 Sep 2026 18:02:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/from-22000-miles-up-this-satellite-tracks-airborne-health-threats-almost-in-real-time-180989523/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-created-mice-with-half-human-brains-the-hybrid-animals-could-revolutionize-our-understanding-of-neurological-disorders-180989518/Our brains and their associated diseases are notoriously hard to study. So researchers developed an animal model with a cortex—the brain’s outer layer—grown from human-derived cellsThu, 17 Sep 2026 20:16:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-created-mice-with-half-human-brains-the-hybrid-animals-could-revolutionize-our-understanding-of-neurological-disorders-180989518/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-genetically-modified-pig-kidney-kept-a-man-alive-for-a-record-nine-months-allowing-him-to-wait-for-a-donated-human-organ-180989466/The animal organ kept Tim Andrews off dialysis for 271 days and represents the first time a pig kidney has been used as a bridge to human organ transplantationFri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-genetically-modified-pig-kidney-kept-a-man-alive-for-a-record-nine-months-allowing-him-to-wait-for-a-donated-human-organ-180989466/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-psychedelic-compound-found-in-magic-mushrooms-might-prevent-debilitating-nerve-damage-and-pain-caused-by-chemotherapy-180989457/A study in mice and human tissue suggests psilocybin protects against peripheral neuropathy, a common side effect of chemotherapy. The findings are so promising that researchers are starting a mid-stage clinical trial this yearThu, 10 Sep 2026 15:48:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-psychedelic-compound-found-in-magic-mushrooms-might-prevent-debilitating-nerve-damage-and-pain-caused-by-chemotherapy-180989457/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/peptides-are-all-the-rage-promising-miracle-cures-and-makeovers-delivered-by-injection-how-did-we-get-here-180989454/Experts say the peptide craze is part of a broader phenomenon, as patients look beyond the regulated health system to address problems that doctors have struggled to treatWed, 09 Sep 2026 18:28:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/peptides-are-all-the-rage-promising-miracle-cures-and-makeovers-delivered-by-injection-how-did-we-get-here-180989454/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/GLP-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-slow-aging-and-extend-lifespan-mouse-study-suggests-180989452/Older female mice—equivalent in age to 60-year-old women—given daily injections of the active ingredient in Ozempic lived about 12 percent longer than animals that didn't receive the drugFri, 04 Sep 2026 15:16:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/GLP-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-slow-aging-and-extend-lifespan-mouse-study-suggests-180989452/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-war-ii-sugar-rationing-data-hints-that-limiting-intake-of-the-sweet-stuff-early-in-life-lowers-the-risk-of-dementia-and-cancer-180989431/For roughly a decade leading up to September 1953, the United Kingdom limited sugar purchases. Scientists studied health outcomes in people born during the ration and right afterWed, 02 Sep 2026 15:48:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-war-ii-sugar-rationing-data-hints-that-limiting-intake-of-the-sweet-stuff-early-in-life-lowers-the-risk-of-dementia-and-cancer-180989431/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/The true prevalence of the neurodegenerative disease—which is associated with repeated head injuries—among the deceased football players might be much higher. CTE affects other athletes too, including hockey players, soccer players and wrestlersThu, 27 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tennis-matches-are-heating-up-literally-heres-how-the-court-became-a-living-laboratory-for-managing-extreme-temperatures-180989399/The sport’s hard-court surfaces can reach some 30 degrees hotter than the surrounding air. With elite players suffering heat illness on the world stage, athletes are following personalized cooling plansThu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tennis-matches-are-heating-up-literally-heres-how-the-court-became-a-living-laboratory-for-managing-extreme-temperatures-180989399/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-deadly-shellfish-poisoning-has-no-antidote-a-protein-found-in-american-bullfrogs-could-change-that-180989365/A study in mice found that a protein called saxiphilin acts like a sponge against a deadly toxin produced by algal blooms. The harmful agent, which accumulates in certain seafood, can cause a life-threatening illness called paralytic shellfish poisoningWed, 26 Aug 2026 15:39:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-deadly-shellfish-poisoning-has-no-antidote-a-protein-found-in-american-bullfrogs-could-change-that-180989365/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-15-foot-python-is-the-first-known-snake-to-receive-electrochemotherapy-for-cancer-now-shes-officially-free-of-the-disease-180989385/The pioneering treatment makes it easier for traditional chemotherapy drugs to penetrate cancer cells. After the procedure, the reptile, named Jodie Foster, made a speedy recoveryMon, 24 Aug 2026 17:31:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-15-foot-python-is-the-first-known-snake-to-receive-electrochemotherapy-for-cancer-now-shes-officially-free-of-the-disease-180989385/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-used-ai-too-design-new-viruses-the-technology-could-be-a-boon-for-medicine-but-experts-worry-about-harmful-pathogens-180989336/The findings represent the first genomes, or complete genetic instruction books, designed entirely with generative A.I. The resulting viruses attack only bacteria, which could one day help overcome the problem of antibiotic-resistant microbesMon, 24 Aug 2026 16:08:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-used-ai-too-design-new-viruses-the-technology-could-be-a-boon-for-medicine-but-experts-worry-about-harmful-pathogens-180989336/