Health

Blue emblem of the US Public Health Service showing a caduceus crossed with a fouled anchor and chain, encircled by the text “U.S. Public Health Service 1798.”

Version Drift

In early 2025, US agencies quietly changed public health data, replacing ‘gender’ with ‘sex’ without record.

Close-up of two common vampire bats huddled together, with mouths open and ears forward, showing the physical proximity that allows grooming-based rabies vaccine transfer.

When Bats Carry the Cure

A new rabies vaccine for vampire bats spreads through colonies via grooming, offering a humane alternative to culling.

Pure lead nodules and a small lead cube on a white surface, showing the difference between raw and refined lead shapes.

Below the Threshold

Low lead levels are linked to lower school performance, suggesting current safety limits may be too high and earlier intervention is needed.

Several golfers play on the 10th fairway and green of Canmore Golf Club in Dunfermline, Scotland, with a row of terraced houses visible in the background and a line of trees separating the golf course from the residential area.

Overspill

Living within 1–3 miles of a golf course is associated with higher Parkinson’s disease risk, likely linked to pesticide use and groundwater contamination.

Close-up image of a 10-year-old boy’s upper teeth, showing a large dark cavity in a decayed tooth near the front of the mouth. The surrounding gums appear pink and healthy, but the affected tooth has a significant area of blackened enamel and structural damage, indicating advanced dental caries.

Line Decay

Ending water fluoridation in the US would lead to 25 million more decayed teeth in children over 5 years – mostly affecting those without private insurance.

Close-up photo of a vial labelled "M-M-RvaxPro," a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The vial has a blue cap and white label with blue text, placed on a dark textured surface. The vaccine is intended for injection via intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) use.

Refusal Archive

Falling childhood vaccination rates in the US risk widespread disease resurgence, hospitalisations, and deaths.

A large wildfire burns across the hills behind a suburban neighbourhood in Santa Clarita, California, at night in October 2007. Bright flames and smoke fill the sky in the distance, while the foreground shows rows of illuminated homes under a dark sky. 

Ash Weight

Wildfire smoke exposure is linked to increased mental health emergencies, especially among children, women, and people from Black and Hispanic backgrounds.

A traffic jam in Mumbai. There are lots of cars and pollution.

Shrouds of Ash

India’s air pollution causes millions of deaths, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and interventions.

The image depicts a lush, vibrant Amazon rainforest scene with dense green foliage on both sides of a calm river, which reflects the sunlight filtering through the trees. Sunlight streams in from above, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene, illuminating patches of the water and highlighting the rich diversity of plants and trees. The scene is serene and alive, evoking the natural beauty and tranquility of the Amazon rainforest.

Roots of Renewal

Protecting the Amazon rainforest reduces deforestation, improves air quality, and lowers respiratory diseases, benefiting both biodiversity and human health.