You May Need That Procedure. But Do You Really Need an Escort?
Robert Lewinger is tired of being berated by his gastroenterologist because he’s overdue for a colonoscopy. He’s perfectly willing to have one. And he’s more...
The Income Gap Is Becoming a Physical-Activity Divide
Over the last two decades, technology companies and policymakers warned of a “digital divide” in which poor children could fall behind their more affluent peers...
In a Roman Tomb, ‘Dead Nails’ Reveal an Occult Practice
When it came to the treatment of diseases, the ancient Romans had no shortage of magical remedies, several of which involved iron nails. To cure...
The Northern Lights Were Seen Farther South in the United States
James Reynolds was sitting at home scrolling through Twitter on Thursday night, when photos of the aurora borealis started to flood his timeline. Mr. Reynolds,...
Cleaner Air Helps Everyone. It Helps Black Communities a Lot.
The Environmental Protection Agency is considering new standards for the maximum amount of fine particulate matter, tiny specks about one-thirtieth the diameter of a human...
California’s Plan for Cheaper Insulin Collides With Big Pharma’s Price Cuts
California is moving ahead with its plan to produce state-sponsored insulin, but its goal of offering cheaper medicine than brand-name companies may be much harder...
Should You Get Another Covid Booster?
For most Americans, the coronavirus has become a tolerable threat, on par with the flu, and requires minimal precautions, if any. But for older people...
Tennessee’s Rejection of Federal Funds to Curb HIV Alarms Prevention Groups
NASHVILLE — After offering free H.I.V. testing at a drive-through event last year, staff members at Nashville CARES, a nonprofit sexual health clinic, made an...
How AI Chatbots Are Helping Some People Have Hard Conversations
Todd Mitchem kept struggling to have honest, productive conversations with his son. “He’s 15,” Mr. Mitchem, 52, said with a laugh. “Teenagers are so difficult...
These Devices Sickened Hundreds. The New Models Have Risks, Too.
After medical instruments called duodenoscopes sickened hundreds of patients in hospital outbreaks a few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration urged health care facilities...
Bard Fork, and How to Talk So Chatbots Will Listen
This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio...
A Paler Uranus Emerges in the Latest Hubble Telescope Image
With the passage of the vernal equinox a few days ago, we in the Northern Hemisphere can look forward to the warmer days of spring...
Biden’s Options on TikTok Narrow After China Pushes Back
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration recently told TikTok that it wanted the app’s Chinese owners to sell the app or face a possible ban in...
William A. Wulf, Pioneering Computer Scientist, Dies at 83
William A. Wulf, a pioneering researcher, entrepreneur and policymaker in computer science, who helped adapt an early Pentagon communications web into the network that grew...