Jan 23 Worried about lead in your water? Flint pediatricians have this advice By William Brangham, Lorna Baldwin The lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan has people across the nation wondering about their own possible exposure to the toxic metal. "When pediatricians hear anything about lead, we stand up straight, and we freak out," says Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha,… Continue reading
Jan 22 Watch 4:52 Inside the fight to save the bananas we know (and love) By PBS News Hour A deadly fungus, known as Panama disease, is decimating banana plantations around the world and threatens to wipe out the most common species, the Cavendish banana. Scientists in Honduras are working to create a resistant banana before the disease hits… Continue watching
Jan 21 Watch 3:06 A human guinea pig explains why you should experiment in life By PBS NewsHour Journalist and author A.J. Jacobs has been called a "human guinea pig," a title he earned. Continue watching
Jan 21 Watch 5:10 Why these anti-smoking TV ads are working By PBS News Hour Five years ago, the Centers for Disease Control launched the first federal education campaign against smoking. Today the government says it has helped 400,000 smokers quit for good. In a series of TV ads called "Tips From Former Smokers," Americans… Continue watching
Jan 21 Bernie Sanders' health plan is Medicare on growth hormones By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders calls his plan for a government-run health care system "Medicare for all." But it's not. With full coverage for long-term care, most dental work included, no deductibles and zero copays, the Sanders plan… Continue reading
Jan 20 Watch 7:38 If pregnant, beware of travel to countries with Zika virus By PBS News Hour Transmitted by mosquitos, the Zika virus can cause babies to be born with unusually small heads and brain damage. It has spread from Brazil to several countries and territories in the Americas, with a handful of cases confirmed in the… Continue watching
Jan 20 Watch Telling the story of parents and activists who fought for autism acceptance By PBS News Hour The story of autism is many stories -- from doctors, to parents, to the afflicted themselves. Journalists Caren Zucker and John Donvan examine that history in their new book, "In a Different Key: The Story of Autism." Jeffrey Brown sits… Continue watching
Jan 20 Watch 11:12 In Flint, public trust poisoned by toxic drinking water crisis By PBS News Hour In Flint, Michigan, toxic drinking water has become a federal emergency. For a year and a half, residents were consuming water contaminated by lead, despite repeated claims from state health officials that everything was fine. That revelation has led to… Continue watching
Jan 20 Was this autism pioneer also a Nazi? By William Brangham Viennese psychologist Hans Asperger ran a clinic for autistic children in the 1930s and is considered by many to be one of the first to diagnose and define autism as we know it today. But what became of Asperger during… Continue reading
Jan 19 Watch 7:07 How home visits for vulnerable moms boost kids' brainpower By PBS News Hour A rapidly expanding medical program for low-income first-time mothers combines social services with the latest in brain science. The Nurse-Family Partnership provides in-home advice on health and parenting, which can lead to improved cognitive development and language skills for their… Continue watching