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Vox’s coverage of all things health, including personal health, public health, mental health, and more.

The latest in Health

Instagram’s Teen Accounts aren’t really for teensInstagram’s Teen Accounts aren’t really for teens
Technology

What to know about Meta’s new restrictions on young people’s social media use.

By Ellen Ioanes
The moral case for paying kidney donorsThe moral case for paying kidney donors
Future Perfect

Kidney donors save lives. Why aren’t we compensated for it?

By Dylan Matthews
Yet another person got bird flu. Now should I freak out?Yet another person got bird flu. Now should I freak out?
Even Better

Experts are losing a little sleep over the latest Missouri case, but that doesn’t mean you should.

By Keren Landman, MD
The cost of cynicismThe cost of cynicism
Audio
The Gray Area

It’s irrational to be cynical, so why is it becoming more prevalent?

By Sean Illing
When did sodas, teas, and tonics become medicine?
Even Better

From prebiotic sodas to collagen waters, beverages are trying to do the most. Consumers are drinking it up.

By Keren Landman, MD
Kate Middleton says she is cancer-free. But why are she and so many young people getting sick?Kate Middleton says she is cancer-free. But why are she and so many young people getting sick?
Future Perfect

It’s not just the Princess of Wales. More and more young people are getting cancer.

By Dylan Scott
An extremely practical guide to this year’s cold, flu, and Covid seasonAn extremely practical guide to this year’s cold, flu, and Covid season
Even Better

How to survive the coming onslaught of viral illnesses.

By Keren Landman, MD
What are ultra-processed foods and why are they bad for you?
The Highlight

From granola bars to chips, more studies are revealing that UPFs are tied to diseases like cancer and depression.

By Jess Craig
How a disease the world (mostly) vanquished reared its head in GazaHow a disease the world (mostly) vanquished reared its head in Gaza
Policy

Israel’s attacks on Gaza created conditions for polio to spread. Now, a vaccination campaign is racing against time.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Should we think twice about fluoride?Should we think twice about fluoride?
Today, Explained newsletter

Too much fluoride might lower IQ in kids, a new federal report says. The science (and debate), explained.

By Celia Ford
The case of the nearly 7,000 missing pancreasesThe case of the nearly 7,000 missing pancreases
Future Perfect

Organ companies are getting up to pancreas hijinks.

By Dylan Matthews
Why your Amazon recommendations are getting a little too creepyWhy your Amazon recommendations are getting a little too creepy
Technology

The retail giant now uses your grocery purchases to recommend prescription drugs.

By Adam Clark Estes
This ancient disease still kills 1 million people every yearThis ancient disease still kills 1 million people every year
Future Perfect

A new generation of drugs promised salvation from hepatitis B and C. What went wrong?

By Dylan Scott
Big Pharma claims lower prices will mean giving up miracle medications. Ignore them.Big Pharma claims lower prices will mean giving up miracle medications. Ignore them.
Future Perfect

The case against Medicare drug price negotiations doesn’t add up.

By Dylan Scott
What you need to know about the new Covid-19 vaccineWhat you need to know about the new Covid-19 vaccine
Public Health

Who should actually get the jab, and when?

By Ellen Ioanes
What are extracurricular activities for?
Life

Extracurriculars matter for more than college applications. Here’s why.

By Charley Locke
Antibiotics are failing. The US has a plan to launch a research renaissance.
Future Perfect

But there might be global consequences.

By Jess Craig
More than 4 billion people don’t have access to clean water at homeMore than 4 billion people don’t have access to clean water at home
Future Perfect

Researchers wildly underestimated how many people don’t have safe drinking water.

By Celia Ford
Mpox never stopped spreading in Africa. Now it’s an international public health emergency. Again.Mpox never stopped spreading in Africa. Now it’s an international public health emergency. Again.
Future Perfect

A first case outside of the continent has been detected in Sweden. What’s next?

By Jess Craig
Why does it feel like everyone is getting Covid?Why does it feel like everyone is getting Covid?
Covid-19

Covid’s summer surge, explained

By Ellen Ioanes
Does being a gifted kid make for a burned-out adulthood?
Mental Health

How being labeled “gifted” can rearrange your life — for better and for worse.

By Constance Grady
The youth mental health crisis is hitting LGBTQ+ teens hardestThe youth mental health crisis is hitting LGBTQ+ teens hardest
Future Perfect

While better data is needed to understand just how wide the gap is, help doesn’t have to wait.

By Sam Delgado
Trump’s campaign against public health is back onTrump’s campaign against public health is back on
Vox’s guide to Donald Trump’s 2024 policies

The former president says he’ll block funding for US schools that require vaccines.

By Dylan Scott
MDMA therapy didn’t get FDA approval. Now what?MDMA therapy didn’t get FDA approval. Now what?
Future Perfect

The end of psychedelic prohibition will have to wait a little while longer.

By Oshan Jarow
The surprising truth about loneliness in AmericaThe surprising truth about loneliness in America
Even Better

No one is immune to loneliness. But some are more at risk.

By Allie Volpe
Confronting the self
Even Better

How to truly live the life you want.

By Vox Staff
How the seasons screw with your moral compassHow the seasons screw with your moral compass
Future Perfect

Your morality isn’t as stable as you might think.

By Sigal Samuel
The only child stigma, debunked
Parenting

Being an only child doesn’t mess you up for life. We promise.

By Charley Locke
We have a drug that might delay menopause — and help us live longerWe have a drug that might delay menopause — and help us live longer
Future Perfect

Ovaries age faster than the rest of the body. Figuring out how to slow menopause might help all of us age better.

By Celia Ford
Humanity is failing one of its greatest moral tests
Future Perfect

The long, maddening, glorious, vital fight against factory farming.

By Marina Bolotnikova
Ditching factory farming can help prevent another pandemic
Future Perfect

The neglected environmental and health benefits of fighting Big Meat — for humans.

By Jonathan Safran Foer and Aaron Gross
What happens when everyone decides they need a gun?
Policy

We are living through an inflection point in America’s relationship with guns. There may be no going back.

By Marin Cogan
Africa is beating HIV. But the rest of the world is falling behind.Africa is beating HIV. But the rest of the world is falling behind.
Future Perfect

Now isn’t the time to stop funding key public health programs.

By Jess Craig
What if colon cancer screening didn’t involve poop?What if colon cancer screening didn’t involve poop?
Science

Blood-based biopsies could make screening less icky — if we can make them more accurate.

By Charlotte Hu
Think like an OlympianThink like an Olympian
Even Better

More of a mathlete than an athlete? A gold medal mindset can help you do almost anything better.

By Keren Landman, MD
Warren Buffett’s breakup with the Gates Foundation will hurt the worldWarren Buffett’s breakup with the Gates Foundation will hurt the world
Future Perfect

Buffett’s decision to put his money into a foundation controlled by his kids is a mistake.

By Kelsey Piper
The bird flu doom loopThe bird flu doom loop
Future Perfect

Is bird flu here to stay?

By Kenny Torrella
Feeling drained from the night before? It could be an emotional hangover.Feeling drained from the night before? It could be an emotional hangover.
Even Better

Here’s how to keep one from ruining your day.

By Anna Medaris
Free medical school won’t solve the doctor shortageFree medical school won’t solve the doctor shortage
Future Perfect

Too many Americans can’t find a doctor. Michael Bloomberg is donating $1 billion to Johns Hopkins to try to change that.

By Dylan Scott
Energy drinks are everywhere. How dangerous are they?Energy drinks are everywhere. How dangerous are they?
Even Better

Originally marketed squarely at young men, they’re now coming for women’s wallets.

By Keren Landman, MD