Epidemics as Entertainment
Plagues capture the public imagination in ways that other less terrifying--but more deadly--diseases don't.
How Conflicts of Interest Are Changing Medical Research
Federal funding for medical research has declined, leading academics to seek alternative funding sources, sometimes from drug companies.
The Mystical Practice That Preceded Medical Anesthesia
For a brief period of time in the 19th century, doctors used "mesmerism" for pain-free surgery.
When Do We Have Empathy For People Living with Mental Illness?
Do we feel more empathy for those living with mental disorders when there's a biological explanation versus a psychosocial one for their condition?
Why Male Midwives Concealed the Obstetric Forceps
The history of obstetric forceps shows the dangers of privatizing important medical know-how.
North Korea’s Anti-American Propaganda Improved Public Health
During the Korean War, North Korea suffered widespread epidemics of typhus and smallpox. The Communist party blamed U.S. germ warfare.
What’s the Definition of Health?
The WHO’s definition has been the target of criticism in the medical literature since its first appearance in 1948.
The Genetics of Cousin Marriage
It's conventional wisdom that procreation between first cousins is unhealthy. But what are the actual genetic risks?
The Science Behind Decompression Sickness
Deep-sea divers now know how to avoid "the bends." But decompression still poses a problem when studying marine organisms from the deep.