yoga studio

The False Promises of Wellness Culture

Wellness is everywhere today: juice cleanses, Soulcycle classes, self-care. The roots of the trend can be found in nineteenth-century health-consciousness.
Anders Leonard Zor, portrait of Grover Cleveland

History’s Biggest Presidential Health Cover-Up

How important is a President's health? Should the public know all? History suggests that full disclosure is better than not.
Two bowls of blueberries on a blue bench

What Makes Blueberries Superfoods?

Summer is here and with it comes Cyanococcus Vaccinium, otherwise known as the blueberry. These little fruits are ...
Dr. Walter Edmondson, doctor known for his participation in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, taking a blood test from an unidentified patient

The Lasting Fallout of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study

A recent paper provides evidence that the Tuskegee Syphilis Study reduced the life expectancy of African-American men.
A woman reads the nutrition label of a canister of oatmeal

How Much Will New Nutrition Labels Help Fight Obesity?

Nutrition labels are changing for the first time since they were introduced two decades ago.
A pair of hands making L's to distinguish which one is actually the left one

Be Honest, Can You Really Tell Left from Right?

Laterality, or left-right orientation, takes years to master. A surprising percentage of adults struggle telling left from right, including some surgeons.
Microscope view of thread-like cells

Guess What? You’re a Superorganism.

The White House has announced the "microbiome moonshot" – a push to understand the human microbiome.
Organic vegetables

Is it Nutritionally Beneficial to Go Organic?

Research suggests that there are real nutritional differences between organic and non-organic produce, milk, and meat. 
croissants with calorie count

Can Information Fight Fat?

New FDA regulations requiring prepared food retailers to disclose calorie content are counting on it to fight fat.
Fist full of soap suds

Is Our Soap Hurting Us?

Julia Scott, a writer and radio producer in San Francisco, was recently a test subject for a living ...