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Health

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

The world’s emotional status is actually pretty good, a new global report finds
Future Perfect

But which country comes first in happiness completely changes depending on how you measure.

By Oshan Jarow
The world’s emotional status is actually pretty good, a new global report finds
Future Perfect

But which country comes first in happiness completely changes depending on how you measure.

By Oshan Jarow
Will AI ever become conscious? It depends on how you think about biology.Will AI ever become conscious? It depends on how you think about biology.
Future Perfect

The debate that will steer the future of consciousness — and us.

By Oshan Jarow
MDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explainedMDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explained
Future Perfect

MDMA looked like it was on a fast track for PTSD treatment. Now, an FDA committee is advising otherwise.

By Oshan Jarow
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

The latest in Health

Amazon’s recommendations are getting a little too creepyAmazon’s 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
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
Is your kid addicted to their phone? Here’s how to set smart boundaries.Is your kid addicted to their phone? Here’s how to set smart boundaries.
Even Better

A definitive guide to managing your children’s tech.

By Allie Volpe
The controversy over Biden and Parkinson’s disease, explainedThe controversy over Biden and Parkinson’s disease, explained
Politics

Why speculation over the president’s health refuses to die down.

By Keren Landman, MD
America’s obsession with hot dogs, explained
Food

The strange ways we do (and don’t) consume glizzies.

By Whizy Kim
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
The most crucial part of next year’s federal budgetThe most crucial part of next year’s federal budget
Future Perfect

The fight to fund Gavi, the international vaccine fund, explained.

By Dylan Matthews
The existential struggle of being BlackThe existential struggle of being Black
Audio
The Gray Area

A conversation with author Nathalie Etoke on Black existentialism and the case for tragic optimism.

By Sean Illing
What if absolutely everything is conscious?
Science

Scientists spent ages mocking panpsychism. Now, some are warming to the idea that plants, cells, and even atoms are conscious.

By Sigal Samuel
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The US doesn‘t have federal heat protections. A standard would save lives. As a heat dome suffocates much of the East, it‘s becoming more apparent that we need better standards in the face of climate change.

By Sam Delgado
America’s international public health plan is too focused on AmericansAmerica’s international public health plan is too focused on Americans
Future Perfect

I spent years in Africa as an epidemiologist. Here’s what I saw.

By Jess Craig
How dangerous is it really to have a baby in America?How dangerous is it really to have a baby in America?
Health

The debate over maternal deaths, explained.

By Anna North
TikTok is full of bad health “hacks.” Here’s how to navigate them.TikTok is full of bad health “hacks.” Here’s how to navigate them.
Even Better

Beer for a tan? Garlic cloves for sinuses? Don’t fall for the firehose of health BS online.

By Keren Landman, MD