Funding Science

An illustration of white dollar signs in test tubes, set against a navy blue background

Medical research depends on government money – even a day’s delay in the intricate funding process throws science off-kilter Above photo: Of the tens of thousands of grant applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health, only around 1 in 5 is funded. Sean Gladwell/Moment via Getty Images By Aliasger K. Salem, University of Iowa In […]

HHS Secretary Power

A hand with a blue surgical glove on it reaches up to a woman's bare hand.

Health and Human Services secretary influences every aspect of America’s health Above photo: Declaring a state of public health emergency − and mobilizing resources to address it − is a power of the HHS secretary. Frank Franklin II/AP Photo By Angela Mattie, Quinnipiac University The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, […]

Heat Hazards

A man runs outdoors in Washington, D.C. as people walk in the background.

Extreme heat can be dangerous for runners, cyclists and anyone spending time outdoors: 6 tips for staying safe Above photo: Think carefully before running or cycling in the heat of the day. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many places are seeing in 2024, it can pose risks […]

Lead vs. Plastic

A pile of blue/green pipes reach skyward

Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but replacing them with cheaper plastic — as some cities are doing — carries hidden costs Above image: Plastic water pipes may be cheaper, but they also come with risks. Mark Bernard/iStock/Getty Images Plus   By Rajpreet Grewal, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Laodong Guo, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, […]