Archives: Segments
How the myth of ‘patient zero’ was made
A labeling fluke and an international bestseller shaped our thinking about public health.
1 year ago
Listen 13:16The real pain behind vitiligo and its unequal effect on people of color
With only one FDA approved topical cream for vitiligo — finding comfort in one’s own skin comes at a cost.
1 year ago
Listen 8:13One doctor’s crusade to improve health literacy
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick believes plainspoken information from trusted messengers can help shrink health disparities, and some insurers are buying in.
1 year ago
Listen 18:02How mental health apps revealed problems in diagnosing ADHD
Getting an ADHD diagnosis and treatment from online platforms like Cerebral and Done seemed to increase demand for the stimulant Adderall - but that’s just part of the problem
1 year ago
Listen 14:38Why the nuclear fusion ‘net energy gain’ is more hype than breakthrough
What does this “breakthrough” actually mean and why some are calling it a ‘scam.’
1 year ago
Scientists have their eyes on Chagas disease and the 'kissing bugs' that help spread it
Chagas disease can lead to heart failure and damage to the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. Roughly 20-30% of those who contract Chagas may be at risk of dying from it.
1 year ago
Listen 9:5510 years after Sandy Hook: One mother’s journey through grief and healing
Francine Wheeler’s son, Ben, was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. For Francine, it was the moment that changed
1 year ago
Listen 17:36‘This was going to be a tidal wave’: What makes pandemic grief similar to violent death grief
Researchers find that pandemic grief is on par with violent-death grief — and what makes both so traumatic
1 year ago
Listen 14:28The Bobbit Worm Chronicles: One man’s epic battle against the sea’s creepiest crawly
When Don Arndt discovered he had a bobbit worm in his aquarium, he knew it needed to go — what followed was a saga worthy of legend.
1 year ago
Listen 16:34As climate change threatens coffee and tea production, where will our future buzz come from?
How caffeine went from natural to synthetic and why we should maybe expect more of it in the future.
1 year ago
Listen 8:47How a therapy once seen as a victory for autistic kids has come under fire as abuse
The first generation of kids to receive intensive ABA has grown up — and many have criticized it as harmful and even abusive.
1 year ago
Listen 42:05Can the cheetah help save India’s grasslands?
Cheetahs were declared extinct 70 years ago in India. Ecologists hope its reintroduction will boost efforts to preserve the country's vast grasslands.
1 year ago
Listen 10:41Getting to the bottom of Philadelphia’s potholes
What causes potholes — and why are there so many of them?
1 year ago
Listen 11:52Doing more good than harm: Conflicting feelings on the frontlines of harm reduction
Doing harm reduction work can feel like walking a tight line between helping and enabling.
1 year ago
Listen 11:48