Stories by Rachel Feltman

TikTok’s U.S. spin-off could reshape its algorithm and the way culture is curated online.

Bird flu surges and a government shutdown collide, complicating efforts to track cases and protect flocks.

Despite the widespread use of medication during pregnancy, a lack of clinical research leaves patients and doctors navigating treatment with dangerously few data.

The words we choose when apologizing—especially longer, effortful ones—can signal sincerity and make our apologies feel more authentic.

A new WHO report warns of rising antimicrobial resistance, and researchers uncover satellite data leaks and insect surprises.

A massive Somali meteorite containing never-before-seen-on-Earth minerals vanished into the black market, raising ethical questions about science and ownership.

Thoracic surgeon Jonathan Villena explains why early screening for lung cancer is critical—even for those without symptoms.

The CDC updates COVID vaccine guidance and stirs controversy over childhood immunizations. And global health experts warn of rising child malnutrition in Gaza.

A former White House physician reveals the medical realities of caring for the president of the U.S.

Astronaut-turned-author Chris Hadfield discusses his new thriller Final Orbit, which weaves real cold war history, space race geopolitics and firsthand experience into a gripping work of fiction.

Saturn’s moon Enceladus shows signs of life-supporting chemistry, fungi may have shaped Earth before plants, and repeat COVID infections raise long-term health risks for kids.

Step into a room so quiet you can hear your own heartbeat—and your nervous system.

The former director of a CDC center reveals how political ideology is undermining science, threatening vaccine policy and endangering public health across the U.S.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to update the safety label for acetaminophen products, and the strongest storm on Earth this year struck several countries in East and Southeast Asia.

A museum exhibit in Australia lets visitors hear music generated by brain cells derived from the blood of a dead composer.

Mary Roach unpacks the millennia-long effort to replace failing body parts—and the reasons that modern medicine still struggles to match the original designs.

A revamped CDC advisory committee faces vaccine debates, studies reveal brain changes in athletes, and climate change drives deadly heat waves across Europe.

Linguist Adam Aleksic explains how viral slang and algorithm-driven speech aren’t destroying language––they’re accelerating its natural evolution.

Scientists are uncovering how your gut might be shaping your thoughts, feelings and cravings.

Kissing bugs are creeping across the U.S.—and they’re bringing Chagas disease with them.

 In his new book, Daniel Yon explains how our brain is constantly constructing reality

A single tick bite can trigger a bizarre meat allergy—here’s how alpha-gal syndrome is reshaping people’s diets.

A common nasal spray shows promise in reducing COVID risk, but vaccine access remains tangled in policy in the U.S.

With the CDC in disarray and its future uncertain, this episode explores what’s driving the exodus of agency staff and what this means for national health security.