The tech works. The FDA is considering how approval could look. — The idea of an artificial womb sounds like science fiction; it conjures up dystopian thoughts of The Matrix. But this technology isn’t as distant as it might seem — and the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is considering, in its late September 2023 meeting, how an approved artificial…

Why a supplement can’t replace a lifestyle — As long as it isn’t deep-fried and served on a stick, fish is a pretty healthy food. It’s rich in protein, has a lot of beneficial vitamins and minerals, and it’s got those oh-so-important omega-3 fatty acids, widely believed to be good for the heart… …but it’s expensive. Why not…

Why some types of radioactive water are much worse than others. — Japan has a problem: it has too much stored water. Specifically, it has too much water that is contaminated with radioactive material, left over from when the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami hit its nuclear power plant. Over the next 30 years, Japan will treat, dilute, and release this water…

Faster than the brain, different from the octopus. — A common reef fish in the western Atlantic Ocean has an amazing ability; it can change the color of its skin, from light to dark to patterned. It’s not the only creature in the ocean that can change color — the octopus, for example, also has color shifting abilities —…

We finally cracked the full sequence of our male DNA, and it matters — Through incredible effort and collaboration, scientists created the first human genome in 2003. Assembling this simple text file took the combined work of researchers at labs around the globe, with an estimated cost of about $300 million. But that genome was incomplete. It had a bunch of gaps, including one…

Antibiotics show that the microbiome matters. Finding a cure might be harder. — This article is part of a Wise & Well Special Report: The United States of Depression. Our gut microbiome, the trillions of diverse bacteria that live inside our small and large intestine, is innately connected to our brain. These bacteria don’t just feed on the food we eat; they produce…

Expensive and inefficient, but fossil fuel lobbyists love it — for over a billion dollars — The United States is spending more than $3 billion to fight against climate change. But the government isn’t going to use this money for reducing emissions, replacing aging power plants, embracing nuclear fuel, or requiring that more energy come from renewable sources. Instead, this funding is going to a new…

You should still take steps to protect your eyes. — In recent years, I’ve seen a lot of advertisements online, warning about the damaging effects of blue light from computer screens. Companies claim that intense light, blue light in particular, introduces eye strain, headaches, and vision problems. But a new review of 17 studies that looked at the effects of…

How, even in a windowless room, you know (sorta) when to sleep — Imagine: you’re in a bunker. It has everything you need — food, water, a surprisingly comfy bed — except a clock. Or windows, obviously, since that would compromise the bunker’s security. When do you eat? When do you go to sleep? And if you listen to your body’s cues, do…