illness
Study finds exactly how long people want to live: it isn’t forever
Biomedical science assumes that people want to live as long as possible. They don't.
Is healthy sugar possible — and would you eat it?
Israeli food-tech company DouxMatok (Hebrew for "double sweet") has created a sugary product that uses 40 percent less actual sugar yet still tastes sweet.
Mysterious vomiting disease in dogs is due to novel coronavirus
A newly discovered coronavirus — but not the one that causes COVID-19 — has made some dogs very sick.
How tiny bioelectronic implants may someday replace pharmaceutical drugs
Scientists are using bioelectronic medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, an approach that capitalizes on the ancient "hardwiring" of the nervous system.
7 dimensions of depression, explained
From baboon hierarchies to the mind-gut connection, the path to defeating depression starts with understanding its causes.
Were there “early warning signs” of COVID-19 on Twitter?
Could we have predicted COVID-19 through social media trends?
Nerves that sense touch may play role in autism
This small-scale study may have uncovered a new link between the peripheral nerve system and autism.
Michio Kaku: 3 mind-blowing predictions about the future
What lies in store for humanity? Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku explains how different life will be for your descendants—and maybe your future self, if the timing works out.
Trial of a universal flu vaccine shows promise
The vaccine just passed its first clinical trials, but it has a long way to go.
Just 1 month in greener play areas could boost kids’ immune systems, study says
The researchers say their findings support the idea that low biodiversity in modern living environments could lead to "uneducated" immune systems.
1 in 5 vegetative patients is conscious. This neuroscientist finds them.
This week, Big Think is partnering with Freethink to bring you amazing stories of the people and technologies that are shaping our future.
Study calls out the genes that make cancer cells so hard to kill
Researchers from the University of Toronto published a new map of cancer cells' genetic defenses against treatment.
Coronavirus aggressively invades lung cells in chilling new images
The images were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and show how prolific coronavirus can become in a mere four days.
Chadwick Boseman’s death is tragic. Here’s what you need to know about colon cancer.
Despite Boseman's young age, this cancer is increasingly common in people under 50.
Does warm weather impact COVID-19?
Various studies examine the impact of humidity, temperature, rain, and sunshine on COVID-19.
Study identifies animal species that may be susceptible to coronavirus
On the list of animals at risk are several endangered species.
COVID-19 symptoms appear in a specific order, study finds
One reason to suspect you have COVID-19 may be the order in which the symptoms appear.
Man whose stomach brewed beer is cured—by a poop transplant
The human body is endlessly fascinating.
Scientists discover how the rampant ‘cat poop parasite’ controls cells
A nasty disease might not be able to travel around much longer.
Sooner or later we all face death. Will a sense of meaning help us?
As a doctor, I am reminded every day of the fragility of the human body, how closely mortality lurks just around the corner.
Ask a Chemist: How does handwashing kill coronavirus?
The physical action of handwashing plus the properties of soap is a one-two punch for the virus.
Only 1 in 75 households are cooking chicken safely, survey finds
Most homes are using insufficient methods to determine when chicken is done cooking and safe to eat.
The plasma debate: The ethics of paying for human blood
Should pharmaceutical companies pay people for their plasma? Here's why paid plasma is a hot ethical issue.
How various levels of social distancing can decrease the spread of COVID-19
Understanding the math behind social distancing.
How NASA is keeping coronavirus off the International Space Station
A mission is planned for just three weeks from now, but NASA has a plan.
Why public health officials sound more worried about the coronavirus than the seasonal flu
An epidemiologist explains.
The awkward truth about choosing charities
Philosopher Peter Singer broaches an uncomfortable truth about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and GoFundMe pages.
3 simple ways to help someone suffering from illness
How to actually help a person who's ill? Don't be afraid to be funny, says Jeannie Gaffigan.