U.S. overdose deaths continue a rapid decline
Fatal overdoses from street drugs in the U.S. continue to plummet, according to the latest CDC data. Experts say the mysterious shift is saving thousands of lives.
Health & Safety
Senior swimming champ calls 25 years of learning and laughing in the pool 'bliss'
DeEtte Sauer, 83, went from being a girl who wasn't allowed to participate in sports, to an elite swimmer as a senior. She talks with NPR's Juana Summers about what being active means to her.
The latest in understanding the connection between our guts and our minds
Brain cells are increasingly being found outside the brain, and now researchers have identified specific neurons in the abdomen that control some aspects of digestion.
Albertsons sues Kroger and ends failed grocery megamerger
The lawsuit over a deal to combine the two largest U.S. supermarkets came just a day after it was blocked in both federal and Washington state courts.
Examining the factors that play into the high rate of insurance denials
NPR's Michel Martin talks to Miranda Yaver, a health policy scholar at the University of Pittsburgh, who offers insights into the high rate of denied health insurance claims.
Orcas are hunting whale sharks. Is there anything they can't take down?
Killer whales off Mexico have developed coordinated hunting skills to take down whale sharks, adding to their reputation as the ocean's top predator.
The latest advance in understanding the gut-brain connection
Brain cells are increasingly being found outside the brain, and now researchers have identified specific neurons in the abdomen that control some aspects of digestion.
A Kansas City birth center's closure worsens the shortage of birth care
Birth centers staffed by midwives are popular places to have a baby. But low reimbursement rates and staffing issues make it difficult for them to stay in business. This is the story of the recent closure of one such center in the Kansas City area. KCUR's Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga, reporter. Diane Webber, editor.
Monarch butterflies will get federal protections as a threatened species
U.S. officials decided to extend protections to monarch butterflies after warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change.
Older folks build muscle and independence at a Baltimore weightlifting gym
Older folks interested in lifting weights flock to a gym in Baltimore, where the trainer has special expertise in working with people in their 60s, 70s and 80s to build strength and independence.