Is NASA falling out of love with Mars?
Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses NASA's rocky relationship with Mars exploration.
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Here's why the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool went green so fast
The reflecting pool turned an interesting shade of green awfully fast. Here is why.
Tennessee pharmacies sell potent ivermectin, led by anti-vaccine doctor who’s taken ‘bucketloads’
Tennessee pharmacies are selling potent versions of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin, led by an anti-vaccine doctor who’s taken "bucketloads."
A 2011 earthquake bounced a seismic wave off Earth’s core, nudging Japan east
The wave's round trip to Earth's core set off a fault slip along Japan's plate boundaries, revealing a seismic hazard scientists hadn't recognized.
A textbook assumption about early land vertebrates may be wrong
Three species that lived about 308 million years ago challenge the idea that the first land vertebrates underwent amphibian-like metamorphosis.
The truth about brain rot, according to science
Emerging research suggests overusing digital devices can be harmful, especially to mental health. But does being overly online truly rot our brains?
Six of the biggest health news stories today
High-end infant formula scrutiny, the spread of synthetic opioids, and more health news from Morning Rounds
How many Americans can afford high-quality health care? A new poll finds the number has fallen
A new poll shows only about half of U.S. adults could afford their health care and had access to quality care last year.
STAT+: Shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk, new study finds
Nursing home residents who received at least one dose of shingles vaccine were 24 percent less likely to develop dementia, a new study found.
Ebola cases increase almost 40% in a week as death toll passes 200
Ebola cases have increased almost 40% in a week in the current outbreak in Congo and Uganda as the death toll passes 200.
STAT+: Senate Democrats demand HHS provide records on federal vaccine policy
Senate Democrats open an inquiry into the Trump administration’s remaking of U.S. vaccine policy, demanding officials produce records by next week.
New infant botulism outbreak puts fancy formulas under scrutiny
A new infant botulism outbreak puts fancy formulas that position their products as safer than other options under scrutiny.
Super-potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes are spreading across the U.S.
Overdose deaths confirmed to involve nitazenes have risen sharply in the U.S., from 27 in 2020 to 409 in 2024, according to the CDC
Arrests of Immigrant Parents Create Mental Health Crisis for Children
An estimated hundreds of thousands of children, many of them U.S. citizens, have been separated from a parent in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Their distress manifests in physical and mental health symptoms including developmental regression, stomachaches, sleep problems, and falling grades. Research points to long-term health consequences.
Sandwiched Between Caring for Kids and Aging Parents? Reach Out for Resources
Squeezed between their young children and aging parents, the sandwich generation is juggling a lot. KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony discusses embracing her identity as a caregiver and which resources are available to Washington, D.C., residents caring for family members.
Readers Curse Medical Debt and Defend Spelling Therapy
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
A deadly fungus that can infect cats and people is spreading
It’s just a matter of time before Sporothrix brasiliensis reaches the U.S. a CDC expert says.
FTC, four state AGs sue transgender health group over care standards
The FTC and four state attorneys general have sued the main professional organization for gender-affirming care clinicians.
RFK Jr. presents $700 million in mental health funding, but experts say grants aren’t new
RFK Jr. presents funding intended to address mental illness and addiction, particularly among homeless people.
A ‘Super El Niño’ may be on the way. What does that mean?
Past super El Niños have brought bad flooding, deadly fires and disease outbreaks. Climate experts already expect “shockingly high” temps this winter.
The oldest known plague outbreak struck hunter-gatherers 5,500 years ago
Plague DNA in ancient graves near Siberia's Lake Baikal suggests the disease threatened people long before farming and crowded settlements.
Trump administration will bring special ed to HHS
Infant mortality rate dips, OTC naloxone options rise, and other health news from Morning Rounds
How real is the Cyclops in ‘The Odyssey’?
The iconic one-eyed monster coming to movie screens in July in The Odyssey might have more in common with tiny water critters than with humans.
Democrats Seek To Spotlight Rising Health Costs by Forcing Vote on Trump Regulation
Congressional Democrats are seeking to overturn a Trump administration rule they say will hamper Obamacare coverage. Whether they win or lose any floor vote, they’ll likely use it in campaign messaging ahead of the midterms.
More Americans Are Surviving Cancer. But the Mental Health Challenges Can Persist.
Amid advancements in treatment and screening, more Americans are surviving the disease. But many are left with psychological scars, such as lingering anxiety and depression.
Tennessee Pharmacies Sell Potent Ivermectin, Led by Anti-Vaccine Doctor Who’s Taken ‘Bucketloads’
Four years after the Volunteer State enacted the nation’s first law allowing drugstores to sell ivermectin without patient-specific prescriptions, dozens of pharmacies dispense the drug in highly concentrated pills — many with the help of one anti-vaccine physician.
How supplement use changed over decades
Medicare-funded weight loss, Utah's lower drunk driving limit, and more health news from Morning Rounds
The U.S. infant mortality rate fell to an all-time low, though it still trails other similar nations
Infant mortality in the U.S. dropped to a new all-time low in 2025, according to CDC data, though it still trails other similar nations.
NASA seems to be backing away from hunting for life on Mars
Viking 1 kicked off the search for Martian life 50 years ago. Now NASA’s shifting priorities are putting the quest in limbo.
A blood test for dementia may tell you if you have more than one type
AI helped researchers develop an experimental blood test that might let doctors diagnose overlapping dementias.
Chinese money plant leaves hide a mathematical pattern
Tiny water-secreting pores appear to organize the major veins of the plant leaves into an arrangement known as a Voronoi diagram.
El Niño turns crumbling California pier into climate battleground over what to save — and who pays
Rep. Sam Liccardo wants to rebuild the Pacifica pier with help from the federal government. But does investing in this kind of infrastructure make sense?
Early-Onset Cancers Are on the Rise. Knowing Your Family History Is Crucial.
In the U.S., more than a dozen kinds of cancer are on the rise among people under 50. The HealthQ team shares the latest guidance on being proactive with your family and doctor.
Backed by Threat of Clawbacks, Feds Wield Tight Grip on $50B Rural Health Fund
Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, framed the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program as “bold, creative plans” led by states. But as states have started to roll out their plans, federal officials control where and how the money is spent.
The North Atlantic’s ‘cold blob’ may signal a major current’s decline
A cold blob of water in the North Atlantic points to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, researchers report.
Otherworldly music albums feature space weather data
A science-art team uses research data to make music featuring sounds of Antarctica and outer space
Why more male than female newborns may get the crucial vitamin K shot
Vitamin K lowers the risk of bleeding, including in a circumcision. That procedure may explain a disparity in which infants are more likely to get the shot.
STAT+: Where ‘democracy met science,’ 50 years ago
State Medicaid crackdowns strain home care, WHO leader on Ebola outbreak, and more health news
Covid vaccination cut risk of adverse heart events, large study finds
Covid vaccination was also tied to a nearly 24% reduction in all-cause cardiac events in a large study, surprising researchers.
STAT+: Trump’s obesity drug plan creates a temporary Medicare program that may be hard to end
After July 1, Medicare will offer GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for $50. It's supposed to be temporary, but chances are it won't be.
STAT+: Amid confusion over Pfizer’s emergency penicillin program, newborn is diagnosed with preventable syphilis
Congenital syphilis should be preventable. An Arizona case shows how drug shortages and procedural hurdles are fueling a growing public health crisis.
STAT+: One California politician’s unexpected crusade against ultra-processed food
Jesse Gabriel "has passed more food policy in three years than most legislators enact in their entire careers," says one supporter.
They’re Uninsured After Obamacare Became Too Costly. And They’re Far From Alone.
After congressional Republicans let expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans expire at the end of last year, some families have decided the price is too great of a financial burden and canceled their coverage.
Long-Awaited Rule Aims To Boost ACA Choices While Embracing Higher Deductibles
The Trump administration finalized a rule that embraces new types of Obamacare coverage, including 30% higher out-of-pocket costs for some plans, and a more novel approach that allows insurers to offer coverage without set networks of doctors and hospitals.
Oliver Tree, musician and Santa Cruz native, dies in helicopter crash
The genre-defying singer-song writer and Santa Cruz native, was one of six killed when two helicopters collided Sunday morning in Brazil.
Infant formula recalled after California baby sickened with botulism
Nara Organics recalled its baby formula after a California child and two others were sickened by potentially fatal infant botulism, federal officials said.
Scientists find a whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean that's millions of years old
Scientists have documented a whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean with some carcasses dating back 5.3 million years, and it's supporting a thriving community of marine life.
WHO director-general is profoundly concerned after visit to Ebola outbreak area
The director-general of the World Health Organization is profoundly worried about the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, he told STAT in an interview.
NorCal braces for dry, dangerous fire season as SoCal faces typical conditions
Fire officials are bracing for an active fire season in Northern California as high temperatures dry out forests. Southern California will likely see a typical season.
Journalists Highlight Medical Neglect in ICE Detention, RFK Jr. Antidepressant Comments
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Chile offers new data on food warning label efficacy
Kennedy's "publicly" "available" "calendar," drinking during pregnancy, and more health news from Morning Rounds
No, mastic gum won’t reshape your jaw
Chewing gum made from mastic resin is a Greek staple that has some benefits for the mouth and gut. But it won’t change your face shape.
Here’s what would happen if you tried to break a photon in half
A mathematical model shows that attempting to sever a fundamental particle of light could conjure new ones out of thin air.
Crossword: Power play
Solve the crossword from our July 2026 issue, in which we encourage our readers to up their game.
A new method could spot fentanyl variants no one has cataloged yet
Researchers used machine learning to help predict chemical signatures for over 1 billion possible fentanyls, including variants never seen before.
A popular sunscreen ingredient can finally be sold in the United States
The FDA will allow bemotrizinol in sunscreen. The chemical is long-lasting and defends against solar radiation that ages skin.
California Health Worker Union, Hospital Association Tout Dueling Ballot Initiatives
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
Warning of cuts to medical services, L.A. County health officials ask state for emergency funds
Measure ER isn't enough, according to the head of L.A. County's Department of Health Services, which has joined other California health systems in lobbying for emergency funds.
Final Rules for Medicaid Work Requirements Are Out. Here’s What You Need To Know.
The Trump administration has laid out what millions of Americans on Medicaid must do to prove they’re working or completing other activities. Health policy researchers and consumer advocates say there are some important takeaways.
1 in 4 Covered California Enrollees Could Get State Aid Under Newsom Proposal
California is considering expanding financial help for low-income residents struggling to pay high health insurance premiums after losing federal subsidies. But relief for state marketplace customers will be limited. Here’s who may get help and what it could mean for premiums.
STAT+: Updated: Tracking RFK Jr.’s promises to remake health in America
STAT is tracking goals and promises of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement — successes, incompletes, and fails.
Songs prep the brains of finches yet to hatch for a hot world
Adult finches make "heat calls" as the temperature rises. Exposure to the song prepares their unhatched young's brains for the heat.
Neuroscientists left the lab to study memory loss. The results were surprising
Using smartphone-based tools, researchers find that older adults’ recollections of past events may remain more intact than previously thought.
Clocks made from an atomic nucleus just ticked on for the first time
First dreamed up decades ago, the world's first nuclear clocks are set to improve quickly, becoming more precise and aiding the hunt for dark matter.
Measles has no treatments. Changing that may not be easy
Vaccination remains the priority, but some researchers are looking for drugs to fight the virus in people who don't get the shot.
HHS responds coolly to paper on alcohol risk
Soda and liver cancer, scientists conflicted on a new NIH proposal, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: A suspicious denial pattern in Medicare Advantage
Major Medicare Advantage plans almost always reversed their denials on appeal, raising big questions about barriers to care.
Study highlights influence of socioeconomic status on children’s brain development
A new study found that the number one environmental factor influencing brain structure and function is the socioeconomic status of a child's family.
Nonprofit buys experimental cancer drug to maintain patient access
In a rare move, nonprofit organization Blood Cancer United is buying the remaining supplies of a discontinued investigational cancer drug.
Drinking during pregnancy rose after 2020, new CDC data suggest
A new CDC report underscores that drinking during pregnancy, while generally thought of as a thing of the past, is still a matter of concern.
UC Davis favored less qualified Black, Latino med school applicants, Justice Department claims
The U.S. Justice Department said an investigation by its Civil Rights Division found racial bias in admissions at UC Davis' School of Medicine.
Trump Bought Tobacco Stocks and Raked In Industry Donations as FDA Eased Standards
The Trump administration has pursued an extensive pro-tobacco agenda as the president and his political movement have been buoyed by a flood of tobacco industry money, federal records show.
A new guideline links care for heart, kidney and metabolic diseases
A guideline treats heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity as connected conditions under one umbrella: CKM syndrome.
DOJ reaches second settlement on youth gender care
A new era of American sunscreen, NIAID taps new acting director, and more health news from Morning Rounds
OB-GYN association, deviating from CDC guidance, issues its own vaccine recommendations
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released a recommended vaccine schedule during pregnancy, one that diverges from CDC guidance.
Diabetes association leader apologizes for expulsion of members, pledges to rebuild trust
Five days after five members of the American Diabetes Association were ushered out of its annual scientific sessions in New Orleans for handing out an editorial criticizing federal research cuts,…
Engineered hookworms could one day dispense drugs from inside your gut
In a first, researchers genetically modified hookworms. It’s a step toward turning the parasites into living pharmacies.
Sleep and exercise may dampen genetic drivers of heart disease
Over time, immune cells acquire mutations that promote atherosclerosis. Lifestyle changes may offset these DNA glitches, new mouse data suggest.
Earth’s stratosphere is a mysterious superhighway for microbes
Well-known microbes that grow on our crops, our gardens, even our skin have been found thriving at two to three times the flying height of a commercial jetliner.
FDA’s Greenlight of Old Chemical Offers Chance To Restore Faith in Sunscreen
The FDA has approved the sunscreen chemical bemotrizinol, a UV light filter that has been available in Europe, Asia, and Australia for more than 20 years. Health advocates and skin care industry groups alike are hopeful it can restore faith in sunscreen.
Why new dads shouldn't panic about low testosterone
While a plummeting hormone level can trigger depression and irritability, experts say a modest decline can make men more invested, less stressed co-parents.
Are Republicans turning against medications for treating opioid addiction?
Federal actions and proposals have reignited debate over methadone and buprenorphine, worrying addiction experts and patient groups.
Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah’s Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll.
Measles has been spreading in Utah for nearly a year, straining hospitals, schools, and parents. The state’s outbreak provides a glimpse into a new era in America’s health, in which vaccine-preventable diseases become common again.
Looming Medicaid Cuts Supercharge California’s Latest Labor-Industry Fight
One of California’s largest healthcare unions is sponsoring two initiatives that would regulate community clinics and cap executive and managerial pay at hospitals and physician groups. In the most recent eruption of a long-standing feud, the measures have drawn fierce opposition from a wide swath of the medical industry.
STAT+: Trump’s health care affordability czar takes aim at hospitals
Plus a buried alcohol study gets published, and a Biosecure update.
New sunscreen option wins FDA approval after years of delay
A sunscreen ingredient that's been available in Europe, Japan and South Korea for years has finally been approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S.
These birds clack their wing bones together to woo mates at night
During courtship, male scissor-tailed nightjars crack their wings together to make a sharp snapping sound. It's the result of colliding arm bones.
Frozen squirrel poop hints at sights and smells of Ice Age ecosystems
DNA preserved in ancient scat reveals what Yukon ground squirrels ate and what animals shared their world.
STAT+: What’s changed since the last major Ebola outbreak
A suppressed federal alcohol report, an "inevitable development" for wearables data, and more health news from Morning Rounds
FDA OKs first new sunscreen ingredient in more than 25 years
Federal health regulators on Tuesday signed off on the first new sunscreen ingredient for the U.S. market in more than 25 years.
Diabetes Association in uproar after members expelled from annual meeting over protest of NIH cuts
The condemnations keep coming after five diabetes experts were escorted out of an ADA meeting for handing out copies of an editorial criticizing federal research cuts.
Alcohol study discarded by Trump officials is published in scientific journal
A government-commissioned study had been meant to inform new dietary guidelines, and found risks associated with even light drinking.
Opinion: Why STAT is sticking with ‘health care’ as two words
Is it “health care” or “healthcare”? STAT readers had strong feelings.
Santa Monica Mountains' last steelhead trout survived the Palisades fire — and even had babies
Scientists feared the Santa Monica Mountains' last endangered steelhead trout were wiped out by the Palisades fire. Then, they found them alive in Topanga Creek.
Could Your Kid Benefit From Counseling? Experts Offer 3 Questions To Help You Decide
Anxious kids can benefit from counseling, but therapy demands a commitment of money and time. Therapists recommend using three criteria to help determine when challenging behavior rises to the level of needing professional help.
Trivia Nights, Valentine’s Cards: Overlooked Social Connections Can Prevent Suicide
The research is clear: Among the various complex issues that contribute to suicide, loneliness is a big one. Now, there’s a growing push to address loneliness not just through personal choices but also through public policy.
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak are laboring with little pay or rest.
Major readouts from the annual diabetes conference
Why "Schedule F" matters, the Ebola outbreak response, and more health news from Morning Rounds
AI cracked an Erdős math problem. Now experts want guardrails
The result is correct but challenges core norms of mathematics: checking proofs, crediting ideas and keeping research open to everyone.
A drug may help people on GLP-1 meds preserve muscle
In a clinical trial, an experimental antibody reduced lean-mass loss in people on a GLP-1 drug. Whether that improves health is unclear.
Some pterosaurs may have boasted bold iridescence
A new analysis of a 120-million-year-old fossil suggests at least one pterosaur species shimmered in iridescent greens and magentas.
How an experimental weight-loss drug is being openly promoted by physicians
Doctors are jumping the gun to prescribe a medication lacking FDA approval that has gone viral on social media. "Why are we waiting?" one physician asked.
When it’s time to save a limb, novel clinic meets unhoused people where they are
Unmet vascular needs can lead to limb loss among unhoused patients. An unusual Massachusetts General Hospital program meets patients where they are.
By September, Nearly a Third of Americans Will Live in States With Legal Aid in Dying
Despite widespread support in polls for legalizing aid in dying, the number of people who go through with the practice remains very small.
MAHA’s Treatments for Autism: Camel’s Milk, Stem Cell Injections — And Spelling Therapy
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new autism panel is championing a controversial communication method popular among parents of severely autistic people. Critics warn of abuse — and fake “telepathy.”
Veteran runs to fight "life-changing disease" after minor symptoms
Dr. Sara Whittingham thought she would know if something was wrong. But her minor symptoms had a surprising cause.
Scientists probe cosmic visitor from deep space, come up empty in search for alien life
The object, called 3I/ATLAS, is only the third interstellar visitor ever detected passing through our Solar System.
One label, many risks: how grouping Asian Americans hides deadly cancer patterns
A nationwide effort that includes many California researchers seeks to find out why some Asian American communities have high rates of certain cancers.
L.A. region begins the year with the smoggiest first 5 months in a decade
So far this year, the South Coast air basin, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has seen 39 days when the concentration of lung-irritating ozone exceeded the federal standard, according to preliminary state air quality data.
Gounder Fills In Details Behind Ebola, GLP-1, and Trump Headlines
KFF Health News' editor-at-large for public health discussed Ebola, GLP-1 drugs, ultraprocessed food, and more in TV appearances this week.
STAT+: Newer GLP-1s, pushback on research cuts, and a protest
You're reading the web edition of STAT's ADA in 30 Seconds, from the American Diabetes Association's annual conference in New Orleans.
CDC: Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could reach 20,000 cases without strong countermeasures
The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could grow to 20,000 cases or more, depending on how quickly infected people are isolated to slow the spread, according to a new U.S. analysis.
Pacifica pier cracks, another coastal casualty as seas continue to rise
The Pacifica Municpal Pier was abruptly closed Thursday after city workers found cracks and missing concrete. It's one more coastal landmark that has begun to crumble as the ocean slowly rises around it.
FDA moves ahead with safety study of abortion pill mifepristone
The FDA is moving ahead with a safety study of the abortion pill mifepristone, a senior FDA official confirmed to CBS News, a step that could create a path for the Trump administration to restrict access to the medication.
This tiny, blue octopus is new to science
The deep-sea octopus is fully mature despite fitting in a palm, a trait researchers think may help it reproduce faster than larger relatives.
Honeybees and shrimp are now getting vaccinated
A shrimp vaccine for commercial use could protect the environment and prove vaccines aren’t just for vertebrates.
NASA declares MAVEN, its Mars atmosphere orbiter, dead
Over more than a decade at Mars, the orbiter revealed how the solar wind strips away the planet’s atmosphere — and why the world lost its water.
Texas AG investigating energy drinks
The limitations of private health insurance, the quiet collapse of America's research ethics watchdog and other Morning Rounds news
Untreated Cancer, Festering Infections: Immigrant Detainees Detail Medical Care Lapses
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
In Congo, doctors face Ebola with little protection: "We live with fear"
Travel bans and conflict have disrupted supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving health workers without Ebola tests and protective gear needed to contain the outbreak.
‘We Live With Fear’: In Congo, Doctors Face Ebola With Little Protection
Travel bans and conflict have disrupted supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving health workers without Ebola tests and protective gear needed to contain the outbreak.
Upcoming Billing Change Could Make Pregnancy Pricier
Come January, pregnancy care physician billing codes will change from a bundled system to an à la carte one. Many obstetricians say this approach will better reflect the amount and type of care they provide. But it could incentivize providers to pile on visits and services.
Millions of Kids Could Lose Insurance as GOP Healthcare Cuts Start To Bite
Big cuts to healthcare programs in the 2025 GOP budget law are creating an affordability crunch for many Americans: Higher health insurance premiums. Confusion about whom Medicaid will cover under the new rules. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner explains how the changes could leave nearly 2 million children uninsured.
Remote workers feel isolated. Back-to-office mandates are not a fix
Making social connection part of job design, whether people work remotely, hybrid or in-person, is key to supporting employees‘ well-being.
HHS confirms Americans with high-risk Ebola exposures will have access to experimental therapy
Americans who have high-risk exposures to Ebola in the current outbreak in Central Africa will have access to an experimental antibody treatment.
Scientists uncover a new hiding spot for HIV
An Ebola update, Trump to strip job protections of NIH officials, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Even quiet black holes create winds, new Milky Way observations reveal
New observations suggest the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s core is blowing gas away from the central behemoth.
Bumblebees can solve problems on their own
With no training, bumblebees can work out how to use a ball like a ladder to feed on sugar from an out-of-reach flower.
Emergency room visits during heat waves available to the public in 'near-real time' in L.A. County
A new dashboard makes public for the first time heat-related deaths and emergency room visits in near-real time.
What happens at a longevity festival?
What happens at a longevity festival? On this week's STATus Report, Alex Hogan gets a dispatch from STAT's Sarah Todd.
Male puberty is understudied — but when it starts may predict long-term health risks
Due to a significant gender gap, far less is known about the health risks of early or late puberty onset among boys than girls.
RFK Jr. Seeks To Peek at Americans’ Medical Records for Clues on Autism and Vaccines
To collect and scrutinize millions of Americans’ health data, U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aims to work with state organizations that help health systems share medical records. In Nebraska, millions in federal dollars has flowed into one nonprofit cooperating with Kennedy’s project.
Louisiana’s Reporting Law Chills Immigrant Medicaid Applications
A year after the measure’s passage, a state law is keeping immigrants and their children from accessing Medicaid even when they qualify.
Trump’s Medicaid Work Rules Force States To Scrap Plans and Rework Systems
Health experts and advocates for low-income people say federal rules implementing President Donald Trump’s new Medicaid work requirements upend months of work by state governments to prepare the computer systems that determine who’s eligible for benefits.
Curbing Congo’s Ebola outbreak is hampered by unknowns about the virus
Answers to key questions could help public health officials develop Ebola treatments, predict the outbreak’s trajectory and prevent a future one.
A secret to making a queen bee may lie in the wax around it
Queen-cell wax helps shape honeybee queen development, challenging the idea that royal jelly alone makes a queen, a new study suggests.
Upcoming billing change could make pregnancy pricier
Come January, pregnancy care physician billing codes will change from a bundled system to an à la carte one.
STAT+: Trump’s Medicaid work requirements have an unwelcome surprise for some states and patients
Advocates were already dreading Medicaid's work requirements. New rules are worse than they feared.
STAT+: NIH cuts weakened network primed to respond to outbreaks like Ebola
While NIH-funded centers weren’t on the front lines of virus responses like the CDC or USAID, some researchers involved in the network said the cuts have damaged relationships with experts…
Top ultra-processed food researchers call for sweeping policy change: ‘The system is rigged’
A survey finds that ultra-processed foods are a cross-partisan concern. And yet policy has been slow to follow.
Is the military fueling eating disorders?
A brief hantavirus update, some good news about death, and more health news from Morning Rounds
At a Tennessee Hospital, a Nurse Stole Fentanyl and AI Missed It, State Records Say
Sentri7, drug diversion software powered by artificial intelligence and used at hundreds of U.S. hospitals, did not catch a months-long string of fentanyl thefts in Tennessee in 2025, according to a state document.
Michigan Found a Way To Reduce School Vaccine Waivers. Until It Backfired.
The state had high rates of parents not vaccinating their children, so it started making them attend vaccine education sessions to opt out their kids. It seemed to work. Then things got ugly.
Microsoft’s quantum chip got an upgrade. Critics are still skeptical
Swapping materials in its Majorana 2 chip boosted the effectiveness of quantum bits that rely on the math of topology to reduce errors, Microsoft says.
Ötzi the Iceman’s remains yielded ‘viable’ yeasts in the lab
The cold-loving yeasts from Ötzi’s remains suggest the Iceman’s microbiome may not be completely frozen in time.
Competition to run JPL comes at fraught moment of federal budget cuts, project overruns, management missteps
A competitive contract isn't necessarily a bad thing, experts say. But the administration's anti-science record raises suspicion.
Possible flesh-eating screwworm case in Texas, USDA says
A possible case of the flesh-eating New World screwworm is being investigated in Texas, the USDA reported Wednesday.
Desde infecciones que supuran hasta cáncer sin tratar: detenidos por el ICE describen negligencia médica a lo largo de EE.UU.
En demandas federales, cientos de detenidos en al menos 33 estados alegan que los centros de detención de inmigrantes no están proporcionando atención médica adecuada, revela una investigación de KFF Health News y The Associated Press.
Nearly 400,000 Californians cancel health coverage after losing federal aid
Facing higher premiums and the loss of federal subsidies, 374,000 Californians canceled their health insurance coverage in the first three months of the year.
How one state’s medical meal program lowered health care costs
Medicaid work requirements, fast-tracked funding for experimental Ebola vaccines, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Focused on Work, Needed at Home: A Federal Caregiving Policy Might Help
The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for caregiving. But the federal policy has noteworthy limitations. The HealthQ team explains.
Festering Infections to Untreated Cancer: ICE Detainees Describe Medical Neglect Across US
Immigrant detainees have told courts across the nation that detention officials have failed to treat or stabilize their conditions, from pregnancy to prostate cancer, suggesting that systemic lapses in care extend well beyond record deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
STAT+: At the world’s largest cancer research meeting, data briefly took a backseat to grief
At the world's largest cancer research meeting, new data were plentiful. But this year, there was also a focus on grief.
STAT+: At ASCO, talk of barriers to cancer care, new treatments, and other big takeaways
Here is some of what you may have missed from the world's largest cancer research meeting.
STAT+: Global coalition to fast-track three vaccines targeting Ebola outbreak with $62 million in funding
With no licensed vaccines available to protect against the Ebola virus currently spreading in the Congo, efforts are underway to fast-track development of at least three vaccines.
STAT+: Trump administration releases rules for new Medicaid work requirements
States are racing to implement the new requirements by the start of next year.
The math of choosing a restaurant meal is revealed in Richard Feynman’s notes
Physicist Richard Feynman turned a lunch dilemma into a math problem. Researchers finally cracked his notes and found people approximate his solution on their own.
A tiny part of your brain may still listen under anesthesia
Tones, oddball sounds and words can spark brain cell responses, hinting at nuanced processing without consciousness.
More young people are looking to AI chatbots for mental health help
A new survey estimates 8 million young people use AI chatbots for help when stressed, angry or sad, an increase from 2024.
CDC says containing the spread of Ebola is top priority
The Trump administration disregards infectious disease playbook, CEPI offers vaccine funding, and other health news from Morning Rounds
As FDA misses deadline on electric shock ban, disability advocates speak out
The FDA has missed a self-imposed deadline to ban the use of electrical shock devices in people with intellectual disabilities.
STAT+: Medicare still won’t say how much covering obesity drugs will cost
Older adults on Medicare can get Wegovy and Zepbound for $50 a month, starting in July. But the agency still is not sharing how much this will cost taxpayers.
A nurse stole fentanyl and AI missed it, state records say
Sentri7, drug diversion software powered by artificial intelligence and used at hundreds of U.S. hospitals, did not catch a monthslong string of fentanyl thefts in Tennessee in 2025, according to a state document.
Baffling. Frustrating. Frightening. What It’s Like To Be Sued Over Medical Debt.
Patients’ experiences encapsulate breakdowns in a healthcare system that traps patients in debt. The industry’s key players blame one another.
Amid Ebola, Hantavirus Outbreaks, Democrats Decry Trump’s Health Cuts
Infectious disease specialists say the viruses are unlikely to become pandemics, but some are still raising concerns about the federal health response and what it portends should a pandemic similar to or worse than covid occur.
Telehealth Booms as Demand for GLP-1s Surges and Questions Mount About Safety, Oversight
Many telehealth companies have emerged in recent years offering easy access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs as demand has exploded. Meanwhile, researchers and doctors are concerned that some of these online companies aren't properly screening or monitoring patients. “It gives a black eye to telemedicine,” one researcher said.
STAT+: A standing ovation for RevMed, and caution for Akeso
ASCO Day 3: A huge advance for pancreatic cancer, a let down for Akeso and Summit, and a new approach to immunotherapy.
STAT+: For prostate cancer patients set on surgery, new hormone regimen may improve outcomes, study finds
By doing hormone therapy up front in prostate cancer cases, the hope was to shrink the relapse rate after surgery. Results were encouraging.
STAT+: Practice-changing results reported for Revolution Medicines pancreatic cancer drug
Much-awaited results at ASCO show that scientists have indeed found a way to drug a "greasy ball" involved in pancreatic cancer.
A new pancreatic cancer pill may be a game changer for patients
Daraxonrasib, which nearly doubled patients' survival time, fights the disease in a new way. It bear-hugs a cancer protein that drives cell growth.
New drug nearly doubles survival rates in some pancreatic cancer patients, study says
New research shows a medication called daraxonrasib is helping people with advanced pancreatic cancer live longer.
STAT+: BioNTech and Pfizer tout bispecifics data at ASCO, and Pazdur sees silver lining at FDA
ASCO, Day 2: promising news around lung cancer, new immunotherapies, and bold words from Rick Pazdur.
Woman diagnosed with cancer after minor symptoms: "Couldn't believe it"
Candace Tucker thought her symptoms were benign. A colonoscopy led to an alarming diagnosis.
STAT+: As Ebola outbreak grows, Trump administration veers from previous government playbook
Trump officials are disregarding the Biden administration's detailed pandemic plans in favor of their own strategy.
STAT+: Revolution Medicines starts shipping experimental pancreatic cancer drug
CEO Mark Goldsmith says Revolution Medicines will submit pancreatic cancer drug daraxonrasib for FDA approval soon.
STAT+: China competition, ‘destruction’ at FDA give agency chance to restructure, Rick Pazdur says
Rick Pazdur on the FDA: “We've had a lot of destruction here, and it doesn't mean that we have to just go back and say, well, let's rebuild it as…
Trump directs CDC to align with assessment calling for fewer childhood vaccines
Earlier this year, the CDC announced updated recommendations that would reduce the number of recommended immunizations for children from 17 to 11.
Gounder Gives Lowdown on Ebola, Peptides, and Colorectal Screenings
KFF Health News' editor-at-large for public health discussed peptides, colorectal cancer screening, and Ebola in TV appearances this week.
STAT+: At ASCO, positive data for Bristol in multiple myeloma and Pfizer in lung cancer
You’re reading the web edition of ASCO in 30 Seconds, STAT’s guide to the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. Sign up for email editions here. We’re ASCOmaxxing. Rest…
Budget-Strapped Montana Will Stress-Test Trump’s Medicaid Work Rules
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
Which vaccines will curb the Ebola outbreak? WHO debates
The growing Ebola outbreak, the unknowns of microdosing GLP-1s, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Kenya court suspends U.S. plan for Ebola quarantine facility for Americans
A court in Kenya on Friday suspended a U.S. plan to establish a quarantine facility for Americans exposed to a rare type of Ebola virus spreading in northeastern Congo.
Europa may not vent water into space after all
The debate could reopen in 2030 when NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft gets the closest view of the icy moon’s surface.
Here’s how to make an origami torus with the fewest folds possible
A mathematician found the most efficient way to fold paper into a doughnutlike shape.
Ebola, hantavirus outbreaks raise questions about Trump's health agency cuts
Infectious disease specialists say the viruses are unlikely to become pandemics, but some are still raising concerns about the federal health response.
STAT+: The woman behind the world’s biggest longevity competition
Jamie Justice of XPRIZE Healthspan on the most promising research and "purely scammy" treatments in the world of longevity.
A Trump Stronghold Grapples With Health Risks of ICE Detention Sites
Several rural communities were thrust into a charged national debate over the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy when federal officials sought to place new detention centers in them. In Social Circle, Georgia, locals fear the effort will overburden its modest healthcare infrastructure.
STAT+: As Ebola outbreak in Central Africa grows, the U.S. turns itself into a fortress
The U.S. is taking extraordinary steps to keep Ebola out. But its policies may create risks for Americans infected overseas and discourage volunteers from responding to the outbreak.
Homing pigeons may use a surprising navigation mechanism
How animals navigate by Earth's magnetic field is hotly debated. New research in pigeons points to iron-laden liver immune cells as the compass.
U.S. setting up Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya, officials say
The U.S. is in the process of setting up a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans who were exposed to Ebola or infected with the deadly illness.
A $4 tongue swab test detects tuberculosis within 30 minutes
The new test may catch active tuberculosis in those with low access to health care or who have trouble making the phlegm needed for traditional tests.
Can DEET attract mosquitoes? A lab study offers clues
Lab experiments suggest mosquitoes can smell DEET and learn to associate it with food, but it’s unclear whether that happens in the wild.
The latest developments on Ebola, hepatitis B, long Covid
Uganda closes its border, a Christian substitute for insurance, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: Experimental hepatitis B treatment was a ‘functional cure’ for nearly 1 in 5, new data show
An experimental GSK drug helped 1 in 5 patients with chronic hepatitis B achieve what's known as a functional cure, vastly outpacing current treatments.
Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
The "KFF Health News Minute" brings original health care and health policy reporting from our newsroom to the airwaves each week.
In a Vaccine-Skeptical California County, a Potential Playbook To Contain Measles
Conservative Shasta County stopped a measles outbreak from spreading, enlisting teachers, church leaders, and other trusted community members to get the public on board with health guidelines. Infectious disease specialists say the successful effort could be a guide for other communities struggling to contain the highly contagious virus.
Uganda closes its border with Congo over Ebola outbreak
Uganda on Wednesday ordered the closure of its border with Congo, where suspected cases of a rare type of Ebola are surging.
STAT+: Heart patch engineered from stem cells revved up weakened hearts
A stem cell-based heart patch improved pumping in a small trial for advanced heart failure. "Very good first step," researcher says.
AI bots ignore evidence. Can we trust them with science?
Scientists rethink their ideas after experiments. AI agents struggle to learn from evidence and recognize when an idea is obviously incorrect.
Grapefruit-sized hail may become more common in a warmer world
A global model suggests that climate change could make hailstones larger and more damaging in many regions, especially at mid-to-high latitudes.
Huge volcanic eruption offers clues to fighting climate change
The South Pacific blast may have consumed its own methane — but using this idea against the greenhouse gas is controversial.
Trump says latest medical exam went ‘PERFECTLY’
The conference where death is (theoretically) optional, new trends among undocumented patients, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: ‘Are we just going to give up and die like every other generation?’
Inside the longevity conference that brings together founders, investors, biohackers, and the generally death-averse to discuss how to forestall — or even beat — our demise.
Parental mental health — not medication — drives autism correlation, new study finds
A new study finds no evidence that antidepressant medications cause autism.
Readers Address Drugged Driving, Suicide Prevention, Worker Shortages
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Montana Hurries To Adopt Trump’s Medicaid Work Rules Amid Budget Woes
The state is ramping up to implement the federal work requirements six months ahead of the deadline. But Montana is one of several states already struggling to pay for health services.
Nurse Convicted in Patient’s Death Turns Fatal Drug Error Into a Cautionary Tale
RaDonda Vaught was convicted of negligent homicide for accidentally dispensing a deadly drug to a patient. She now gives speeches about hospital safety in an era of automation and artificial intelligence.
Even careful scuba divers can damage coral reefs
Hours of diving videos and hundreds of survey responses reveal the common diver mistakes that can cause irreversible reef damage.
Why is hantavirus so deadly? It’s not what you may think
Andes hantavirus causes deadly lung failure, but its method of attack differs from other respiratory illnesses. The details might inform future treatments.
Solar flares may show predictable warning signs hours before erupting
Scientists spotted patterns hours before a major solar flare, a discovery that could help forecast dangerous eruptions.
Ebola outbreak continues to worsen, with new collateral risks for girls and women
The new acting FDA head defies expectations, 1.17 billion people with mental disorders, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Trump wraps up three-hour medical visit to Walter Reed and declares ‘Everything checked out PERFECTLY’
President Trump had another medical exam on Tuesday, putting his health under renewed public scrutiny after he has worked to dismiss concerns over his age and stamina.
Cheaper, Alternative Health Plans Are Having a Moment, but Critics Urge Caution
Congress' decision not to extend enhanced marketplace tax credits has boosted the appeal of alternative health coverage with lower monthly premiums. Consumer advocates dismiss the plans as "junk insurance,” while proponents say patients need alternatives to pricey marketplace options.
Potential crack found on Garden Grove chemical tank, reducing explosion risk
Orange County fire official says a potential crack found on a pressurized chemical tank in Garden Grove might alleviated internal pressure, reducing risk of a catastrophic explosion.
Second Ebola treatment center set on fire in epicenter of disease's outbreak
Angry residents of a town at the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo attacked and burned a tent that was part of a health center where people are being treated for the virus.
What to know about the chemical tank in California that forced evacuations
The tank at GKN Aerospace is estimated to contain 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a volatile chemical used to produce plastics.
Teen's mystery illness solved: "It took 18 years to get an answer"
Lucia Adarve had a long list of symptoms that no one could diagnose. Her mother Lisa was determined to find an answer.
Ebola kills 3 Red Cross workers in the Congo, organization says
The three workers, who died in March, were "among the first known victims of the outbreak," the Red Cross said.
Some experts say they've never seen bees swarm so early — and that's concerning
A warm winter and dry spring could be making bees more vulnerable.
The science of us
Editor in chief Nancy Shute introduces a new social sciences column that explores what it means to be human.
Journalists Distill News on Ebola, Licensing Midwives, and California’s Budget
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national or local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Caltech could lose control of JPL for the first time
The action forces Caltech to compete for control of the La Cañada Flintridge institution it has managed since NASA's inception in 1958.
STAT+: Congress slashed Medicaid funding to providers. The Trump administration wants to cut even further
The Trump administration disclosed plans to reduce state directed payments even more, setting up a probable showdown with provider groups.
Ultrasound aimed at the brain offers new hope for Parkinson’s patients
A noninvasive treatment called high-intensity focused ultrasound helped relieve the shaking, stiffness and pain that accompany Parkinson’s disease.
Congo prepared for Ebola. Now a rare strain is exposing gaps in readiness
As Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak grows, public health responders are turning to old-school tactics to fight it as scientists search for new tools.
Physics explains why gold stays pristine
Metals like copper oxidize — reacting with oxygen in the air — but gold doesn’t, thanks to a quick switch in atom arrangement on its surface.
Trump Bought Stock in Eli Lilly as His Policies Gave the Drugmaker a Big Boost, Documents Show
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
Math puzzle: The Ant Goes Marching
Solve the math puzzle from our June 2026 issue, where an ant navigates the surface of various objects to find the shortest path to her dinner.
How house design can curb childhood illnesses in Africa
Experimental houses with screens, rainwater systems and ventilation reduced malaria, diarrhea and infections among children in Tanzania.
A CDC page on mpox caught in political crosshairs
Seed oil panic, how STIs spread, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Trump’s $50B Rural Health Bet Meets a Healthcare Desert in North Carolina
Republicans promise that $50 billion in new health funding will help rural America. But it’s not expected to aid the years-long effort in North Carolina’s Martin County to reopen its only hospital.
3 Medical Routines That Older People May Not Need
Some screenings and treatments no longer make sense for patients as they age. Researchers have just added a few more to the list.
Feds declare Eaton fire was a cleanup success. Their testing shows otherwise
In announcing its findings, the EPA cited federal lead standards only, and not California's more stringent thresholds.
STAT+: Merck-Kelun lung cancer drug cut risk of tumor progression by 65%, ASCO abstract shows
A type of targeted chemotherapy developed by China-based Kelun-Biotech and licensed to Merck cut the risk of tumor progression by 65% in patients with lung cancer, according to Phase 3…
New tools may help diagnose Parkinson’s earlier than ever
From special pens to earwax evaluations, a plethora of emerging diagnostics could one day be a major boon for people with the debilitating disease.
STAT+: RFK Jr.’s screen time warning
RFK Jr. is urging limits on how much screen time kids get, in a new government advisory.
U.S. doctor with Ebola feared he "wasn't going to make it" before evacuation
Dr. Peter Stafford was working with the missionary group Serge in Congo when he was infected with Ebola.
One mystery of the Great Pyramid’s longevity has finally been solved
Differences in how the pyramid and surrounding soil vibrate, along with design choices, have protected the structure from earthquakes.
Screening all kids for type 1 diabetes can catch more cases early
Identifying children with early signs of type 1 diabetes makes a difference to their health. A new study suggests wider screening is effective.
Seabirds weren’t fooled by a scarecrow-like buoy with rotating eyes
A tall buoy with a rotating pair of eyes was supposed to scare birds away from caught fish. Like scarecrows, it didn't work for long.
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