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Public Health

Do soda taxes fight obesity? How did Juul hook American teens? Vox tackles all your questions about public health issues and trends.

Humanity is failing one of its greatest moral tests
Future Perfect

The long, maddening, glorious, vital fight against factory farming.

By Marina Bolotnikova
Ditching factory farming can help prevent another pandemic
Future Perfect

The neglected environmental and health benefits of fighting Big Meat — for humans.

By Jonathan Safran Foer and Aaron Gross
What happens when everyone decides they need a gun?
Policy

We are living through an inflection point in America’s relationship with guns. There may be no going back.

By Marin Cogan
Future Perfect
Africa is beating HIV. But the rest of the world is falling behind.Africa is beating HIV. But the rest of the world is falling behind.
Future Perfect

Now isn’t the time to stop funding key public health programs.

By Jess Craig
Future Perfect
Warren Buffett’s breakup with the Gates Foundation will hurt the worldWarren Buffett’s breakup with the Gates Foundation will hurt the world
Future Perfect

Buffett’s decision to put his money into a foundation controlled by his kids is a mistake.

By Kelsey Piper
Future Perfect
Free medical school won’t solve the doctor shortageFree medical school won’t solve the doctor shortage
Future Perfect

Too many Americans can’t find a doctor. Michael Bloomberg is donating $1 billion to Johns Hopkins to try to change that.

By Dylan Scott
Explainers
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
Future Perfect
The most crucial part of next year’s federal budgetThe most crucial part of next year’s federal budget
Future Perfect

The fight to fund Gavi, the international vaccine fund, explained.

By Dylan Matthews
World Politics
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
The Vox guide to extreme heat
If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The US doesn‘t have federal heat protections. A standard would save lives. As a heat dome suffocates much of the East, it‘s becoming more apparent that we need better standards in the face of climate change.

By Sam Delgado
Future Perfect
America’s international public health plan is too focused on AmericansAmerica’s international public health plan is too focused on Americans
Future Perfect

I spent years in Africa as an epidemiologist. Here’s what I saw.

By Jess Craig
Health
How dangerous is it really to have a baby in America?How dangerous is it really to have a baby in America?
Health

The debate over maternal deaths, explained.

By Anna North
Even Better
TikTok is full of bad health “hacks.” Here’s how to navigate them.TikTok is full of bad health “hacks.” Here’s how to navigate them.
Even Better

Beer for a tan? Garlic cloves for sinuses? Don’t fall for the firehose of health BS online.

By Keren Landman, MD
What two years without Roe looks like, in 8 charts
Explainers

Americans are confronting a whole new reality of patchwork abortion access after the Dobbs decision.

By Nicole Narea
Future Perfect
Drug-resistant bacteria are killing more and more humans. We need new weapons.Drug-resistant bacteria are killing more and more humans. We need new weapons.
Future Perfect

Scientists are testing futuristic tools to dismantle antibiotic resistance.

By Cecilia Butini
The Vox guide to extreme heat
Common sunscreen myths, debunkedCommon sunscreen myths, debunked
The Vox guide to extreme heat

Bottom line: Wearing it is still good advice.

By Keren Landman, MD
Future Perfect
MDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explainedMDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explained
Future Perfect

MDMA looked like it was on a fast track for PTSD treatment. Now, an FDA committee is advising otherwise.

By Oshan Jarow
Today, Explained newsletter
This is the world’s best investmentThis is the world’s best investment
Today, Explained newsletter

A new study finds that combating malaria, TB, and HIV pays for itself 405 times over.

By Dylan Matthews
10 big things we think will happen in the next 10 years
Future Perfect

Obesity will go down, electric cars will go up, and a nuclear bomb might just fall.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 4 more
Public Health
Why do Americans keep drinking raw milk?Why do Americans keep drinking raw milk?
Public Health

With bird flu affecting multiple dairy farms, unpasteurized products are more dangerous than ever — but some people are reluctant to heed government guidance.

By Keren Landman, MD
Future Perfect
Why aren’t we vaccinating birds against bird flu?Why aren’t we vaccinating birds against bird flu?
Future Perfect

It’s not as complicated as it seems, but there’s one key hurdle.

By Jess Craig
The real science behind the billionaire pursuit of immortality
Future Perfect

Longevity research may not let us live forever — but it could still make our lives better in smaller ways.

By Jacob Sweet
Future Perfect
No one wants to think about pandemics. But bird flu doesn’t care.No one wants to think about pandemics. But bird flu doesn’t care.
Future Perfect

A pandemic response that amounts to hoping and praying isn’t nearly enough.

By Kelsey Piper
World Politics
Cholera is making a comeback — and the world doesn’t have enough vaccinesCholera is making a comeback — and the world doesn’t have enough vaccines
World Politics

“A billion people at risk”: How worldwide cholera outbreaks are threatening lives.

By Ellen Ioanes
Politics
The history of Arizona’s Civil War-era abortion banThe history of Arizona’s Civil War-era abortion ban
Politics

How conspiring doctors, questionable tonics, and twisted patriotism led to the 1864 Arizona abortion ban that has finally been repealed.

By Nicole Narea
Future Perfect
Bird flu in milk is alarming — but not for the reason you thinkBird flu in milk is alarming — but not for the reason you think
Future Perfect

The US Department of Agriculture’s failed response to bird flu in cows, explained.

By Kenny Torrella
Future Perfect
The breathtaking lifesaving impact of vaccines, in one chartThe breathtaking lifesaving impact of vaccines, in one chart
Future Perfect

It is almost hard to believe just how effective vaccines are at saving infants’ lives.

By Dylan Matthews
Health
Bird flu in cows — and now in milk. How worried should we be?Bird flu in cows — and now in milk. How worried should we be?
Health

The detection of bird flu in cows and the commercial milk supply raises new concerns about the risks to public health.

By Kenny Torrella and Benji Jones
Even Better
Do you need to worry about “forever chemicals”?Do you need to worry about “forever chemicals”?
Even Better

A roadmap for PFAS risk, testing, and more.

By Keren Landman, MD
We can make birth safer for Black mothers. Here’s how.
Policy

What doulas, midwives, and policymakers are doing to end the maternal mortality crisis.

By Anna North
Future Perfect
Every year, tuberculosis kills over a million people. Can a new vaccine turn the tide?Every year, tuberculosis kills over a million people. Can a new vaccine turn the tide?
Future Perfect

For the last 100 years, we’ve only had one TB vaccine — and it leaves a lot to be desired.

By Jess Craig
Even Better
You probably shouldn’t panic about measles — yetYou probably shouldn’t panic about measles — yet
Even Better

Disease surveillance has so far kept the infection at bay in the US, but the CDC has renewed concerns.

By Keren Landman, MD
Politics
What to do if you’re worried about “forever chemicals” in your drinking waterWhat to do if you’re worried about “forever chemicals” in your drinking water
Politics

A new EPA rule imposes federal regulations for the first time. Here’s what you can do on your own.

By Li Zhou
Future Perfect
Why is there so much lead in American food?Why is there so much lead in American food?
Future Perfect

What lead-tainted Lunchables reveal about the persistent threat of lead exposure.

By Dylan Scott
Why are so many young people getting cancer?
Future Perfect

Cancer used to be a disease of the old. Not anymore.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
Can Ozempic be a breakthrough drug and overpriced at the same time?Can Ozempic be a breakthrough drug and overpriced at the same time?
Future Perfect

Millions of Medicare patients could soon be prescribed Wegovy — and it’s going to cost taxpayers a lot of money.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
How the world has radically cut child deaths, in one chartHow the world has radically cut child deaths, in one chart
Future Perfect

Fewer kids are dying than ever before — but a lot of work remains.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
The tropical disease that’s suddenly everywhereThe tropical disease that’s suddenly everywhere
Future Perfect

Dengue is erupting in South America — and has even found its way to the US.

By Dylan Scott
Alcohol overuse causes 178,000 American deaths annually. Why is it so undertreated?
Health

Medications can help the 1 in 12 people who suffer from alcohol use disorder. But most will never be treated.

By Rachel DuRose
Public Health
What do Americans want from their food? The answers are in Trader Joe’s recalls.What do Americans want from their food? The answers are in Trader Joe’s recalls.
Public Health

Leaving food safety to private enterprise has risks.

By Keren Landman, MD