Health

Understanding how the body works — and what happens when things change — is paramount to improving the health and wellbeing of every person on the planet. Our team of expert health writers and editors are here to demystify the latest medical advances, explain how the latest health news affects you, and help you understand which exercise equipment can really help improve your fitness. Whether you're after facts about the human body or the secrets to extreme longevity, our health articles and features aim to leave you better informed, up to date with the latest discoveries, and even more curious about human health. 

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Artwork displaying the figure of a woman (in orange) with four flames coming from her body against a blue background
'If you don't have inflammation, then you'll die': How scientists are reprogramming the body's natural superpower Inflammation can be both a superhero and a villain, depending on the context. Rather than eliminating it completely, new treatments are trying to redirect it.
Macrophage devouring a cancer cell, immune cells capable of physically ingesting damaged or diseased cells, cancer immunotherapy.
What happens to cancer cells after they're killed by treatments? Cancer treatments aim to kill tumor cells, and the immune system is tasked with getting rid of the resulting corpses.
illustration of a red and orange HIV virus disintegrating against a black background
We could end the AIDS epidemic in less than a decade. Here's how. Experts have laid out a road map to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Is it possible?

Latest about Health

Medical illustration of a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) in light blue against a gradient blue background

New mRNA therapy shows promise in treating 'ultrarare' inherited disease

By Emily Cooke published

Initial trial results suggest that a new mRNA therapy may be able to safely and effectively treat propionic acidemia, a rare metabolic disorder.

Medicine & Drugs
close up of a dairy cow's face as it stands next to two other cows in a barn

Person in Texas catches H5N1 bird flu in 1st probable case of cow-to-human transmission

By Ben Turner published

The patient is being treated with an antiviral drug and is believed to have been in contact with dairy cows infected with H5N1 avian influenza.

Flu
Child planting small green plants into a bed of soil in a garden with a trowel

Is playing in the dirt good for kids' immune systems?

By Emily Cooke published

Experts explain why it's healthy to let your children occasionally play in the dirt — and it may not be for the reasons you assume.

Allergies
Oladance OWS Pro in their case which is being held by the author

Oladance OWS Pro Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones review

By Lloyd Coombes published

Review We reviewed the Oladance OWS Pro — we think they could make open-ear mainstream.

Review
Best fitness trackers

Best fitness trackers 2024

By Andrew Williams last updated

Buying Guide Gain valuable insights into your health and fitness with the best fitness trackers on the market — tried and tested by the Live Science team.

Buying Guide
health care worker in an n95 mask prepares to give a vaccine into the forearm of a young man wearing a surgical mask

Mpox cases are far outpacing last year's numbers, CDC reports

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Health officials are encouraging people at risk of mpox to seek vaccination, as cases are on the rise.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
young boy smiles at the camera wearing a plastic viking helmet

'You probably didn't inherit any DNA from Charlemagne': What it means when your DNA 'matches' a historic person's

By Harald Ringbauer, Shai Carmi published

A genetic match to an ancient person doesn't mean you're more related genealogically.

Genetics
young teen boy using a spray deoderant on his left armpit while he looks in a bathroom mirror

Chemicals that make babies smell sweet and teens smell 'goat-like' revealed

By Kamal Nahas published

Aroma researchers worked out which chemicals in body odor differ between infants and teens who have hit puberty.

Ageing
a crowd of people in a field look up at a solar eclipse taking place in a clear sky above

Colors will look different during the April 8 solar eclipse. Here's why.

By Riis Williams published

When the moon fully eclipses the sun, it's not just the sky that changes. Your eyes do, too.

Anatomy
Child with curly brown hair sits at a table with a pencil and looks at a smart speaker on the table, as if to ask it a question

Many kids are unsure if Alexa and Siri have feelings or think like people, study finds

By Joe Phelan published

A small study in Scotland suggests many kids overestimate the agency and intellect of AI assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant.

Psychology
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