Does Birth Control Cause PCOS? Facts And Misconceptions Of The Disorder

Most women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever produce – around one to two million at the time of birth – and that includes those with PCOS. The difference is that during ovulation, the typical ten to 15 eggs available to be fertilized drastically increases for women with PCOS. Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects at least one in ten women – probably more since it’s so underdiagnosed. Sadly, many women are told that having PCOS means they’ll never become […]

January 11, 2026

Health

Skin Deep: How Melanin Impacts Your Body’s Response To Drugs

This practice helps ensure that we’re receiving the best possible product — which, when taken appropriately, won’t cause us harm. This model has seemed to work well, but Sophie Zaaijer says that most of this research is overlooking one major variable – skin color. Scientific research is becoming more inclusive, but one area that’s still lacking this diversity is pre-clinical research. Without knowing how medications will react to different ancestries and skin tones, millions of people are being put at […]

January 11, 2026

Health

Medical Notes: How To Ease Anxiety In Kids, Spending Money For Maximum Happiness, And Are Bigger Brains Better?

You have a bigger brain than your ancestors – and that’s good news. A study published in Jama Neurology shows that human brain size has been steadily increasing in people born after 1930. The average volume is more than six percent greater, and the brains surface area has increased by nearly 15 percent. The researchers think that these larger brains may reduce the cases of age-related brain conditions like dementia, since it has more capacity to adapt to any changes. […]

January 7, 2026 1

Health

What An Extra Five Pounds Can Do To Your Spine – And How To Prevent It

Research suggests many Americans grow up without learning the fundamentals of healthy eating, making it harder to manage weight and long-term health. Even modest weight gain can place added stress on the spine, joints, and muscles, which increases the risk of pain and disability over time. Rather than chasing quick fixes, our experts explain small, steady habits that can protect the body and support healthier aging. Guest Information: Hunter Stoler, certified health coach Dr. Christopher Good, spine surgeon, CEO, Virginia […]

January 4, 2026 1

Health

The Science Behind Happiness And Human Emotion

What does happiness really look like – and why do we feel the way we do? Scientists still debate what emotions are, how many exist, and whether they’re hardwired or shaped by experience. This segment explores how emotions guide our daily lives, and whether learning to understand them can change how we respond to the world. Guest Information: Andrew Ortony, Professor Emeritus of psychology, education, and computer science, Northwestern University, author, The Cognitive Structure of Emotions Nadine Levitt, founder, WURRLYedu, […]

January 4, 2026 1

Health

Medical Notes: Why Women Need To Eat More Produce, A New Test For Food Allergies, And Why Kids Learn Better When They’re Moving

We can diagnose food allergies earlier than ever before. Since blood tests have high rates of false positives, the current standard for diagnosing a food allergy is consuming the product in front of a physician. However, a study in the Journal Of Clinical Investigation could change this process altogether. Researchers found that measuring water loss from the skin can predict a severe reaction to food quicker and easier than current testing methods. Should women eat more produce? Fruits and vegetables […]

December 31, 2025 1

Health

Telemedicine On The Front Lines: The App That’s Saving Lives In Ukraine

Three years into the war in Ukraine, hospitals are facing a critical shortage of medical specialists as doctors flee the fighting. In some cases, patients with life-threatening conditions are being treated by physicians without the training they need. Now, a mobile app is connecting Ukrainian doctors to specialists around the world to deliver second opinions when they matter most. Guest Information: Dr. Olga Maihutiak, chief operating officer, Global Medical Knowledge Alliance Dr. Olha Kostenchak, oncology hematologist in Ukraine Dr. Darya […]

December 28, 2025 2

Health

Bodies For Sale: The Unregulated Afterlife Of Bodies Donated To Research

Though organ donation is a tightly regulated process, many of those protections disappear when a person’s whole body is donated to science. Each year, thousands of bodies enter a system with minimal oversight, where past cases have revealed misuse, profit-driven practices, and violations of consent. Now, experts are pushing for ethical standards in an industry that’s long operated in the shadows. Guest Information: Joy Balta, professor of anatomy, founding director, Anatomy Learning Institute, Point Loma Nazarene University, member, American Association […]

December 28, 2025 2

Health

Medical Notes: A New Form Of Evolution, Why Winter Is The Best Season For Your Diet, And The ‘Milk Bond’ Between Mother And Baby

We may have discovered a new form of evolution. Scientists studied how insects coped with hurricane harvey in 2017 for a paper published in Nature Ecology And Evolution. They noticed that many bugs went through a type of evolution called ‘Spatial sorting’. It changes the likelihood of which specific traits are passed on, like with natural selection. But instead of taking thousands of years, the change occurred almost instantaneously. Since it’s often triggered by major natural disasters, scientists think we’ll […]

December 24, 2025 3