Archaeologists studied hundreds of unfinished stone heads in a quarry on Easter Island to better understand how they were constructed and the society that made them.

Easter Island quarry reveals how Polynesians made enigmatic stone statues

A telescope in Chile has captured a stunning new picture of a grand and graceful cosmic butterfly.  At the heart of this bipolar nebula is a white dwarf star that cast aside its outer layers of gas long ago.  Schoolchildren in Chile chose this astronomical target to celebrate 25 years of operation by the International Gemini Observatory.

Telescope in Chile captures stunning new picture of a cosmic butterfly

The mysteries of Easter Island, subjects of speculation for centuries, yield to scientific inquiry.

Drones, physics and rats: Studies show how the people of Rapa Nui made and moved the giant statues – and what caused the island’s deforestation

We have more neurons in our cortices than any other species, courtesy of an early technology – and along with them came our long, slow lives, with plenty of chances to gather around the dinner table.

Your big brain makes you human – count your neurons when you count your blessings

Tryptophan, found in food, is an important ingredient in the neurotransmitter serotonin. But is that enough to support it as a possible mood booster? The research is decidedly mixed.

Turning to turkey’s tryptophan to boost mood? Not so fast

Unlike with alcohol, there is no universal standard for THC levels while driving. But that doesn't mean it's safe.

Here's what can happen if you drive under the influence of pot

Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea and foodborne illness in the United States, according to the CDC​.

Holiday season sees uptick in norovirus cases, according to CDC

More than 41,000 bottles of Walgreens-branded nasal spray have been recalled due to potential bacterial contamination.

Thousands of Walgreens nasal spray bottles recalled. See which ones.

Norovirus has been rising in the U.S. since as early as mid-October, especially in states like Louisiana, Michigan and Indiana, according to data from WastewaterSCAN.

Norovirus is spreading earlier again this year, wastewater data shows

Dr. Ralph Abraham has been Louisiana's surgeon general since 2024.

What to know about new CDC deputy director who has been critical of COVID vaccines

Tests of ByHeart infant formula tied to a botulism outbreak that has sickened dozens of babies showed that all of the company's products may have been contaminated.  Laboratory tests of 36 samples of formula from three different lots showed that five samples contained the type of bacteria that can lead to the rare and potentially deadly illness, the company said Monday on its website.  “Based on these results, we cannot rule out the risk that all ByHeart formula across all product lots may have

ByHeart baby formula from all lots may be contaminated with botulism bacteria, tests show

Parkinson's disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S.

Addressing sleep apnea early might decrease chances of developing Parkinson's disease

Free food may fill your stomach, but it doesn’t always satisfy the desire to feel fully human.

How food assistance programs can feed families and nourish their dignity

Nearly 14% of tests came back positive compared to 7% three months ago.

Norovirus infections increase significantly, with positive test rates reaching 14%

For the past several years, 75-year-old Miguel Laboy has smoked a joint with his coffee every morning.  Laboy, who first smoked at 18, said marijuana has long soothed symptoms tied to undiagnosed ADHD, childhood trauma and painful experiences — including cancer treatment and his son's death.

They relied on marijuana to get through the day. But then days felt impossible without it

Megan Feller smoked pot several times a day and couldn’t eat, sleep or function without it.  As more states legalize marijuana, use has become more normalized and products have become more potent.  Daily use even outpaced daily drinking, with nearly 18 million Americans reporting in 2022 that they use marijuana every day or nearly every day, up from less than 1 million three decades earlier.

More people are addicted to marijuana, but fewer of them are seeking help, experts say

Schlossberg says she was diagnosed shortly after welcoming her second child.

Tatiana Schlossberg's diagnosis puts spotlight on leukemia: What to know

Jessie Creel’s cough started in May last year. At the time, a primary care physician diagnosed the mother of three with pneumonia. But the antibiotics didn’t work and her cough persisted. During a camping trip in the summer, she coughed up blood. She kept losing weight. She wasn’t able to sleep.Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Six months later, Creel, then 42, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. She was active, a r

Why screening for the deadliest cancer in the U.S. misses most cases

The flu has started spreading earlier than usual in some parts of the country, prompting concerns that cases could soon erupt as millions of Americans travel and gather for Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays

Flu season is just beginning, but doctors are already on high alert

The subclade K flu strain is a variant of the H3N2 virus.

New subclade K flu strain raises concerns: What families should know

People looking to lose weight and lower their blood sugar may someday be able to get a single injection that turns their cells into tiny factories that churn out a protein that is essentially the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro.

The race is on to turn your body into a GLP-1 factory

Those signs about surprise insurance charges are intended to keep patients informed – but new research points to a negative side effect.

Insurance warning signs in doctors’ offices might discourage patients from speaking openly about their health

The RSV shot isn't suggested for everyone like the flu vaccine is. Here's who is at risk and how to get a shot.

Should you get an RSV vaccine this fall? What to know and where to get a shot

The message is hammered over and over, in news conferences, hearings and executive orders: President Donald Trump and his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., say they want the government to follow “gold standard” science.  Scientists say the problem is that they are often doing just the opposite by relying on preliminary studies, fringe science or just hunches to make claims, cast doubt on proven treatments or even set policy.  This week, the nation's top public health agency changed its we

RFK Jr. says he's following 'gold standard' science. Here's what to know

By 2030, more than 70 million Americans will have osteoporosis or low bone mass.

Osteoporosis, the silent disease, can shorten your life − here’s how to prevent fractures and keep bones healthy

Multiple CDC officials familiar with the situation said the change was made by political appointees without input from relevant agency staffers.

CDC website changes to include false claim about autism and vaccines

US FDA investigates Takeda's blood disorder drug after pediatric death

() -The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on Thursday urged people eligible ​for influenza shots to get vaccinated without delay, ‌warning that flu cases are rising weeks ahead of the last two seasons. Influenza ‌detections are rising three to four weeks ahead of the usual schedule in European Union and European Economic Area countries driven by a newly emerged strain, the ECDC said.

EU health regulator urges immediate vaccinations amid early surge in flu cases

The CDC said the claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not evidence-based.

CDC clarifies stance on vaccines and autism, stating no evidence supports the link

Changes to CDC website spark debate over autism and vaccine misinformation

A CDC webpage that once stated that vaccines do not cause autism has been rewritten to suggest that health authorities “ignored” possible links between vaccines and the disorder.

Without evidence, CDC changes messaging on vaccines and autism

Life-changing advances in cardiovascular medicine enabled Cheney to live a productive life well beyond what many heart patients experience. But prevention is the most effective tool of all.

Health

Here's what can happen if you drive under the influence of pot

Holiday season sees uptick in norovirus cases, according to CDC

Thousands of Walgreens nasal spray bottles recalled. See which ones.

Turning to turkey’s tryptophan to boost mood? Not so fast

Norovirus is spreading earlier again this year, wastewater data shows

What to know about new CDC deputy director who has been critical of COVID vaccines

Turning to turkey’s tryptophan to boost mood? Not so fast

ByHeart baby formula from all lots may be contaminated with botulism bacteria, tests show

Addressing sleep apnea early might decrease chances of developing Parkinson's disease

How food assistance programs can feed families and nourish their dignity

Norovirus infections increase significantly, with positive test rates reaching 14%

They relied on marijuana to get through the day. But then days felt impossible without it

More people are addicted to marijuana, but fewer of them are seeking help, experts say

Tatiana Schlossberg's diagnosis puts spotlight on leukemia: What to know

Why screening for the deadliest cancer in the U.S. misses most cases

Flu season is just beginning, but doctors are already on high alert

New subclade K flu strain raises concerns: What families should know

The race is on to turn your body into a GLP-1 factory

Insurance warning signs in doctors’ offices might discourage patients from speaking openly about their health

Should you get an RSV vaccine this fall? What to know and where to get a shot

RFK Jr. says he's following 'gold standard' science. Here's what to know

Osteoporosis, the silent disease, can shorten your life − here’s how to prevent fractures and keep bones healthy

CDC website changes to include false claim about autism and vaccines

US FDA investigates Takeda's blood disorder drug after pediatric death

EU health regulator urges immediate vaccinations amid early surge in flu cases

The race is on to turn your body into a GLP-1 factory

CDC clarifies stance on vaccines and autism, stating no evidence supports the link

Changes to CDC website spark debate over autism and vaccine misinformation

Without evidence, CDC changes messaging on vaccines and autism

Vice President Dick Cheney’s life followed the arc of the biggest breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine