A recent survey found that Americans' sleep patterns have been getting worse. Adult women under 50 are among the most sleep-deprived demographics.

A new regulation to protect the rights of pregnant workers is the subject of an anti-abortion lawsuit because it includes abortion as a pregnancy "related medical condition."

Health officials say there's very little risk to humans from the bird flu outbreak among dairy cattle, but there's still much they don't know. Here are four questions scientists are trying to answer.

Ten years ago, Flint, Mich. switched water sources to the Flint River. The lack of corrosion control in the pipes caused lead to leach into the water supply of tens of thousands of residents. Pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha recognized a public health crisis in the making and gathered data proving the negative health impact on Flint's young children. In doing so, she and community organizers in Flint sparked a national conversation about lead in the U.S. water system that persists today.

Today on the show, host Emily Kwong and science correspondent Pien Huang talk about the state of Flint and other cities with lead pipes. Efforts to replace these pipes hinge on proposed changes to the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule.

Have questions or comments for us to consider for a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!

Idaho's biggest hospital system says the number of people needing flights out of Idaho for emergency abortions is up sharply since the state's abortion ban took effect.

During the early days of the pandemic, former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins became a familiar voice steering the country through an unprecedented public health crisis.

Now, he is going through his own health crisis, an aggressive form of prostate cancer. By talking about it publicly he hopes to draw attention to routine screening.

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With nearly 5,000 cases reported so far this year — and concerns about a new strain — the Democratic Republic of Congo is considering the declaration of a public health emergency.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service are pushing out tools released this week to help limit heat-related injuries.

The lawsuit comes after federal regulations were published on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The language means workers can ask for time off to obtain and recover from an abortion.

Mercer University School of Medicine is hoping to boost recruitment of rural Georgians, whose hometowns often lack access to primary care providers.

Federal officials and scientific experts say the virus detected in retail milk samples may be inactive and unable to cause an infection.

At issue is a clash between federal and state law about how pregnant women must be treated in the emergency room.

Surgeons transplanted a kidney and thymus gland from a gene-edited pig into a 54-year-old woman in an attempt to extend her life. It's the latest experimental use of animal organs in humans.

Colorado is looking at ways to weed out false reporting of child abuse and neglect as the number of reports reaches a record high. New York and California are reworking the policies, too.

The new rules mean 4 out of 5 nursing homes will need more aides and nurses. Unions hailed the change, but advocates say it's not enough care, while nursing home owners say it's an "impossible task."