Statistics are persuasive. So much so that people, organizations, and whole countries base some of their most important decisions on organized data. But any set of statistics might have something lurking inside it that can turn the...

Our medical systems are broken. Doctors are capable of extraordinary (and expensive) treatments, but they are losing their core focus: actually treating people. Doctor and writer Atul Gawande suggests we take a step back and look at new...

When Ramona Pierson was 22, she was hit by a drunk driver and spent 18 months in a coma. In this talk, she tells the remarkable story of her recovery -- drawing on the collective skills and wisdom of a senior citizens' home.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an effective way to kill a myriad of potentially harmful microbes. But is there a risk of germs becoming resistant to this ubiquitous liquid?

Fun Fact: people can donate over half of their liver, and the tissue will grow back within a year! Knowing that, it seems pretty logical to assume that we could just keep donating and regrowing our livers over and over again, but is that...

Architecture is more than a clever arrangement of bricks. In this eloquent talk, Michael Murphy shows how he and his team look far beyond the blueprint when they're designing. Considering factors from airflow to light, theirs is a...

For the longest time, doctors basically ignored the most basic and frustrating part of being sick -- pain. In this lyrical, informative talk, Latif Nasser tells the extraordinary story of wrestler and doctor John J. Bonica, who persuaded...

Hospitals have all sorts of amazing tools, and some might even have a particle accelerator hiding somewhere in the basement.

Bones, you probably have them and they're for more than holding your body upright.

We may not be as deeply divided as we think -- at least when it comes to health, says Rebecca Onie. In a talk that cuts through the noise, Onie shares research that shows how, even across economic, political and racial divides, Americans...

Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and more accessible caretaking. Hester...

With more than half of the world population living in cities, one thing is undeniable: we are an urban species. Part game, part urban planning sketching tool, "Cities: Skylines" encourages people to use their creativity and...

Is there a way to detect diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's before they advance too far? Doctors are using injected radioactive drugs that circulate through the body and act as a beacon for PET scanners. These diagnostic tools can...

Get to know Pablo Neruda, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. -- A romantic and a revolutionary, Pablo Neruda was one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, but...

Dr. Seyi Oyesola takes a searing look at health care in underdeveloped countries. His photo tour of a Nigerian teaching hospital -- all low-tech hacks and donated supplies -- drives home the challenge of doing basic health care there.

New ReviewDid we just find a slimy alien?! Mark and the crew are deep in the mudflats of Maine, searching for a massive Bloodworm for the Bite-Sting Index when they suddenly come face-to-face with the giant Milky Ribbon Worm!

New ReviewDeborah Sampson, born in 1760, disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. Facing early financial struggles, she educated herself and enlisted as Robert Shurtleff. For over 18 months, she served in the military,...

New ReviewDr. Lillian Glass reflects on her mentor, Dr. Robert J. Gorlin, a world-renowned geneticist and expert in craniofacial and medical genetics at the University of Minnesota. She recalls his brilliance, compassion, and humanity—qualities...

Steven Brill explains how his curiosity during the debate over the Affordable Care Act led him to investigate why U.S. health care costs are so high. Rather than asking who should pay exorbitant bills, he focused on why they cost so much...

You've all experienced it: There's a problem with your health care bill, or you have difficulty getting coverage for the care you need. Your doctor or hospital tells you to talk to your insurer. Your insurer tells you to talk to your...

Hospitals banning sugar sweetened beverages, provinces cracking down on dangerous drivers. And get me an Apple Watch!

A surprising amount of spending on healthcare in America is wasteful - we’ve talked about that before. In today’s episode, we discuss different approaches to reducing that waste, and potential barriers standing in the way.

There are few things that seem to polarize people more quickly than home births. That's the topic of the week's Healthcare Triage.

American healthcare spending is still WAY higher than pretty much all other industrialized countries. But not that long ago, things were different. The US didn't spend nearly as much in this realm. What changed? Demographics? More...