A melanoma cluster found in the heart of Pennsylvania farm country has highlighted potential links between agriculture and skin cancer. Adults 50 and older living in a 15-county stretch of south-central Pennsylvania were 57% more likely to develop melanoma than people living elsewhere in the state, researchers reported Nov. 14 in the journal JCO Clinical…  read on >  read on >

The brain is thought to be a sterile environment, free from germs. But unexpected deposits of bacteria have been found inside brain tumors, apparently affecting how the cancers grow and behave, a new study says.   “This work opens a new dimension in our understanding of brain tumor biology,” senior researcher Dr. Jennifer Wargo, a professor…  read on >  read on >

Bright orange fingers may soon be less common for some snackers. PepsiCo announced that it will begin selling new versions of Cheetos and Doritos that contain no artificial colors or flavors. The line, called “Simply NKD,” hits store shelves Dec. 1 and includes four products: Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch…  read on >  read on >

A Washington state resident has become the first person in the United States to test positive for a rare bird flu strain that has never before been found in humans. The older adult, who has underlying health problems, was hospitalized in early November after developing a high fever, confusion and trouble breathing. “This is a…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tightening restrictions on a gene therapy used to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy after two teenagers died from liver failure linked to the medication. The FDA decision limits the use of Elevidys, made by Sarepta Therapeutics, to boys who are 4 years and older who can still walk,…  read on >  read on >

Alana “Lani” Silverberg was a real firecracker with a big personality at age 3 — until she started having seizures. The sweetheart swiftly turned quiet, cranky, sleepless and fatigued, worn down by her seizures. “It was every parent’s nightmare. Lani was having one large seizure a week. At one point, we didn’t know what else…  read on >  read on >

Younger adults who eat lots of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop polyps that can become colon cancer, a new study says. Women under 50 whose diets contained the largest amounts of ultra-processed foods had a 45% higher risk of developing pre-cancerous polyps in their colon, researchers reported Nov. 13 in JAMA Oncology. “Our…  read on >  read on >

Women undergoing a cesarean section delivery typically have the procedure while awake, with only a nerve blocker protecting them from the pain. For some, the pain can be overwhelming, even after the block, but this might be unnecessary, a new evidence review argues. General anesthesia appears to be safe for both mother and baby during…  read on >  read on >

SUNDAY, Nov. 16, 2025 — Scientists think snakes and lizards could help them find new ways to prevent painful kidney stones and gout in people. And it all owes to an evolutionary trick. Reptiles don’t just pee; they crystallize their waste to save water.  Researchers who examined the solid urine of more than 20 reptile…  read on >  read on >

A rare tick-spread “meat allergy” has now been tied to its first confirmed death, according to researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA). Doctors reported that a healthy 47-year-old New Jersey man died in 2024 after eating beef, with symptoms starting four hours after his meal. The cause of death was unclear…  read on >  read on >

Pregnant women in the United States face a serious and growing danger from gun violence, according to a new study that examined thousands of homicides nationwide. Researchers looked at more than 7,000 homicides of women between the ages of 15 and 49. The review, which spanned from 2018 to 2021, found that pregnant women had…  read on >  read on >

Immigration experts warn the policy could make it easier for officers to deny visas based on their own judgment  read on >