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Saturday

A hairdresser straightens a woman's hair by applying a hair product.

A hairdresser straightens a woman's hair by applying a hair product. A delayed proposal by the Food and Drug Administration would ban the use of formaldehyde as an ingredient in hair relaxers and hair straighteners. Getty Images hide caption

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National

The FDA misses its deadline again to propose a ban on formaldehyde in hair products

The FDA's proposed rule would take a large step in shedding light on the potential harm that formaldehyde can cause to the many Black women who typically use hair straightening products.

Friday

Sian Beilock giving her TED Talk

Sian Beilock giving her TED Talk Jerod Harris/TED hide caption

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Jerod Harris/TED

TED Radio Hour

Why we choke under pressure, according to a cognitive scientist

We all know the feeling of choking under pressure—but why does this happen? Cognitive scientist Sian Beilock shares the science behind why we mess up in high-stakes situations... and how to avoid it.

TRH Psychology of Winning Beilock

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Photograph of a table set up with a romantic dinner with flowers and a candle. Two plates hold spaghetti and a baby's hand reaches into the frame.
Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

New parents, no time or energy for sex? Here's how to keep the romance alive

Between 3 a.m. feedings and hormonal changes, it can be hard for couples to get in the mood after baby arrives. But that doesn't mean you can't show love and desire in other creative, playful ways.

Keeping intimacy alive after having a baby

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In the foreground, a sign encourages people to vote. In the background are buildings, trees and a young man walking.

Months away from the U.S. presidential election, 73% of respondents in a poll by the American Psychiatric Association say they are feeling anxious about the election. Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Stressed about politics? Here are 5 ways to take care of your mental health

Psychologists say it's normal to feel stress and negative emotions in times of uncertainty. There are also things you can do to take care of yourself.

How to manage election anxiety

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Thursday

An ominous red background with and a caution symbol suggest danger online.

Rogue health insurance agents have been switching people into Affordable Care Act plans without their knowledge. Social media ads that falsely promise people money for groceries are part of the scheme, a lawsuit says. Sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images hide caption

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Sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Misleading ads part of schemes to gin up unauthorized ACA sign-ups, lawsuit alleges

KFF Health News

Online ads touted free money for groceries to help lure people to call centers where some were enrolled in health insurance or unknowingly switched from their plans, a new lawsuit alleges.

This animated graphic shows a brain whose various regions are changing color from green to yellow to orange to red.

A study finds that psilocybin can desynchronize networks in the brain, potentially enhancing its plasticity. Sara Moser/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis hide caption

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Sara Moser/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Shots - Health News

A scientist took a psychedelic drug — and watched his own brain 'fall apart'

Scientists scanned the brains of people who took psilocybin, including a member of the research team. The scans showed how the drug disrupts key networks, potentially enhancing brain plasticity.

A prominent brain scientist took psilocybin as part of his own brain study

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Tested: Questions of a Physical Nature
Dani Pendergast for NPR

Embedded

Tested: Questions of a Physical Nature

Episode 2: We go back almost 100 years, to the beginning of women's inclusion in elite sports. It turns out that men had an odd variety of concerns about women athletes. Some doubted these athletes were even women at all. And their skepticism resulted in the first policies requiring sex testing. To listen to this series sponsor-free and support NPR, sign up for Embedded+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Tested: Questions of a Physical Nature

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Wednesday

A Nepali student gets a measles-rubella vaccine in Kathmandu on Feb. 25, 2024 -- the launch of a nationwide campaign aiming to immunize an estimated 5.7 million children.

A Nepali student gets a measles-rubella vaccine in Kathmandu on Feb. 25, 2024 -- the launch of a nationwide campaign aiming to immunize an estimated 5.7 million children.
Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Are kids getting routine vaccines? Progress has 'stalled' yet there is some good news

Vaccination rates took a hit during the pandemic — and they've not really recovered, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. But ... look at Ukraine!

Global Vaccine report:  We're "stalled"

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An African American woman is shown getting a mammogram. She is photographed from behind, so we see the back of her head and body as she stands facing a large X-ray machine. A health care professional wearing pink scrubs positions the woman in the machine.

The most recent recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is that all women 40 to 74 get mammograms every other year. A previous recommendation said screening should start at 50. One doctor suggests that people "test smarter, not test more." Heather Charles/Tribune News Service via Getty Images hide caption

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Heather Charles/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Mammograms have pros and cons. Women can handle the nuance, study argues

Guidelines for when women should start getting mammograms have been changing. A new study makes the case for explaining to women the risks and benefits of screening for breast cancer.

Tuesday

Gambian activist Jaha Dukureh rejoiced after the country's parliament rejected the bill to end its ban on female genital mutilation.

Gambian activist Jaha Dukureh celebrates after the country's parliament rejected the bill to end a ban on female genital mutilation. Malick Njie/Reuters hide caption

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Malick Njie/Reuters

Goats and Soda

A victory for opponents of female genital mutilation in The Gambia

On Monday, Gambian lawmakers rejected a bill that would have overturned its ban on female genital mutilation. The vote marks a victory for women’s rights activists and comes after months of intense debate.

A victory for opponents of female genital mutilation in The Gambia

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Sam, age 6, and his mother, Tabitha, attend a virtual class with Sam’s teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing.

Six-year-old Sam and his mother, Tabitha, attend a virtual class with Sam’s teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. Cindy Elizabeth/for NPR hide caption

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Cindy Elizabeth/for NPR

Education

As discrimination complaints soar, parents of disabled students wait for help

The Education Department is handling record numbers of discrimination cases, including those involving disability. The backlog leaves some families waiting for help.

More students with disabilities are facing discrimination in schools

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Caitlyn Mai poses for a portrait in a park near her home in Bethany, Okla., on May 18, 2024. She's wearing light-colored pants and a sleeveless white blouse with small dark hearts on it.

Caitlyn Mai underwent cochlear implant surgery with her insurer's approval, expecting it would be covered in full. Then she started getting bills for $139,000. Nick Oxford/KFF Health News hide caption

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Nick Oxford/KFF Health News

Shots - Health News

Her hearing implant was preapproved. But she still received multiple $139,000 bills

KFF Health News

Even when patients double-check that their care is covered by insurance, health providers may send them bills as they haggle with insurers over reimbursement. It's stressful and annoying — but legal.

Monday

A sign with a blue background advertises the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline marked two years of operation on July 16, 2024. Ryan Levi/Tradeoffs hide caption

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Ryan Levi/Tradeoffs

A checkup for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 2: Still lots to do

The 988 lifeline has been contacted by about 10 million people either by phone, text or chat. It's gotten better over the two years, but it still has a long way to go to connect people to care.

The 988 suicide and crisis line turns 2 years old tomorrow

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