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Friday

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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Wednesday

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.

Friday

A girl with her back to the camera stands in a store, facing shelves of health and beauty products on display for sale. The girl appears to be the size of a tween or young teen and is wearing a black and white patterned coat and a pink winter cap.

Tweens and young teens are now major consumers of skin care products, but some ingredients are not good for young skin. Anton Novikov/Getty Images hide caption

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Anton Novikov/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Social media is fueling a tween skin care craze. Some dermatologists are wary

Tweens are now major consumers of skin care products, fueled by social media. But dermatologists are seeing kids with rashes caused by products not meant for young skin. What should tweens be using?

The skin care craze among teen and tweens has dermatologists wary

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Friday

How noise pollution from planes, trains and automobiles can harm human health

Noise pollution from human activities can have negative impacts on our health—from sleep disturbances and stress to increases in the risk of heart disease and diabetes. tolgart/Getty Images hide caption

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tolgart/Getty Images

Short Wave

How noise pollution from planes, trains and automobiles can harm human health

When's the last time you were in a place that was quiet — really quiet? No roadway noise, construction work or even the hum of a refrigerator. Our world is full of sounds, some of which are harming our health. The World Health Organization says "noise is an underestimated threat." Today, host Emily Kwong talks to health reporter Joanne Silberner about those health costs, what is too loud and some of the history of legislation to limit noise pollution in the United States.

How noise pollution from planes, trains and automobiles can harm human health

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Tuesday

This image provided by Eli Lilly shows the company's new Alzheimer’s drug Kisunla. The Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s Kisunla on Tuesday for mild or early cases of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s.

This image provided by Eli Lilly shows the company's new Alzheimer’s drug Kisunla. The Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s Kisunla on Tuesday for mild or early cases of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s. Eli Lilly and Company/AP hide caption

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Eli Lilly and Company/AP

Health

FDA approves a second Alzheimer's drug that can modestly slow disease

The approval of Eli Lilly's Kisunla provides a new option for patients in the early stages of the incurable, memory-destroying ailment.

Monday

Saturday

A female Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species that transmits dengue, draws blood meal from a human host.

A female Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species that transmits dengue, draws blood meal from a human host. James Gathany/CDC hide caption

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James Gathany/CDC

Shots - Health News

Travelers beware: It’s a big year for dengue

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of an increased risk of dengue infections in the U.S. this summer. The mosquito-borne virus is surging, and human travel is expanding its reach.

Dengue Virus in the U.S.

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Wednesday

Illustration of a man relaxing on a hamster wheel, symbolizing taking a break from the daily grind to refresh yourself and appreciate life.

Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images hide caption

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Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images

Life Kit

Stuck in a rut? How to appreciate your life again, according to science

After a while, even the most exciting relationships, jobs and environments lose their spark. But cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot says it's possible to fall back in love with life's small joys.

Why we become bored with our lives (and how to find joy again)

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Tuesday

Marker style illustration of man with colored waves. The concept of creative mind, brainstorm and learning.

Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images hide caption

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Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images

Life Kit

Forgot where you put the keys? Experts (and a trivia buff) share tips to boost memory

"With practice, absolutely everyone can make their memory stronger," says Monica Thieu, a memory researcher and a four-time Jeopardy! contestant. Techniques to get you started.

Where did I put the keys? Tips to improve memory

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Monday

Sung Ihm Son fell into a depression when her husband died. Making new friends and taking classes like dance and art at GenSpace helped her feel happy again.

Sung Ihm Son fell into a depression when her husband died. Making new friends and taking classes like dance and art at GenSpace in Los Angeles helped her feel happy again. Allison Aubrey/NPR hide caption

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Allison Aubrey/NPR

Shots - Health News

More Americans are living longer. Here’s a place that helps people thrive

A center started by Wallis Annenberg in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles is creating a sense of community for older people who aim to keep learning and growing as they age.

GenSpace aims to re-set what it feels like to get old

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Monday

Surveys show younger Americans doubt the safety of sunscreen. Misinformation on social media isn't helping.

Surveys show younger Americans doubt the safety of sunscreen. Misinformation on social media isn't helping. Anna Vishnyak/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Vishnyak/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Some TikTok influencers are maligning sunscreen. Here's what to know about the claims

Sunscreen is the best way to protect ourselves against skin cancer. But doctors are concerned by a backlash against sunscreen that is spreading on social media.

Suncreen Misinformation Puts Younger Americans At Risk

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Monday

Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and babesiosis are spreading in the U.S.

Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and babesiosis are spreading in the U.S. Ladislav Kubeš/Getty Images hide caption

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Ladislav Kubeš/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Once called Nantucket fever, this nasty tick-borne illness is on the rise

Once called Nantucket fever, the tick-borne illness babesios is spreading from the Northeast into the Midwest. A clinical trial starts this month to see if an anti- malaria drug can treat the disease.

Once called Nantucket fever, this nasty tick-borne illness is on the rise

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Saturday

A mother and son relax on a sofa while using a smartphone and a digital tablet, respectively.

The biggest predictor of screen time for kids is how much their parents use their devices, a new study finds. Kathleen Finlay/Getty Images hide caption

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Kathleen Finlay/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Parents are key when it comes to limiting screen time for kids, study finds

Early adolescence is a time when kids are becoming more independent and spending more time on social media. When it comes to curbing screen time in this age group, new research suggests some parental strategies work better than others.

Parent strategies that work to curb tween screen time

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