Decades of research suggests that your diet can influence the risk of various cancers. (Bobbi Lin/The New York Times) By NINA AGRAWAL Over decades, a growing body of literature has shown clear links between what we eat and how likely we are to develop various cancers. In recent years, the research has moved away from the impact of individual “superfoods” and antioxidants to focus on how overall, long-term dietary habits affect risk. That’s not to say that any individual cance

Engineer Paul Anker checks on the supply of hot water for a drilling operation at Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, Jan. 30, 2026. An attempt to drill through Thwaites Glacier is foiled; scientists lost their instruments within Antarctica’s most dangerously unstable glacier, though not before getting a glimpse at the warming waters underneath. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times) By RAYMOND ZHONG A daring attempt to study Antarctica’s fast-melting Thwaites Glacier collapsed over t

A worker prepares polio vaccines at a pop-up clinic at the Rockland County Department of Health in Pomona, N.Y. on July 22, 2022. (Victor J. Blue/The New York Times) By APOORVA MANDAVILLI Offering a startlingly candid view into the philosophy guiding vaccine recommendations under the Trump administration, the leader of the federal panel that recommends vaccines for Americans said shots against polio and measles — and perhaps all diseases — should be optional, offered only in

Walking is one of the simplest ways to get moving. Here’s how it affects your fitness. (Eric Helgas/The New York Times) By ALLESSANDRA DiCORATO Q: I know walking is good for my body. But can it be my only form of exercise? A: Stepping outside for a brisk walk can bring significant health benefits. Walking has been linked to improved blood pressure, better mental health and lower risks of falls, cardiovascular disease and dementia. It’s also an accessible way to get moving tha

A photo provided by Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró shows Veronika, a 13-year-old cow in Austria that has demonstrated using different ends of a wooden broom to scratch different parts of her body. This is the first scientifically documented case of tool use in cows, researchers say. (Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró via The New York Times) By EMILY ANTHES For a cow, Veronika has had what might be considered an idyllic life. She lives in a picturesque town in Austria, surrounded by snow-cap

By NINA AGRAWAL Despite gains in treatment, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 3 in 10 fatalities — 916,000 — in 2023, according to a report published Wednesday by the American Heart Association. It outnumbers deaths from the second- and third-leading causes — cancer and accidental injuries — combined. The statistics are a sobering reminder that there is “a lot of work to do” when it comes to prevention and tr

To live a healthy life, it’s crucial to have a healthy brain. (Eiko Ojala/The New York Times) By DANA G. SMITH Every January, Well offers readers a five-day challenge to improve some aspect of their health. This year’s edition is focused on the brain. There are a lot of scary headlines about brains these days. One recent report estimated that the number of people in the United States with dementia would double by 2060. That figure doesn’t tell the whole story: Though the tota

Cows at Norm-E-Lane farm, a dairy farm in Chili, Wis., June 18, 2025. Whey, the liquid byproduct of cheese making, was once considered waste. In the United States, the term bird flu has become synonymous with a particular virus that has devastated poultry and dairy farms over the past few years. But that virus, called H5N1, is not the only form of bird flu in circulation. (Tim Gruber/The New York Times) By APOORVA MANDAVILLI In the United States, the term bird flu has become

They drew with crayons, possibly fed on maggots and maybe even kissed us: Forty millenniums later, our ancient human cousins continued to make news. (John P. Dessereau/The New York Times) By FRANZ LIDZ Neanderthals, who flourished across Eurasia for hundreds of thousands of years before vanishing around 40,000 years ago, had a notable return to the scientific spotlight in 2025. More than a dozen high-profile scientific studies explored all sorts of aspects of their existence,

The Artemis II rocket rolls out to the launchpad from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Cassandra Klos/The New York Times) By KENNETH CHANG Reid Wiseman, a NASA astronaut selected in 2011, said Saturday morning that a few days ago he looked up and saw the crescent moon in the light of the sunrise. He thought about the far side of the moon — the part that is always hidden from Earth. “You just think about a