wbur.org » Health & Science

Health & Science

House On The Verge Of Historic Health Vote

By Alan Greenblatt

Democrats appear confident they will have the 216 votes needed to pass a pair of bills designed to provide near-universal health insurance coverage. Republicans — unanimous in their opposition — describe the bills as "a disgrace."

All Things Considered

Turning Points In U.S. Health Care

Weekend Edition Sunday

Democrats Say They've Got The Magic 216

Weekend Edition Sunday

Fire Can Be Good For Global Warming

By Christopher Joyce

All Things Considered

Turning Points In U.S. Health Care

If the current health care overhaul passes, it will mean a historic change in American health policy, on a par with Medicare or even Social Security. Host Guy Raz and historian Jim Morone look back at some of the other major turning points in the nation's approach to health care.

Weekend Edition Sunday

Democrats Say They've Got The Magic 216

That's the number of votes House Democrats need to pass a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system. Lawmakers are expected to vote Sunday, and with all 178 House Republicans and at least two dozen Democrats vowing to vote no, the vote will be extremely close. NPR White House Correspondent Scott Horsley joins host Liane Hansen live to talk about Obama's efforts to push the health care overhaul legislation through the House of Representatives.

Weekend Edition Sunday

Fire Can Be Good For Global Warming

By Christopher Joyce

Scientists have calculated that it actually makes sense to start intentional fires to keep down debris and undergrowth. Even though these prescribed fires do put carbon into the atmosphere, the scientists calculate it's less than what would go up in big wildfires.

Weekend Edition Sunday

Spring Equinox Brings Balance, At Least To Eggs

By Margot Adler

Saturday was the vernal equinox, the first moment of spring, and a time when the periods of light and dark are equal. Last year, Donna Henes greeted the spring equinox in a snowstorm at around 4 in the morning. But this year was different.

Weekend Edition Sunday

Health Care Drama Reaches Fever Pitch

By Andrea Seabrook

Despite the protests raging in and around the Capitol, at least 216 members of the House of Representatives are predicted to cast votes of "yea" on the health care bill today, finally passing a history-making overhaul package. That is, if all goes according to the Democrats' plan.

All Things Considered

House Opts For Straight Vote On Health Bill

Democratic House leaders say they've got the votes to pass a landmark health-care overhaul Sunday. And they're confident enough of getting an overhaul done that they've agreed to set aside the controversial "deem and pass" strategy. Host Guy Raz checks in with NPR's Julie Rovner on the latest maneuvering on Capitol Hill.

New England Sinai Suspending New Admissions

March 20, 2010, 10:30 AM

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON — State health officials have announced that New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton has voluntarily suspended admission of new patients after state officials cited the hospital for “serious concerns.”

‘Not Ted Kennedy Reform’: Rep. Lynch Defends Vote Against Health Care Bill

March 19, 2010, 1:35 PM

By BOB OAKES and BENJAMIN SWASEY

BOSTON — Despite appeals from fellow Democratic legislators, an Oval Office session with President Obama and a meeting with the widow of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Rep. Stephen Lynch on Friday staunchly defended his intention to vote against the president’s health care overhaul.

Rep. Lynch To Vote Against Health Care Bill

March 18, 2010, 3:31 PM

BOSTON — If congressional Democrats win passage of a national health care overhaul, they will do so without the vote of one Massachusetts Democrat — Rep. Stephen Lynch.

Boston Medical Workers Prepare For Haiti’s Unfamiliar Trauma

March 18, 2010, 6:38 AM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

BOSTON — Today, more Boston-based medical teams are leaving to help earthquake victims in Haiti. It’s a first-time trip for many of them — and they may not be prepared for what they’ll find there. So Children’s Hospital in Boston is helping doctors get ready for that primitive medical setting.

Sen. Brown Warns Again Against Passing Health Bill

March 13, 2010, 6:35 AM

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown accused President Obama and Democrats on Saturday of a “bitter, destructive and endless” drive to pass health overhaul legislation that Brown warned would be disastrous.

Tech Turns Hospitals Into Concert Halls, Diseases Into Songs

March 04, 2010, 4:11 AM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

Dr. Gil Alterovitz presents gene networks in his musical gene expression work. The blue spheres represent genes and proteins, the green lines imply gene expression activation and the red lines imply inhibition. (Courtesy)

BOSTON — Could music improve the practice of medicine? A new sound technology by local researchers has the potential to turn operating rooms into concert halls and diseases into songs.

Stomach Virus Is Surging In Boston

March 02, 2010, 8:59 PM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

BOSTON — The Boston area is experiencing a surge in an extremely contagious stomach, flu called norovirus, including a new strain that comes with the usual symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

When It’s Time To Choose Death For A Terminally Ill Child

March 02, 2010, 7:09 AM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

BOSTON — A new Boston study finds that there is a time when some parents would choose death over life for a child: in cases of fatal illness, especially when a child is in extreme pain — and the researchers want to help families in this heart-breaking situation.

New Study Will Examine Drug Safety In Pregnancy

February 26, 2010, 12:00 AM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

The drug Thalomid bears a symbol warning that it should not be used by pregnant women. (Celgene via AP)

BOSTON — A new national study could give pregnant women more information about which medications are safe to take and which ones could harm their developing babies — and Boston University’s School of Medicine is playing a key role in the research.

Immigrants Sue Mass. Over Denial Of Subsidized Health Care

February 25, 2010, 6:16 PM

By RACHEL ROHR

BOSTON — A group of legal immigrants is suing Massachusetts over a law that bans them from having state-subsidized health insurance called Commonwealth Care.

Study: Knowledge Gap Could Explain Higher Lung Cancer Rate Among Blacks

February 22, 2010, 5:24 AM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

BOSTON — According to new research out of Boston that could help explain why African-Americans have higher rates of lung cancer than any other racial group, blacks are less likely than whites to seek treatment for the disease and to know how to recognize and prevent it.

Helping In Haiti: Questions & Answers

February 18, 2010, 6:25 AM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

DDr. Phuoc Le of Boston (top right) and a pilot transfer two Haitian earthquake victims to a private jet so they can be flown to the U.S. for treatment arranged by Partners in Health. (Andres Leighton/AP)

As Haiti continues to recover from its devastating earthquake, there’s a growing focus on the long-term health needs of victims and their families — and Massachusetts is continuing to play a role.

Nantucket Ranks As Healthiest County, Hampden As Least Healthy

February 17, 2010, 4:30 PM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

READ THE REPORT: 2010 Massachusetts County Health Rankings

BOSTON — A new nationwide report shows that Nantucket is the healthiest county in Massachusetts and Hampden County is the least healthy.

Study: Chronic Health Problems Among Children On The Rise

February 16, 2010, 4:42 PM

By SACHA PFEIFFER

BOSTON — A new study by Boston researchers finds that chronic health problems in children, such as asthma, obesity and diabetes, have more than doubled nationwide in the past 20 years.

Looking For A Chocolate High? Just Inhale

February 12, 2010, 5:16 AM

By ANDREA SHEA

Le Whif is breathable, virtually calorie-free chocolate. (Courtesy photo)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Have you ever just wanted to inhale a bunch of chocolate? Now you can. A not-so-mad scientist from Harvard has invented Le Whif — a no-calorie, breathable chocolate. And it’s surprisingly satisfying.

« Older stories

WBUR Topics

SUPPORT