health News

The Next Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Will Take More Than Just Science

At WIRED Health, pioneering Alzheimer's researcher John Hardy outlined the stakes—and next steps—of where treatment is headed next.

Testing for ‘Bad Cholesterol’ Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

There’s a more accurate way of measuring who’s at risk for cholesterol-related health issues. So why don’t more doctors use it?

Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary - his letter in full

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced his resignation from government.

Google’s Screenless Fitbit Air Relies on Gemini to Be Your Personal Health Coach

Google using AI to understand your fitness and health data, and then offer guidance? Who could have predicted that?!

Dreame’s Smart Fridge Has a Robot Arm That Can Put Your Groceries Away for You

The N1 Refrigerator also has AI that can make recommendations based on your health and activity data. Alas, it's only a concept.

The Case for Tracking Everything

If every step taken, hour slept, and heartbeat can be measured, recorded, and analyzed, are we taking control of our health or losing the plot entirely?

Watch: Streeting's resigned - what now?

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary, amid speculation that he could launch a Labour leadership bid.

Rivian’s revenue is up as R2 production kicks into gear

Rivian reported its first quarter earnings of 2026, providing us a closer look at the company's financial health as it kicks off production for the crucial R2 electric vehicle. We've already got Rivian's production and delivery statement from the first three …

Oura adds birth control support to its period tracker

Oura is launching a new reproductive health feature that takes hormonal contraception into consideration when tracking period cycles. The smart ring maker describes the Hormonal Birth Control update as a "first-of-its-kind experience" inside Oura's existing C…

Google Fitbit Air preorders come with a second band for free

Google’s new Fitbit Air, the $99.99 screenless fitness tracker, comes out on May 26th. It’s the company’s first Fitbit release in four years, and you can use it on iOS or Android phones without a paid subscription if all you want to do is track activities, sl…

Two paramedics among 10 killed in Israeli strikes in south Lebanon

Lebanon's health ministry says the paramedics were carrying out a rescue mission in Nabatieh in response to an earlier attack that killed one person.

Reid Hoffman Thinks Doctors Should Ask AI for a Second Opinion

The LinkedIn cofounder now has an AI drug discovery startup—and thinks not asking chatbots for medical advice is “bordering on committing malpractice.”

Four key excerpts from Streeting's resignation letter

He quits as health secretary after days of speculation that he is preparing to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer.

Calls grow over hospital care for jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi

On Friday her family said the 54-year-old had been taken from prison to a local hospital after a sharp deterioration in her health.

Thirteen killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, health ministry says

Four women and a child are among the dead, as fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah continues despite a ceasefire.

All Your Hantavirus Questions, Answered by an Infectious Disease Expert

Here’s what you need to know, from why the cruise ship outbreak won’t spark the next pandemic to how hantavirus spreads.

Whoop is putting a board-certified physician in its app to tell you why you’re tired

Whoop is turning its fitness app into an AI-powered health platform with live clinicians, smarter coaching, and deeper health tracking.

A buggy Fitbit update is blinding sensors on the Pixel Watch 3 and 4

Google’s new Fitbit Air aims to expand its health ecosystem, but a buggy update is hurting trust in Pixel Watch health tracking.

Which Automatic Litter Box Is Best? We Tested Litter-Robot’s Lineup

Whisker’s Litter-Robot name has become synonymous with the automatic litter box. We’ve tested the entire lineup and can help you choose the best model for your household.

Your Late Night Snacking Isn’t Doing Your Gut Any Favors, Study Finds

Eating late at night might worsen people's digestive problems, including constipation.

Why Midi Health holds AI office hours

Joanna Strober of Midi Health thought she was building a women's health company. Then AI changed everything, she tells BI's Jamie Heller.

A top doctor doesn't use fitness trackers, but is obsessed with one health metric

Measuring our health data with wearable tech is more popular than ever. But a doctor said a lot of products make money from out health anxieties.

Telehealth Abortion Is Still Possible Without Mifepristone

Courts may restrict access to the popular abortion medication mifepristone in the United States. Telehealth providers have backup plans in place.

The definitive study of seed oil and health

That’s the appeal of it, of course. There isn’t a definitive study. There can’t be. Even if we created a forty-year-long, double-blind twin study, there’d be room for someone to ask “what about?…” It doesn’t matter that the peer-reviewed and consistent result…

UK Approves Lifelong Ban on Smoking for People Born After 2008

The new bill also tightens regulations on vapes and other nicotine products.

Could We Handle Another Pandemic So Soon After Covid?

The next big one won't come from the hantavirus cruise outbreak, but there are still lessons to take away from it, experts say.

Contact tracing could be key in halting the spread of hantavirus. Here's how it works

More than two dozen passengers left the cruise ship before the outbreak was identified. The race is on to connect with them to monitor their health — and the health of those they've interacted with.

The end of Fitbit? Google Health may be ready to take the reins

Google may rebrand the Fitbit app and services under a new Google Health name.

I Finally Found an AI Health Coach Worth Listening To

Commentary: In a sea of AI noise, the Whoop band's Coach has been an unlikely ally in helping me train smarter. And I didn't have to go looking for it.

Half of US Adults Under 50 Get Health Advice From Influencers, Study Shows

Most health and wellness influencers aren't healthcare professionals, the survey found.

Another round of Fitbit AI health coach updates targets customization to fit your goals

Fitbit discussed a few more personal health coach updates rolling out soon that aim to make its assistance more personalized.

Google Unveils Screenless Fitbit Air, Google Health App To Replace Fitbit

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Wearables have really come full circle. The early Fitbits didn't have screens, but the move to smartwatches put a screen on everyone's wrist. Now, devices like Whoop and Hume are designed as data trackers…

Canada Just Got Generic Ozempic. Americans Shouldn’t Hold Their Breath

It'll probably take several years before generic semaglutide could arrive stateside.

Meta and TikTok Are Getting Your Data From State Healthcare Sites: Report

Nothing is sacred.

Health-Tracking Pet Collar Acts Like a Smartwatch for Dogs and Cats

Tractive has two new smart collars armed with GPS tracking, AI-powered health monitoring and other tech tools.

Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income

Pollinators have economic and health benefits, but those benefits have been difficult to quantify. A new study puts some numbers to how important pollinators are for both nutrition and income.

Healthy life expectancy gap between rich and poor has widened, study finds

Poor housing, obesity and the effects of deprivation have been suggested as underlying causes of the fall.

The hospital taking in Britons from hantavirus-hit ship - six years after being used for Covid quarantine

The Merseyside site was last used to isolate those arriving from China at the start of the Covid pandemic.

A viral outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic has killed 3 people, the WHO says

The World Health Organization said that one case of hantavirus infection had been confirmed.

'My baby scratches and scratches': Families say their homes are making their children sick

A cross-party report has called for safer conditions for the record number of families living in temporary accommodation.

Meet the men calling out 'masculinity' trends

Influencers promoting looksmaxxing and narrow male beauty standards are being called out by a new wave of men on social media.

Oura sees a gap in women's health, rolls out birth control support and more

Oura is stepping up its women's health game, announcing the arrival of birth control support and Menopause Insights in an upcoming May patch.

The old Fitbit app is becoming Google Health in under two weeks — here's what to know

Google is rebranding the Fitbit app to Google Health, and making sweeping changes to the service along the way. Here's what Fitbit users should know.

These are the 5 features that make the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 worth it

I love the basic Galaxy Watch 8, and these five fitness and health features make the Wear OS smartwatch worth using.

The Mess at the FDA Just Got Bigger as Chief Marty Makary Resigns

Kyle Diamantas, the current deputy commissioner of food at the FDA, will take over for the time being.

Forget Expensive Carbon Capture—Renewables Are the Cheaper Climate Fix

When it comes to reducing atmospheric carbon, new research shows that renewable energy is a more cost-effective investment than direct air capture.

The battle for your finger heats up as RingConn Gen 3 opens preorders

RingConn Gen 3 upgrades smart rings with vascular health insights, quieter haptic alerts, long battery life, and no subscription fees to worry about.

The AI fitness instructors selling unreal gains

A BBC Sport investigation finds misleading adverts for fitness apps that use AI-generated instructors to make exaggerated claims.

WHO says hantavirus is 'not another COVID-19' and that the public health risk 'remains low'

The World Health Organization said eight cases of hantavirus, including three deaths, have been reported as of May 8.

One dead and two ill after meningitis cases

Agencies said the risk to pupils and the wider public following the cases of meningitis remains low.

A Startup Says It Grew Human Sperm in a Lab—and Used It to Make Embryos

Paterna Biosciences says it has determined the set of instructions needed to turn sperm-making stem cells into "normal, mature" sperm.

A Previously Banned Apple Watch Health Feature May Soon Make a Comeback

Apple has been embroiled in a six-year legal battle over one of its Apple Watch health apps. The end may finally be in sight.

Would You Trust This Companion Robot With Your Grandma? CNET Families Gave It a Try

We had our parents and grandparents live with and review ElliQ, a multipurpose robot that serves as a digital assistant, social companion and health advocate.

Parents say ChatGPT got their son killed with bad advice on party drugs

The family of a 19-year-old college student is suing OpenAI over claims that his conversations with ChatGPT led to an accidental overdose. In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Sam Nelson's parents allege ChatGPT "encouraged" the teen to "consume a combination of …

New Mexico has a plan to overhaul Facebook and Instagram

Still fresh off its recent $375 million jury verdict against Meta, New Mexico attorney general Raul Torrez's office began arguing for even greater asks in the second phase of a landmark trial. On Monday, an attorney for the state, David Ackerman, pressed the …

Hantavirus Outbreak Hits Cruise Ship. Here’s What You Should Know

Though cases of hantavirus are often deadly, it doesn't spread easily between people.

Chernobyl's last wedding: The couple who married as a nuclear disaster unfolded

Serhiy and Iryna married 40 years ago, unaware a nuclear reactor had exploded less than 3 miles away.

BioWare Veteran Talks About Burnout On Sci-Fi RPG Exodus: ‘You Have To Be Cutting The Baby In Half All The Time’

James Ohlen said leading the studio behind the ambitious new game was bad for his health

New details about Louisiana gunman’s mental health

Google Health will leave behind some classic Fitbit app features: Here's all of them

Features like Fitbit badges, Community Feed, and Sleep Profiles could soon disappear.

Tim Cook had bold visions for Apple. See which ones came true.

From augmented reality to Apple's role in health, Tim Cook had grand visions for the company. Some came true, while others were never fully realized.

I'm an 85-year-old CEO who doesn't take a salary. I'm committed to my company's mission and living a long and happy life.

Charlie Nahabedian is the CEO of VK Digital Health at age 85. He maintains an active and social lifestyle while working almost every day.

A doctor shares 5 tips for better gut health in 30 days, including a trendy, low-cost supplement

A doctor who specializes in gut health said most people can feel better in weeks by making simple diet changes like adding a cheap fiber supplement.

I ran a busy finance firm in NYC, but my stress got worse when I had surgery. Now I help high-achievers manage illness.

Sydney Sajadi, 46, says a hysterectomy and severe burnout pushed her to overhaul her health and rethink her high-stress career.

JPMorgan fraud convict Charlie Javice is trying to ditch her ankle bracelet again

Charlie Javice, free on appeal for tricking JPMorgan into buying her fintech, Frank, wants out of her ankle monitor, citing "health matters."

Living abroad 20 years ago changed how we shop for groceries and plan meals. Now, we eat better and waste less food.

Living abroad in Europe changed our grocery-shopping and meal-planning habits in ways that have improved our meals and physical and mental health.

3 common longevity mistakes doctors and scientists say to avoid

It's hard to tell which longevity trends actually work. Doctors and scientists shared what they wish people would stop doing in the hope of optimizing their health.

I've struggled for years to find full-time work after multiple layoffs. It's taken a toll on my mental health.

Dominique Alexander says years of job searching and rejection after working for Microsoft and Coca-Cola have taken a toll on her mental health.

Why Labour's London squeeze exposes a fragmented modern British politics

London offers an insight into the dilemma Labour faces about which direction to take.

Some Locals Are Using AI to Protest Against Data Centers

Advocacy against data centers isn't necessarily all about being anti-AI.

Utah Startup Claims Its Lab-Grown Sperm Can Produce Embryos, in Potential Fertility Breakthrough

Paterna Biosciences said it has mastered the molecular signals that teach stem cells how to mature into sperm for a promising new fertility treatment.

Social Media Sites Got Information from Ad Trackers on US State Health Insurance Sites

All 20 of America's state-run healthcare marketplace sites "include advertising trackers that share information with Big Tech companies," reports Gizmodo, citing a report from Bloomberg: Per the report, seven million Americans bought their health insurance t…

The simple health habits of top longevity doctors and scientists, who follow the science not trends

Top longevity doctors, scientists, and investors share the simple, evidence-backed habits they use to stay healthy — from sleep and diet to exercise.

Why scientists are nervous about fungi

They can pose a threat to human health — yeast infections are but one example. Scientists say not enough attention is paid to their ability to develop resistance to medications that treat them.

A Colorado hospital profits from resolving language barriers

Without qualified interpreters at doctors' offices, non-English speakers can face bad — even fatal — health outcomes. A hospital in rural Colorado is training its existing bilingual staff to address the service gap.

Got wearable data? Your doctor can help you connect the dots

The American Academy of Neurology issued guidance on using wearable data devices, like smart watches or Oura rings, to track key health metrics that can help flag serious conditions.

RFK Jr. wants to treat addiction by creating wellness farms. Does it work?

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says a farm community in Italy for people with addiction is a model for wellness camps designed to ease the U.S. overdose crisis. Critics say the idea is dangerous.

US health insurers advance measures to standardize prior authorization requirements

April 24 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth and CVS Health said on Friday they have standardized data and submission requirements for more than half of their prior...

CEOs say further gamification is coming to personal health care

Google's Fitbit Air is finally here, and it's the screenless fitness band we've been waiting for

Google's highly anticipated fitness band, the Fitbit Air, is official — and it only costs $99. Here's everything it can track on your wrist.

This Treatment Could Reverse Osteoarthritis Joint Damage With a Single Injection

Osteoarthritis has no cure, but researchers have developed new therapies that help aging or damaged joints repair themselves in a matter of weeks.

A Dangerous Bacteria Is Moving Up the East Coast. Here’s What That Means for You

Warming waters are pushing the dreaded flesh-eating bacteria up the Atlantic coast. Experts explain who's at risk and how worried you really need to be.

RFK Jr. spars with House Democrats over vaccine policies amid rise in measles cases

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee seized on public health policies enacted under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Maine Governor Vetoes Landmark Data Center Moratorium

The plan would have frozen data center constructions in the state until November 2027.

Alex Karp’s ‘Supervillain’ Manifesto Is Putting Palantir’s Contracts at Risk

Lawmakers in the UK are raising concerns over the government’s contracts with the controversial, Peter Thiel-backed data company.

Cranks Are Already Peddling Ivermectin for Hantavirus

Ivermectin is an effective anti-parasitic drug, but it's not a cure-all.

Hantavirus latest updates: 2 New Jersey residents being monitored as cruise ship prepares for Sunday evacuation off Tenerife

Health officials in Arizona, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia are monitoring residents for potential infections.

This dangerous vomiting and diarrhea virus is surging across the US

Cases of the virus are abnormally high this year, according to health experts, and are especially dangerous for children.

Google Home makes it easier to understand why devices aren’t working

Thanks to Google Home's latest update, users may be able to get offline devices working again with less troubleshooting. Now, whenever a device goes offline, users may get "instant account-relinking prompts" in the app's device controller pages, which will te…

Can Trump's latest pick for surgeon general make it through confirmation?

Nicole Saphier, a breast cancer radiologist, is the president's third nominee for surgeon general. Will she get confirmed?

Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands

Spanish authorities are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands.

Garmin's Whoop rival just leaked, and it might be five times the price of the Fitbit Air

Garmin's screenless wearable could cost around $509, far above the Fitbit Air and even higher than Whoop.

Newsom demands answers from RFK Jr. over past comments about Black children on ADHD meds being ‘re-parented’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday said he demands answers from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding comments...

How a Small Argentina Town Handled Hantavirus Outbreak in 2018

As health officials fight to contain the deadly hantavirus tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship, they are relying on limited understanding of how it is spread,...