The World Health Organization has officially acknowledged the crucial contributions of several national leaders in ensuring the approval of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, which took place in May 2025. During a dedicated gathering at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on 10 July 2025, commemorative plaques were awarded to representatives from two nations whose past and present presidents, Sebastián Piñera of Chile and Kais Saied of Tunisia, played instrumental

Common Names: Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, red ginseng, white ginseng, ginseng root Scientific Name: Panax ginseng Background • Originating in East Asia, specifically Korea, northeastern China, and parts of eastern Russia, Asian ginseng has long been valued in traditional Chinese medicine. It is often used to support body balance and stress adaptation (as an adaptogen). • This species of ginseng is distinct, and terms like “red ginseng” and “white ginseng” describe how the

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with UNICEF, has released a new training guide designed to help health and social service providers, along with other support workers, offer safe and effective care to adults facing mental health and psychosocial challenges. This guide introduces a structured, skill-based framework focused on essential helping techniques such as listening attentively, showing empathy, and working collaboratively. It is suitable for both professionals and

Image: This photo captures a view over Plymouth Sound in the UK during Storm Eunice, which struck in February 2022. This location was central to recent research evaluating two years of data on combined sewer overflows into the Sound, compared with weather and satellite information. Credit: University of Plymouth A new study indicates that a combination of sewage discharge and coastal wind patterns may be carrying vast amounts of airborne microplastics into nearby coastal cities and towns.

Health Capsule Researchers have made progress in repairing defective genes responsible for certain common inherited conditions. This progress includes successful treatments for sickle cell disease, blood-related issues, and a serious skin disorder. However, addressing more uncommon genetic diseases has proven difficult. In a recent study supported by the NIH, scientists used a tailored gene-editing method to treat a newborn diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening condition. The infant was

Discovering Fresh Perspectives on Human Health Worms may appear simple and vastly different from humans—they're long, slender, often sightless, and lack limbs or a backbone. Yet, these modest creatures have helped scientists make remarkable discoveries about human biology and health. One microscopic worm, known as Caenorhabditis elegans or C. elegans, is particularly favored among researchers. Unlike garden worms, these are studied through a microscope. For over seven decades, scientists

Common Names: Ashwagandha, Indian Ginseng Scientific Name: Withania somnifera Background • Ashwagandha is a small, woody shrub native to regions of India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It contains a variety of active compounds, especially withanolides, which are believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. • This plant has been a part of traditional Ayurvedic practices for centuries, being used to support overall health and vitality. • In modern times, supplements made

Palliative Care Can Support You Through Serious Illness Receiving a diagnosis for a serious health condition can be overwhelming. There are many difficult choices to make and a lot of uncertainty. Fortunately, palliative care professionals are available to guide you through the challenges that come with managing a long-term illness. Their focus is on comfort, symptom management, and improving your day-to-day quality of life. “Palliative care takes a comprehensive view of treatment and

On June 25, the World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up its role in a 36-hour nuclear emergency drill, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This simulation was part of the IAEA’s ConvEx-3, its most advanced level of emergency preparedness exercises. Held every three to five years, ConvEx-3 evaluates the readiness of international responses to nuclear incidents and highlights opportunities for improvement. The previous drill in this series took place in 2021, in

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a significant new campaign encouraging all nations to raise the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages by at least 50% by the year 2035. This effort, known as the “3 by 35” Initiative, is aimed at reducing the burden of chronic illnesses while generating much-needed revenue for public services. With chronic diseases on the rise, alongside waning development aid and increased national debt, WHO is calling for action to strengthen

image: Scientists from the Institute of Industrial Science at The University of Tokyo and the Institute of Environmental Radioactivity at Fukushima University have used a global ocean circulation model to assess the spread of tritium from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). Their findings show that both short-term and long-term effects on oceanic tritium levels, even far from the discharge site, are minimal—even under future climate change scenarios. Credit: Institute of

Aromatherapy involves the use of natural plant oils—commonly extracted from flowers, herbs, and trees—as a complementary practice to promote well-being. These essential oils are typically absorbed through inhalation or applied to the skin in a diluted form. Widely used essential oils in aromatherapy include lavender, tea tree, lemon, cedarwood, Roman chamomile, geranium, ginger, and bergamot. Although aromatherapy is sometimes used to support sleep, especially for those experiencing insomnia,

Millions of people across the United States turn to complementary health methods to support their well-being. As with any decisions regarding your health, it's vital to evaluate your choices carefully. This guide has been created by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) to help you make informed decisions about using complementary health products and practices. Take Control of Your Health • Educate yourself. Investigate what research or evidence exists about

What’s the Bottom Line? What Do We Know About the Effectiveness of Complementary Approaches for Anxiety? • Research is steadily increasing on how integrative methods might ease anxiety, whether it's everyday stress or clinical anxiety conditions. Some techniques may also assist during high-stress medical scenarios. • Approaches like yoga have shown beneficial effects on anxiety symptoms, though results for anxiety disorders remain uncertain and require further confirmation through rigorous

.header_greentext { color: green!important; font-size: 24px!important; font-weight: 500!important; } What Are Antioxidants? The body naturally produces reactive molecules containing oxygen during normal cellular activity. When produced in excess, these molecules can cause oxidative stress, potentially harming cells and increasing the risk of chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. While the body has systems in place to control this process, antioxidant enzymes play a key role in

Image: Chest radiographs, typically used to examine the lungs and heart, also display portions of the liver, enabling AI to identify indications of fatty liver disease. Image credit: Osaka Metropolitan University Fatty liver disease, a condition where fat builds up in the liver, affects roughly 25% of the global population. Without treatment, it can progress into serious health problems such as liver scarring or cancer, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and medical intervention.

Helping Kids Begin Life on a Healthy Path Nearly one in five children faces obesity, a condition that can impact almost every part of the body. Excess body fat may contribute to serious health concerns, such as heart disease, diabetes, and mental well-being challenges. “Identifying and preventing childhood obesity early is essential, as prolonged obesity increases the chance of health complications,” says Dr. Stavroula Osganian, a scientific expert from the NIH focused on childhood obesity. If

Advancing Protein Design image: The next frontier in protein science is engineering novel amino acid sequences. These sequences determine the exact shape a protein folds into, and that shape ultimately defines what the protein can do. Credit: copyright: Dek Woolfson Proteins are essential components of life, carrying out nearly every vital process in organisms. They help protect our genetic material, process the food we eat into energy, and power the biological machines that keep our bodies

New scientific findings suggest that deep-sea mining in a remote region of the Pacific Ocean could pose significant threats to marine species, including whales and dolphins. This area, known as the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), lies in the Eastern Pacific and features expansive deep-sea plains and underwater mountains. A Canadian-based company, The Metals Company, has proposed to explore sections of the CCZ for polymetallic nodules—valuable mineral deposits found on the seabed. Two new

Scientists have investigated various alternative health methods for preventing or slowing the progression of cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. So far, there is no solid proof that any of these approaches can stop or delay cognitive decline. What the Science Says Below are several alternative health strategies that have been examined in recent studies. • Fish Oil/Omega-3s. Research into dietary factors for brain health has consistently shown a link between higher fish consumption and