Latest Articles
When Vaccines Work: Why We Forget the Diseases They Prevent
Vaccines are one of public health's greatest successes — and that success creates a paradox: as disease disappears from daily life, collective memory fades, altering risk perception, policy priorities, and public behavior. This feature explores how and why societies forget vaccine-preventable horrors, the consequences of that forgetting, and practical ways to preserve hard-earned lessons without stoking fear.
Surviving Brain Cancer and Diabetes Insipidus: My Halloween Finish
In 2008 I was diagnosed with brain cancer and a rare, severe form of diabetes insipidus that made me urinate roughly 11 gallons a day. This is the story of diagnosis, treatment, the unexpected humor and healing that followed, and the Halloween costume I wore the year I finished treatment.
Watching My Father's Dementia Through His Art: A Timeline
A personal, chronological exploration of how my father's paintings changed as dementia took hold—what the visual shifts revealed, how I documented them, and practical lessons for caregivers and families.
Why Is My Cat Vocalizing, Twitching or Rolling? Explained
Episodes of distressed vocalization, facial twitching, and rolling in cats can come from many causes — from pain and seizures to vestibular disease and anxiety. This guide explains how to tell them apart, what to record and report, urgent signs, likely diagnostics, and practical next steps you can take before and after a veterinary visit.
Was I Wrong to Tell a Coworker I Was Miscarrying? Workplace Boundaries
When a coworker accused me of 'excessive' bathroom use, I told her I was miscarrying. This article explores the emotional, ethical, and practical sides of workplace disclosures around pregnancy loss, plus how employers and colleagues can respond with compassion and respect.
Randy Gardner: Inside the 264-Hour Sleep Deprivation Record
The story of Randy Gardner's 11-day sleepless experiment blends teenage daring with the birth of modern sleep science. This feature unpacks the experiment, its physiological and cognitive consequences, ethical questions, and what the case still teaches us about sleep today.