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health and well-being

photo shows a classroom of students watching a teacher. the hairstyles of the three kids in the back row suggest they are of different races (you only see them from behind)

Mar 11, 2024

No, An Anti-Racist Program in Schools Didn’t Stress Out Kids

A new study finds an anti-racist intervention did not cause stress or feelings of alienation among high school students. 

a gavel rests on a white table

Mar 6, 2024

What Drives ‘Drug-Induced Homicide’ Prosecutions in North Carolina?

A desire to reduce overdose deaths is spurring DIH prosecutions -- but the evidence suggests it may be harming public health. 

young woman leans against a wall with her hair hanging into her face

Mar 4, 2024

It’s Not Just You: Young People Look, Feel Older When They’re Stressed

A new study finds younger adults look and feel older on stressful days – but only on days when they also feel they have relatively less control over their own lives. 

an old woman's hands are folded in her lap

Feb 7, 2024

Easy Things We Can Do to Cope With Traumatic Loss

A new study finds there are simple activities that help people improve their mood and emotional well-being after the traumatic loss of a loved one. 

photo shows young child's hands coloring with magic markers

Feb 6, 2024

Study IDs Ways to Better Help Children Experiencing Homelessness

The study suggests public service systems need to do a better job of working with parents to support homeless children. 

photo shows a plate on a pink background. The plate has a frowny face drawn on it. A knife and fork rest on the plate.

Jan 29, 2024

Study Urges People to Think Twice Before Going on a Diet

The work underscores how toxic yo-yo dieting can be and how difficult it can be for people to break the cycle. 

photo shows rear view of a woman sitting on a hillside and looking thoughtfully into the distance

Jan 24, 2024

Study: The More People Know About Pregnancy, the More Likely They Are to Support Access to Abortion

The more people know about pregnancy, the more likely they are to oppose legislation that limits women’s access to abortions – regardless of political ideology. 

photo taken from above shows a Black woman in exercise clothes looking at a health monitor on her wrist

Dec 7, 2023

How a Failure to Understand Race Leads to Flawed Health Tech

A fundamental misunderstanding means the way many health devices are developed and tested can exacerbate racial health inequities. 

more than a dozen tamales, wrapped in corn husks, sit inside a large metal pot

Nov 27, 2023

Don’t Make Loved Ones Barf: Holiday Food Safety Tips for Tamales

Tamales are a delicious holiday staple. Here are some tips to help you avoid foodborne illness when making them. 

four young adults of different racial backgrounds stand together wearing masks that cover their nose and mouth.

Nov 20, 2023

Why the COVID Pandemic Hit Non-White Americans the Hardest

There was a stark difference in the percentage of non-white Americans who died in the first year of the COVID pandemic compared to white Americans. A new book explains why. 

a small brick building with five wooden doors that open directly into a tidy, dirt courtyard.

Oct 31, 2023

Poop, Pee and Microbes: The Complicated Ecology of Pit Latrines

The findings are relevant for efforts to both improve public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with global climate change. 

photo shows a toddler's hands. the toddler is using crayons to color in a picture.

Oct 19, 2023

N.C. Needed a Plan to Help Homeless Kids. Now It Has One.

There are more than 30,000 homeless infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children in North Carolina. A new action plan aims to bridge the gap between these children and the services that can help them. 

on left part of image, a man's lower leg is shown, with the toes of his feet pointing down. There are sensors attached to his knee and calf. On the right, a robotic prosthetic lower leg is shown flexing in a pose identical to the man's leg. In the upper right hand corner, a graph shows an erratic line that moves up and down.

Oct 18, 2023

Robotic Prosthetic Ankles Improve ‘Natural’ Movement, Stability

Robotic prosthetic ankles that are controlled by nerve impulses allow amputees to move more “naturally,” improving their stability. 

photograph is an aerial view of a city neighborhood, with busy streets running on either side of a park. The park has many trees, and there are large apartment and office buildings in the background.

Oct 18, 2023

Greener Neighborhoods Can Protect Us – at the Cellular Level

A new study finds that greenspace in urban environments has a positive impact on a key genetic marker associated with exposure to stress. 

a blind man sits at a desk with a computer. he is wearing headphones and reading a book written in braille.

Sep 27, 2023

State COVID-19 Websites Fail to Meet Accessibility Standards

Some members of the public, such as individuals who are blind or visually impaired, are not able to access all of the relevant information on the sites.