What are all the ways people can vote?
Nerdy Nexus Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
A: In-person, by mail, and absentee. Once you are registered, there are several options for voting. See below for information on these options, and make sure to check deadlines in your state for each one. In-person voting: On election day, November 3rd, you can vote in-person. To find your polling location, visit https://www.nass.org/can-i-vote/find-your-polling-place. The hours Read more…
Why is my skin getting dark spots, and what can I do about them?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Hyperpigmentation is a common cause of darkened skin spots. Hormone changes, inflammation, and even some medications can trigger it, but a common culprit is sun exposure, especially in people with melanin-rich skin. Regular use of sun protection, including a broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen, is the best way to prevent hyperpigmentation. Your clinician can also recommend treatments Read more…
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more? Salmonella is a bacterium that can contaminate food and cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Keep an eye on food recalls, and follow a few steps to reduce your risk of getting sick. You might have heard about the recent Salmonella outbreak that led to Read more…
Vote! Your voice deserves to be heard.
Nerdy Nexus Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
Those Nerdy Girls wants everyone to be able to participate in our democracy by voting. Your voice deserves to be heard. Remember that in tight races, just a few votes can make a big difference. One of those votes could be yours. Although it is too late to register in some states, there are plenty Read more…
Why is the plague trending on some social media sites?
Hot Health Topics Infection and Spread Infectious Diseases
The case of a Russian laboratory worker who died from pneumonia of unknown origin has been widely reported in the media because she worked in a lab that studies the plague. There are many factors we don’t know about yet, but the risk for anyone who hasn’t been in contact with her is low. What Read more…
On October 11th, we celebrated International Day of the Girl!
Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are Dense Breasts?
Reproductive Health
Katherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Cynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
A: In-person, by mail, and absentee. Once you are registered, there are several options for voting. See below for information on these options, and make sure to check deadlines in your state for each one. In-person voting: On election day, November 3rd, you can vote in-person. To find your polling location, visit https://www.nass.org/can-i-vote/find-your-polling-place. The hours Read more…
Why is my skin getting dark spots, and what can I do about them?
General HealthDaphne Berryhill, RPh
Hyperpigmentation is a common cause of darkened skin spots. Hormone changes, inflammation, and even some medications can trigger it, but a common culprit is sun exposure, especially in people with melanin-rich skin. Regular use of sun protection, including a broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen, is the best way to prevent hyperpigmentation. Your clinician can also recommend treatments Read more…
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more? Salmonella is a bacterium that can contaminate food and cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Keep an eye on food recalls, and follow a few steps to reduce your risk of getting sick. You might have heard about the recent Salmonella outbreak that led to Read more…
Vote! Your voice deserves to be heard.
Nerdy Nexus Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
Those Nerdy Girls wants everyone to be able to participate in our democracy by voting. Your voice deserves to be heard. Remember that in tight races, just a few votes can make a big difference. One of those votes could be yours. Although it is too late to register in some states, there are plenty Read more…
Why is the plague trending on some social media sites?
Hot Health Topics Infection and Spread Infectious Diseases
The case of a Russian laboratory worker who died from pneumonia of unknown origin has been widely reported in the media because she worked in a lab that studies the plague. There are many factors we don’t know about yet, but the risk for anyone who hasn’t been in contact with her is low. What Read more…
On October 11th, we celebrated International Day of the Girl!
Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are Dense Breasts?
Reproductive Health
Katherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Cynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Hyperpigmentation is a common cause of darkened skin spots. Hormone changes, inflammation, and even some medications can trigger it, but a common culprit is sun exposure, especially in people with melanin-rich skin. Regular use of sun protection, including a broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen, is the best way to prevent hyperpigmentation. Your clinician can also recommend treatments Read more…
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more?
Families/Kids Infectious DiseasesRebecca Raskin-Wish
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more? Salmonella is a bacterium that can contaminate food and cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Keep an eye on food recalls, and follow a few steps to reduce your risk of getting sick. You might have heard about the recent Salmonella outbreak that led to Read more…
Vote! Your voice deserves to be heard.
Nerdy Nexus Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
Those Nerdy Girls wants everyone to be able to participate in our democracy by voting. Your voice deserves to be heard. Remember that in tight races, just a few votes can make a big difference. One of those votes could be yours. Although it is too late to register in some states, there are plenty Read more…
Why is the plague trending on some social media sites?
Hot Health Topics Infection and Spread Infectious Diseases
The case of a Russian laboratory worker who died from pneumonia of unknown origin has been widely reported in the media because she worked in a lab that studies the plague. There are many factors we don’t know about yet, but the risk for anyone who hasn’t been in contact with her is low. What Read more…
On October 11th, we celebrated International Day of the Girl!
Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are Dense Breasts?
Reproductive Health
Katherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Cynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Can you tell me more? Salmonella is a bacterium that can contaminate food and cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Keep an eye on food recalls, and follow a few steps to reduce your risk of getting sick. You might have heard about the recent Salmonella outbreak that led to Read more…
Vote! Your voice deserves to be heard.
Nerdy Nexus Social and Racial JusticeThose Nerdy Girls
Those Nerdy Girls wants everyone to be able to participate in our democracy by voting. Your voice deserves to be heard. Remember that in tight races, just a few votes can make a big difference. One of those votes could be yours. Although it is too late to register in some states, there are plenty Read more…
Why is the plague trending on some social media sites?
Hot Health Topics Infection and Spread Infectious Diseases
The case of a Russian laboratory worker who died from pneumonia of unknown origin has been widely reported in the media because she worked in a lab that studies the plague. There are many factors we don’t know about yet, but the risk for anyone who hasn’t been in contact with her is low. What Read more…
On October 11th, we celebrated International Day of the Girl!
Social and Racial Justice
Those Nerdy Girls
This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are Dense Breasts?
Reproductive Health
Katherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Cynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Those Nerdy Girls wants everyone to be able to participate in our democracy by voting. Your voice deserves to be heard. Remember that in tight races, just a few votes can make a big difference. One of those votes could be yours. Although it is too late to register in some states, there are plenty Read more…
Why is the plague trending on some social media sites?
Hot Health Topics Infection and Spread Infectious Diseases
The case of a Russian laboratory worker who died from pneumonia of unknown origin has been widely reported in the media because she worked in a lab that studies the plague. There are many factors we don’t know about yet, but the risk for anyone who hasn’t been in contact with her is low. What Read more…
On October 11th, we celebrated International Day of the Girl!
Social and Racial JusticeThose Nerdy Girls
This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are Dense Breasts?
Reproductive Health
Katherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Cynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What are Dense Breasts?
Reproductive HealthKatherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious Diseases
Cynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
A: We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue. I think of this like the Read more…
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Families/Kids Infectious DiseasesCynthia (Cindy) Leifer, PhD
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationKristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws. At their root, many are oversimplifications–like a cognitive shortcut. They are appealing because Read more…
What is an eating disorder?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious Diseases
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Vaccines
Sandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
What is an eating disorder? Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical health. Up Read more…
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Infectious DiseasesMeasles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. So how bad is it? Where are we on numbers? Let’s take a look: Note – we use data from the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While Read more…
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
VaccinesSandy Laping, MSc
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Why do we know so little about migraines?
General HealthSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
Gaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Despite affecting at least 12% of the US population, our understanding of migraines is limited due to a combination of difficulties with diagnosis, an extremely complex genetic picture, and the historic lack of investment in studying conditions that primarily affect women. On August 31, 2026, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental HealthGaylen Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental Health
Kelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death from suicide*. If Read more…
Why do I still feel grief months or years later?
Mental HealthKelly Valentin, MPH
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/Kids
Pamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Grief doesn’t always act the way we may expect it to in ourselves or others. It can change, surprise us, and feel different from one day to the next. Turns out, there is a reason. We know the loss happened months or maybe even years ago. Most of the time, we’re okay. We’ve returned to Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day.
Families/KidsPamela Chung, MD
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
September 16th is National Working Parents Day. Are you juggling work and family responsibilities? Do you get overwhelmed with trying to do it all and do it well? First, let us honor and validate our struggles and suffering while recognizing that our systems are not set up to support us in “doing it all” well. Read more…
What are newborn screenings?
Families/Kids General HealthRebecca Raskin-Wish
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain three parts: a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels, and a blood test to check for metabolic conditions. These tests help Read more…
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
Mental HealthThose Nerdy Girls
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive Health
Guest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared. Grief is the process of Read more…
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Reproductive HealthGuest Author Lyra Cauley
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Vaccines
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
Another post in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse I got my first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) the summer before senior year of college. I was 22 and facing a laundry list of health related tasks before leaving for the fall. The pap smear, at the top of my list, was Read more…
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
VaccinesYes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines for the 2026/2027 season. Let’s break it down: They are Moderna’s Read more…
