April Fulton is a former editor with NPR's Science Desk and a contributor to Shots, NPR's health news series.
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews.
Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.
People who take on the Dry January challenge vow to go alcohol-free for the month. Iryna Imago/iStockphoto/Getty Images hide caption
Rachel Maryam Smith fell in love with the ethereal beauty of giant soap bubbles several years ago and began creating them at sunset events in Santa Cruz, Calif. When enjoying bubbles together, "there is a euphoric point I have observed my participants reach," she says. Carolyn Klein Lagattuta hide caption
A new study on anxiety in JAMA Psychiatry shows a mindfulness program works as well as the popular anti-anxiety medication Lexapro. FatCamera/Getty Images hide caption
Linda Munson's youngest grandson, Daniel Gomez, 2, tries on an Oculus headset in her yard in Berlin, Conn. Playing different virtual reality games has become her family's regular Sunday activity, Munson said. Yehyun Kim for NPR hide caption
Getting hurt is a risk of the physical activity we do to stay in shape, but research shows that the way you approach your injury can help you heal. Westend61/Getty Images hide caption
One neuroscientist finds that simply savoring a cup of tea as a daily morning ritual has helped her quell anxious thoughts in pandemic times. "It felt like I finally had a great excuse to just be present and enjoy the breeze and warmth of the bowl of tea and the reflections that I could see on the surface," she says. Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images hide caption
Food journalist Barry Estabrook talks with diet gurus and sifts through dieting history and the latest nutrition studies. He discovers that unfortunately, these diets don't really work in the long term for most people because they are too strict or require unnatural patterns of eating. Michele Abercrombie/NPR hide caption
When it comes to New Year's goal setting, mental health experts say 2021 is the year to try a calmer, gentler approach to health. Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images hide caption
Fishermen sell freshly caught seafood at the Saturday Fishermen's Market in Santa Barbara, Calif. When the pandemic began, fishermen watched their markets dry up overnight. Now, as well as public markets like this, some are selling to food assistance programs. April Fulton for NPR hide caption
Chris Marshall has organized pop-up Sans Bars in New York, Washington, D.C., and Anchorage, Alaska. And he has expanded into permanent spaces in Kansas City, Mo., and western Massachusetts. Julia Robinson for NPR hide caption
For people with a rare condition known as misophonia, certain sounds like slurping, chewing, tapping and clicking can elicit intense feelings of rage or panic. Photo illustration by Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption
Coconut oil's potential health benefits are outweighed by its heavy dose of saturated fat, most nutrition experts say. Saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Russ Rohde/Getty Images/Cultura RF hide caption
Psychologists find that cognitive processing therapy --a type of counseling that helps people learn to challenge and modify their beliefs related to a trauma — can be useful in healing the mental health problems some experience after a sexual assault. Hero Images/Getty Images hide caption
Sunscreens containing minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide reflect the sun's rays away from skin and are a good alternative to chemicals that could be harmful to ocean reefs. Photo illustration by Eslah Attar/NPR hide caption
Cutting back up to 25 percent of your calories per day helps slow your metabolism and reduce free radicals that cause cell damage and aging. But would you want to? VisualField/Getty Images hide caption
Bernard Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente, is optimistic about a bipartisan health bill. He cautions that partisanship will only lead to more insurance instability. Misha Friedman/Bloomberg/Getty Images hide caption
Tiny turtles are cute, but they can spread salmonella and make children very sick. susan.k./Getty Images hide caption
A quarter of Americans say they don't have enough time at work to do their jobs, and about half of them bring work home. Bjorn Rune Lie/Ikon Images/Getty Images hide caption
House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas (from left) and House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., answer questions about the American Health Care Act. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., spearheaded efforts to produce the GOP health care bill. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
