
Christopher Wanjek
Christopher Wanjek is a Live Science contributor and a health and science writer. He is the author of three science books: Spacefarers (2020), Food at Work (2005) and Bad Medicine (2003). His "Food at Work" book and project, concerning workers' health, safety and productivity, was commissioned by the U.N.'s International Labor Organization. For Live Science, Christopher covers public health, nutrition and biology, and he has written extensively for The Washington Post and Sky & Telescope among others, as well as for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he was a senior writer. Christopher holds a Master of Health degree from Harvard School of Public Health and a degree in journalism from Temple University.
Latest articles by Christopher Wanjek

New Drug Could Treat Low Testosterone with Fewer Side Effects
By Christopher Wanjek published
Men with low testosterone could one day be treated with a drug called enclomiphene citrate, which is similar to the drug clomid that is used in women undergoing IVF .

A Common Link Among Female Criminals: Brain Injury
By Christopher Wanjek published
A high percentage of women in prison have a history of a traumatic brain injury, a new study finds.

Turn Off to Tuck In: 5 Sleep Tips for Gadget Junkies
By Christopher Wanjek published
Our mobile devices may make getting good sleep particularly challenging. Here are some sleep tips from experts.

Cancer-Fighting Diet: 6 Tips to Reduce Your Risk
By Christopher Wanjek published
Here are six science-supported tips for eating healthy to reduce your risk of cancer.

Broccoli Brew Eases Air Pollution Effect, But Is This Detox?
By Christopher Wanjek published
A broccoli concoction showed promise in a recent study in fighting one harmful effect of air pollution, but that doesn't mean that broccoli can "detox" the body.

Learning a New Language at Any Age Helps the Brain
By Christopher Wanjek published
Learning a second language -- whether during infancy, childhood or the teen years -- may improve a person's thinking skills, a new study suggests.

If Aired, Tobacco Truths Would Help Smokers Quit, Study Finds
By Christopher Wanjek published
True statements about what smoking cigarettes can do to your health actually come as a surprise to many smokers, a new study suggests.

Deadly Heart Disease May Hitch a Ride on Dust Storms
By Christopher Wanjek published
A mysterious and sometimes deadly childhood heart disease called Kawasaki disease may be caused by an airborne fungus, new research suggests.

Too Much Iron from Meat May Raise Heart Risks
By Christopher Wanjek published
The iron in red meat may raise your risk for heart disease, but iron in vegetables seems to have no ill effect, a new study says.

Big, Fat 'F': US Children Fail at Physical Activity
By Christopher Wanjek published
Only 13 percent of kids now walk or bike to get where they're going, and 54 percent spend more time than recommended in front of a TV or computer screen, a new report says.

Improve the Food, Not Just the Food Label (Op-Ed)
By Christopher Wanjek published
A recent proposal aims to change the information we see on food labels. But what's really needed is an improvement to the quality of the food, not just the food labels.

The Poop on Pooping: 5 Misconceptions Explained
By Christopher Wanjek published
Countdown You may think you know your stuff when it comes to pooping and your health, but misconceptions are common. Here's the truth about poop and your health.

Vicious Cycle of Weight Gain, Inactivity Causes Obesity
By Christopher Wanjek published
People who are obese spend less than 1 minute per day doing vigorous physical activity, a new study finds.

Vegetarian Diets Lower Blood Pressure Best
By Christopher Wanjek published
People who eat a vegetarian diet tend to have healthier blood pressure levels than those who don't, according to new research.

Stress Causes Headaches, Scientists Confirm
By Christopher Wanjek published
Stress is linked with headaches, according to a new study that finds that people with more stress in their lives tend to suffer more frequent and more intense headaches.

Chronic Infections Linked with Memory Problems Later in Life
By Christopher Wanjek published
People with chronic viral or bacterial infections may face an increased risk of thinking and memory problems later in life, according to a new study.

Devastating Plague Strains Arose Twice, Could Return
By Christopher Wanjek published

Genome of the Blood-Sucking Hookworm Decoded
By Christopher Wanjek published

Best US States for Child Kidney Transplants Revealed
By Christopher Wanjek published
For children who need a donated kidney, wait times vary greatly depending on which state they live in, a new study finds.

Oh, Never Mind: Top 5 Retracted Science Studies of 2013
By Christopher Wanjek published

Brains Hardwired to Accept Celebrity Health Advice
By Christopher Wanjek published
The human brain may be hardwired to trust the health advice that celebrities dole out, researchers say.
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