news explainers

An outbreak of measles in Texas has infected 124 people so far — 18 of whom have subsequently been hospitalized and one who has died.

Nearly 119,000 birds have been culled at a farm in California after a bird flu called H5N9 was detected among the poultry.

DeepSeek's V3 and R1 models took the world by storm this week. Here's why they're such a big deal.

A nasal spray that contains esketamine — a potent derivative of ketamine — can now be taken on its own to treat adults with severe depression, the FDA says. Here's what that means.

The FDA has given marketing authorization to Zyn nicotine pouches. That doesn't necessarily mean they're safe to use, especially for young people, and experts say there's little evidence that they help adults quit smoking.

Fluoride is added to tap water in many countries around the world. But why?

An initially "unknown" illness affecting hundreds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may be attributable to malaria, malnutrition and a viral infection. But investigations are ongoing.

The updated version of the World Magnetic Model was released on Dec. 17, with a new prediction of how the magnetic north pole will shift over the next five years. Here's why it was changed.

The vast majority of human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. have resulted from direct contact with animals, so a few simple precautions can keep most people's risk very low.

With record-high Mediterranean temperatures and a year's worth of rain falling in mere hours, Spain has been devastated by the weather phenomenon known as DANA.