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August 31, 2011 In the last two decades, neonatal mortality rates have declined. But in eight countries, including five in Africa, the rates have climbed. Overall, 41 percent of deaths in kids under five now happen during the period soon after birth.

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August 16, 2011 India and many Southeast Asian cultures, people chew spice and nut packets wrapped in betel leaves called paan. But now the tradition is being threatened by chewing tobacco, raising health concerns. However, neither habit is actually very healthy.

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August 15, 2011 After a 19-year-old man died of rabies in New Orleans, doctors found that the virus was transmitted by a vampire bat. Rabies cases are rare in the U.S. with most cases caused by bites from plain old insect-eating bats.

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August 11, 2011 Researchers have found that the oft-maligned banana peel can grab heavy metals like copper and lead out of polluted water. Chopped-up peels performed as well or better than many other filtering materials like silica or carbon. This newly discovered banana talent has yet to be commercially developed.

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August 8, 2011 To measure addiction, cancer researchers can count how many cigarettes are smoked per day and how many years someone's been smoking. Now, researchers are interested in when people have their first cigarette — the earlier in the day, it seems, the greater the health risk.

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August 5, 2011 The most troubling aspect of the latest Salmonella outbreak, according to some food safety critics, is that the strain that's making people sick is resistant to several antibiotics. But contaminated meats can't be recalled until they actually cause illness.

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July 29, 2011 The United Nations says that the seven-billionth person will soon be born into this world — most likely in India, which is on track to overtake China as the most populous nation in just 16 years. Less-developed regions of the world will be responsible for nearly all the global population growth for the next four decades, while the richer nations' population growth looks to be flat.

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July 25, 2011 Death from chicken pox is exceedingly rare these days. But the one-dose vaccine doesn't provide lifelong protection from chicken pox, so public health experts now recommend two doses.

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July 20, 2011 For people who need to escape the heat wave blanketing much of the U.S. this week, some cities are offering the public access to cooling centers. Scorching heat is a deadlier weather risk than freezing cold or even tornadoes.

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July 14, 2011 Results from studies conducted in Africa confirm that drugs against HIV can reduce the risk of transmission of the virus between heterosexual partners. But where and with whom should the approach be used?

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June 16, 2011 Some 17 federal agencies are expected to be involved in executing a national prevention strategy. The plan would draw on a wide range of health workers, institutions, community-based organizations and government agencies for help.

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May 20, 2011 On the surface, cars seem more likely to collide with bikers than the other way around. But when Shots looked at data from the few states where it's available, cyclists seem almost as likely to cause accidents as motorists.

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April 28, 2011 Genetic studies have confirmed that some humans handling armadillo meat contracted a never-before-seen strain of the bacterium that causes leprosy. The armadillo is the only animal, besides humans, that is known to carry the bacterium.

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April 27, 2011 Gastric bypass surgery cures type 2 diabetes in up to 80 percent of patients. Now scientists are beginning to figure out why. And weight loss may be the least of it.

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April 26, 2011 Measuring height gives clues to the health of nations. Many aren't measuring up. A new study finds that in 14 African countries, women are shorter than in previous generations.

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