Grace O’Connor — Health & Science Editor 
Twenty-five years after the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, a leading forensic search adviser has identified an abandoned racetrack near Barrow Creek as the most probable burial site. Despite a final police attempt to secure a confession before his 2025 death, murderer Bradley John Murdoch never revealed the location of the remains. A … Read more
Understanding Pertussis: An Endemic Respiratory Threat Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. As an endemic illness in the United States, the disease experiences periodic peaks in reported cases every few years. The bacteria specifically target the cilia lining the upper respiratory system, where … Read more
Microbiota Dysbiosis and the Pathogenesis of Disease The human gastrointestinal tract serves as a host to a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiota. While these communities are essential for maintaining immunological, hormonal, and metabolic homeostasis, emerging research highlights that an imbalance in this ecosystem—a state known as dysbiosis—can disrupt … Read more
FDA Advisory Committee to Address Compounding of Peptides Amid Market Surge An FDA advisory committee is scheduled to meet on July 23rd and 24th in White Oak, Maryland, to determine whether a specific group of peptides should be legally permitted for production by compounding pharmacies. This regulatory review comes as the use of various peptides—such … Read more
Nikola Golem, 51, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday for the manslaughter of his stepfather, Tomislav Nemes. Golem kept the 69-year-old’s death a secret for 14 months, forcing his mother to live in the home with the decomposing remains until police discovered the scene in April 2023. Manslaughter Sentence and Parole Eligibility … Read more
Stanford Medicine researchers have identified that tissue-resident macrophages lose their ability to clear senescent, or “zombie,” neutrophils due to the buildup of an inflammatory receptor called EP2. By blocking this receptor in mice, scientists successfully reversed age-related organ decline and restored youthful physical performance, offering a potential path toward new human therapies. Research led by … Read more
Essential newborn care is a fundamental right that involves protecting infants from infection and injury while ensuring they can breathe, remain warm, and receive proper nutrition. Core Standards for Essential Newborn Care This framework emphasizes that high-quality, universal health care is a right for all newborns, regardless of their location. The care process is divided … Read more
Maryland Department of the Environment Issues Code Red for July 17 As Canadian wildfire smoke blankets the Mid-Atlantic this week, the Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a Code Red air quality alert for Friday, July 17, 2026. Health experts warn that the fine particulate matter poses significant risks to all residents, advising that … Read more
Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder Beyond Winter While Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is most commonly associated with the darker, colder days of winter, it is a serious medical condition that can also manifest during the summer months. Although summer SAD is less common than its winter counterpart, it can be just as debilitating, ranging from milder … Read more
Researchers have successfully used human iPS cells to create a lab-based model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), revealing that SGLT2 inhibitors improve heart function by restoring the eNOS-NO-cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Separately, clinical data indicates these drugs significantly reduce cardiac stress markers in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Modeling Heart Failure with Human … Read more