Just how easy is it to get sick on a plane? Researchers from Emory University decided to find out, and to identify the factors that determined whether passengers exited the plane with or without an infection. Their findings are surprising, with one big influencer being the seat you were assigned.

Newer tests can substantially speed up the determination of the causative pathogens in outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. However, because they don't provide all the detail of older culturing methods, they could make it more difficult for clear epidemiological results. A combination of methods is likely the best way to go.

The coverage of the Uber-caused fatality in Arizona continues to mislead us about our autonomous future. And since aircraft's history of automation can tell us about the likely path forward, why aren't we listening?

The FDA's new comprehensive, two-year study tells us what we already knew: BPA, a chemical long-used to make certain types of plastics, poses no human risk. Yet, some members of JAMA, presumably one of the world's most respected medical journals, refuse to accept the science. And if that's not bad enough, the refusal wasn't written by a scientist, but by an English major.
 

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Considered a win for free-range parenting, a new Utah law that goes into effect in May modifies the definition of child neglect. It allows kids "of sufficient age and maturity ... to engage in independent activities.” But what does it mean that such an action had to be taken in the first place?

Congress is considering changes to the privacy of our health data, specifically, our medical histories involving drug abuse and rehabilitation. Why are they treated differently? And should we change the rules? Balancing confidentiality with a physician's need to know is not always a simple decision.

The ratio of tuberculosis cases comparing immigrants to native-born Americans is more than 2:1. Standardizing these numbers paints an even starker picture. The incidence of tuberculosis is almost 15 per 100,000 immigrants, while it is only 1 per 100,000 native-born Americans. The good news is that tuberculosis is curable, and the disease is in decline all over the world.

A father was not permitted to board a Frontier flight with his 4-day-old infant because the airline’s policy insists on a newborn being at least 7 days old. Is such a policy sensible or not?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force just recommended that all light-skinned children beginning at the age of six months receive skin-cancer prevention guidance. That's a stark shift from its 2012 recommendations when the panel advised this training start at age 10.