During measles outbreaks, authorities debate whether deaths should be counted as caused "by" or only occurring "with" measles, echoing pandemic-era COVID discussions. Death certificates use a causal chain approach where the underlying initiating condition is listed as the cause, regardless of the immediate mechanism like cardiac arrest, allowing infections to be properly attributed even when complications occur.
A poem rejecting harsh moral systems and self-punishment in favor of accepting bodily desires and finding belonging in the natural world. Through imagery of wild geese and the moving landscape, it offers solidarity through shared despair and frames nature as an inclusive family that cannot reject you.
A personal reflection on Warren Zevon's 2002 appearance on The Late Show, where the terminally ill musician told David Letterman to "enjoy every sandwich." The author recounts how this phrase has resonated over decades, especially during a recent airport layover, ultimately interpreting it not as finding joy in every moment but as being present and aware of one's own existence.
Scientists project a 'Super El Niño' will push global temperatures 1.2°C above normal through spring 2027, resulting in approximately 451,000 heat-related deaths in the first nine months, with 239,000 deaths expected in the next six months alone. The Global South, particularly the Sahel region and Southeast Asia, will face the heaviest toll, with Nigeria, Sudan, Indonesia, and India among the most impacted countries.
Climate scientists project over 450,000 additional deaths from extreme heat in the next six months due to a record-breaking El Niño event. The impacts will be felt globally, particularly in tropical nations like Nigeria, Indonesia, India, and Brazil, with deaths driven by heat, droughts, wildfires, and flooding. Researchers emphasize that targeted interventions like cooling centers and better forecasting could save many lives during this period.
Brian Doyle's essay "Joyas Voladoras" contemplates the hummingbird's extraordinary physiology—its pencil-eraser-sized heart beating ten times per second—and contrasts it with the blue whale's seven-ton heart. The piece explores how all creatures have roughly two billion heartbeats to spend in a lifetime, spending them slowly like a tortoise or fast like a hummingbird, reflecting on the price of metabolic ambition and the mysterious lives of Earth's most extreme creatures.
Malaria causes severe, debilitating symptoms and kills over 600,000 people annually, mostly children. In parts of Africa, children under five experience up to six infections per year, creating a cycle of repeated suffering that bed net donations help prevent.
A parent reflects on how many times their one-year-old son will see his grandparents based on life expectancy tables. Using U.S. Social Security mortality data, the author calculates roughly 148 remaining visits with his 72-year-old father and 259 with his 63-year-old mother at their current monthly visit rate, emphasizing that these are statistical averages, not guarantees.