by Jasmine Ryu Won Kang | 2 Feb 2026 | Artificial Intelligence, Health and Wellness, Technology
You can get an appointment with an AI therapist 24/7 and talk through your problems on your own comfy couch. Any downsides to that? An AI therapist on a phone that resembles Sigmund Freud. (Illustration by News Decoder) This article was produced exclusively for News...
by Maggie Fox | 28 Jan 2026 | Decoder Replay, Health and Wellness, Science
Anti-vaxxers see a dark conspiracy around vaccines. But the reality is that for millions of people globally, vaccines are the life-saving miracle of science. A medical worker sticks a band-aid on the arm of a child. (Illustration by News Decoder) Editor’s note:...
by Georges Ki-Zerbo | 26 Jan 2026 | Africa, Health and Wellness, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
Tens of millions of people get life-saving treatment thanks to decades of U.S. government funds that have now evaporated. In Africa, this is a wake-up call. A plaque hangs outside a health clinic in Thaba-Tsoeu, Lesotho that acknowledges funding by “The American...
by Mahima Adey | 19 Jan 2026 | Health and Wellness, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
There’s vitamin D for bones, ginkgo biloba for memory, St. John’s wort for your mood, zinc for an immune boost. If it’s all natural, what’s the problem? Vitamin pills. (Photo by photoniko) In 2023, David Mitchener, 89, was admitted to a...
by Ramona-Blessing Mkunna | 9 Jan 2026 | Africa, African Leadership Academy, Contest winners, Health and Wellness, Student Posts, Youth Voices
Raising a child with autism carries special challenges. Confronting the ignorance of society shouldn’t be one of them. A Tanzanian flag set against the colorful jigsaw puzzle pieces that signify autism awareness. (Illustration by News Decoder) This article by...
by Angelica Recierdo | 6 Jan 2026 | Education, Health and Wellness, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
Many teachers find that students can’t learn if they are hungry or cold. But that often means providing food and clothing out of their own pockets. Children eat snacks in a classroom. (Illustration by News Decoder) Ashley teaches Spanish at a public high school...
by Natasha Yu Chia Hu | 29 Dec 2025 | Education, Health and Wellness, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
College students must pay for housing, books and course fees. For many, that leaves little extra for meals. Some campuses are working to fill that need. A college student considers buying food or books. (Illustration by News Decoder.) University systems have long been...
by Georges Ki-Zerbo | 22 Dec 2025 | Africa, Health and Wellness, United States, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
Contraception reduces mortality and can improve the lives of women. But the United States has pulled its global funding for maternal health programs. An almost-empty shelf, that once held contraceptives for patients, is seen at the Palala Clinic in Bong County,...
by Natasha Yu Chia Hu | 1 Dec 2025 | Education, Health and Wellness, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
Can schools entice young people to choose foods that are better for their health and the health of the planet? A woman serves lunch to a boy in a cafeteria. (Photo by pixelshot) In New York City, a surprising culinary shift is happening where few expect it: inside...
by Anderson Tuyizere | 20 Nov 2025 | Education, Health and Wellness, Kepler, Personal Reflections, Student Posts, Youth Voices
Bullies gain their power when people fear them. But sometimes our own inner strength is more powerful. A schoolgirl is bullied by classmates. Illustration by News Decoder. This article, by student Anderson Tuyizere, was produced out of News Decoder’s school...