by Haley Davis | 25 Feb 2026 | Health and Wellness, Indiana University, Media Literacy, Technology
Some think Big Tech is to blame for our inability to get off the social media that has left so many of us depressed. Why is it so hard to turn off the phone? Teenagers on their phones. (Illustration by News Decoder.) Editor’s note: This week Meta founder and CEO...
by Rihab Smati | 24 Feb 2026 | African Leadership Academy, Health and Wellness, Personal Reflections, Student Posts, Youth Voices
Shouting and screaming in anger pushes people away. When we take responsibility for our emotions, we can reach understanding and deepen our relationships. Two women in a discussion. (Photo by SDI Productions/Getty Images Signature) This article by student Rihab Smati...
by Haude Estefania Yapi | 23 Feb 2026 | Africa, African Leadership Academy, Health and Wellness, Student Posts, Youth Voices
With access to healthcare limited and expensive, many in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere turn to counterfeit drugs. A woman considers buying a bottle of medicine off a store shelf. (Photo by FatCamera/ Getty Images Signature) This article by student Haude Estefania Yapi...
by Maggie Fox | 16 Feb 2026 | Decoders, Health and Wellness, Science, World
Natural and herbal medicines are much cheaper than prescription pills. But whether they work and are safe is another story. A bottle of herbal medicine that promises to cure all ailments. (Illustration by News Decoder.) This article was produced exclusively for News...
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...