Cancer mortality rate drops by one-third due to better screenings and behavioral changes

Published January 19, 2023 at 1:52 PM EST

A new report from the American Cancer Society has found that the U.S. cancer mortality rate has fallen by one-third since 1991. But this isn’t a result of medical breakthroughs — it is in large part due to behavioral changes, such as less people smoking due to public health campaigns and policy changes — and better treatment for late-stage cancers as well as improved screening.

Here & Now host Deepa Fernandes speaks with Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, about this surprising news.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Orcas are hunting whale sharks, the largest fish species on Earth

Lauren Sommer

A new study reveals how a group of killer whales is able to hunt whale sharks, adding to a growing body of research showing how the whales use intelligence and coordination in impressive ways.
Advocates renew a push for states to enact voting protections

Hansi Lo Wang

With efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act unlikely under Republican control of the new Congress, advocates are refocusing on state protections against racial discrimination in elections.
How crocodiles get their scale patterns (Hint: It's unlike other animals)

Jonathan Lambert

Many animals get their external marking--like, feathers, hair or scales-from genetics. But it turns out, the crocodile gets its head patterns differently.