The New Yorker

- Pumping Irony -

PUMPING IRONY: A Big Pain

By Craig Cox

I tweaked my back recently, so I've been taking it easy. Most folks would head to the doctor for some pain meds. Here's why that's a big problem.

- Environmental Health -

Dirt, Germs, and Other Friendly Filth

By Mary Ruebush PhD

For decades, we’ve been a culture obsessed with avoiding germs, convinced that getting dirty is dangerous. But some health professionals insist that exposure to a range of bacteria is not only safe, it’s essential to human health and immunity.