Sam and John Fetters, 19, are identical twins on different ends of the autism spectrum. Sam is a sophomore at Amherst College and runs marathons in his free time. John attends a school for people with special needs and loves to watch Sesame Street in his free time. Identical twins like Sam and John pose an important question for scientists: How can a disorder that is known to be highly genetic look so different in siblings who share the same genome? Check out more of NPR's series on the Science of Siblings. More science questions? Email us at shortwave@npr.org ..read more

Scientists have imaged a tiny fragment of brain in unprecedented detail, showing detailed connections between individual neurons. The method could help researchers better understand brain circuits ..read more

Millions of new parents in the U.S. are swamped by medical debt during and after pregnancy, forcing many to cut back on food, clothing, and other essentials ..read more

A new analysis shows that students graduating from U.S. medical schools were less likely to apply this year for residencies across specialties in states with restrictions on abortion. (Image credit: Jeff Gritchen ..read more

Expert guidance on the realities of pregnancy and new motherhood from Life Kit. Find episodes on the menstrual cycle, egg freezing, postpartum depression and more ..read more

New medications like Wegovy are changing the way people lose weight and manage obesity, but many Medicaid beneficiaries can't get them. (Image credit: Scott Olson ..read more

Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia was diagnosed last year with rare disease that makes it hard to speak. She still advocated for a bill renaming a post office in her district – and the House passed it ..read more

The CDC announced stricter regulations for importing dogs from abroad — or traveling internationally with your furry companions. (Image credit: mauinow1 ..read more

New research documents how many children lost a parent to an opioid or other overdose in the period from 2011 to 2021. Bereaved children face elevated risks to their physical and emotional health. (Image credit: Andrew Lichtenstein ..read more

In a recording, the group's leader declared: "We will flog the women ... we will stone them to death in public [for crimes]." What does Islamic law say on the matter? And have stonings taken place? (Image credit: Wakil Kohsar ..read more