What's going on: South Carolina just hit a grim milestone: It now has the largest measles outbreak in the US since the disease was declared eliminated more than 20 years ago. Cases in the state first appeared in October and have surged past 600 this year alone, with no deaths reported, according to health officials. The outbreak centers on Spartanburg County, where vaccination rates have fallen below the level typically needed to stop the spread. The majority of cases are among children who lack both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine — a pattern experts blame on vaccine opt-outs, limited health care access, and years of misinformation. Unlike last year's outbreak in rural West Texas, South Carolina's denser population raises the risk of sustained transmission, with linked cases already reported in North Carolina, Washington, and California.
What it means: This outbreak puts a spotlight on whether the US can still contain measles, especially as confidence in vaccines has weakened under the Trump administration. In April, the Pan American Health Organization will review US data to decide whether the country will lose its measles elimination status. A change won't affect how outbreaks are handled per the CDC, but it does signal that outbreaks are no longer isolated or short-lived. Measles is wildly contagious. Droplets hang in the air for hours, and you can spread it four days before (and after) you even see a rash. Vaccination remains the most effective defense: Two doses of the MMR vaccine protect about 97% of people for life. And as cases rise, that protection can help limit hospital strain and preserve resources for other public health priorities.
🗞️ Don Lemon is ready to face off with the Trump administration after his arrest.
Health
What Really Shapes How Long You'll Live?
What's going on: Your genes may have already penciled in your lifespan — and all the green juice you guzzle might matter less than you hoped. A new study published in Science says your DNA plays a much bigger role in how long you live than previously thought. Researchers dug into data from siblings of centenarians, and after accounting for accidents and infections, landed on a number: Genes may account for more than 50% of the differences in people's lifespan — way higher than earlier estimates of 25% or less. Study co-author Uri Alon, PhD, says earlier research underestimated genetics because it included people who died young from causes unrelated to aging.
What it means: Genes appear to set the range, while lifestyle decides where you fall inside it. Alon estimates that habits — good or bad — move the needle by about five years in either direction. Translation: If your DNA says you're hitting 80, peak wellness might get you to 85 while poor choices could knock you down to 75. Curious about your odds of hitting 100? Experts say your family tree offers better clues than your supplement drawer. Consider this your permission to ease up on biohacking and an excuse to blame your family in the name of science.
What's going on: If your social life is thriving in adulthood, it might not just be because of your sparkling personality — your parents may deserve some credit. A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children who felt connected to and nurtured by their parents during adolescence carried those benefits into adulthood. Researchers followed more than 7,000 people for two decades and asked them, as teens, how much fun they had with their families (clipboard parents or Bluey-level parents?) and if they felt understood (or treated their room like a My So-Called Life reboot), among other metrics. The results stood out: Teens who ranked high on family connection were twice as likely to report strong social ties as adults, such as having three or more close friends or socializing at least once a week.
What it means: Choosing solitude will always remain a personal call, but this research suggests adult social lives can also reflect how people grew up. And since loneliness and isolation have been known to wreak physical havoc on our bodies, maximizing the potential for social success is crucial. Connecting with teens (the same ones who address you as "bruh" and remind you daily how supremely uncool you are) takes effort, patience, and a thick skin. Experts advise parents to stay consistent, get creative and keep expectations low (be chill, boomer). Their future social health may literally depend on it — even if they never admit it.
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Know It All
What are some people adding to their coffee for a boost of flavor and nutritional value?
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Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Stephanie Gallman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.
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