A new book called How We Do It: The Evolution and Future of Human Reproduction explores the science of sex and childbirth. Read an excerpt.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that human genes are off-limits for patent protection. Read the full opinion, and a Q&A with a bioethics professor about the impact of the ruling on the medical community.

A new ad campaign is turning heads and raising eyebrows. We talk with the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health about this new effort to highlight teen pregnancy.

We spoke with Sara Schwarzbaum, professor in the family counseling department at Northeastern Illinois University and founder of Couples Counseling Associates in Chicago, to get her thoughts on the impact of the ad campaign featuring pregnant boys.

With a medical marijuana bill on the governor's desk, we hear more about what diseases it can treat and the chemistry behind how it works. 

Angelina Jolie sparks a national conversation about breast cancer treatment. We take a look at some options available for women.

The most sweeping provisions of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, kick in this fall. As states scramble to get ready, we tell you how Illinois is preparing, and what you need to know even if you have health insurance.

A food additive that has been used for decades is stirring up controversy. We talk with a Chicago researcher who is in the midst of clinical trials to uncover its potential hazards. Ash-har Quraishi has the story in tonight's Scientific Chicago.

Is there a secret to living longer and healthier? We talk with The Buck Institute for Research on Aging's CEO.

Federal authorities raid Sacred Heart Hospital, arresting four doctors and two executives for what authorities called a "far-reaching" Medicare and Medicaid kickback scheme that included unnecessary, invasive and deadly medical procedures. We have the latest.

We meet two families and the medical director at a burgeoning new clinic for kids questioning their gender at Lurie Children's Hospital.

Could the secret to good health and combating disease rest in the gut? We revisit Ash-har Quraishi's story about an unusual procedure that could provide some answers.

Is coaching new moms a cost-effective way to fight poverty? We delve into a program that's producing surprising results across Illinois.

Changing the way medicine targets cancer. Could doctors one day kill cancer cells without the use of drugs or chemotherapy? Ash-har Quraishi spotlights some promising research in tonight's edition of Scientific Chicago.

Elizabeth Brackett takes a look at gun violence through the lens of the public health system rather than the criminal justice system.

A barefoot runner makes the case for leaving your shoes at home – even in the winter.