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It was one of the most revolutionary tools of biomedical research: the immortal HeLa cell line. But few people know the cells belonged to a poor Southern tobacco farmer named Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca Skloot spent years researching Lacks and tells her story in The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks.

President Obama's nominee to run the CIA has his confirmation hearing Thursday afternoon. The hearing of White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan comes as lawmakers are studying a memo on drone strikes overseas. Robert Siegel talks to Tom Gjelten.

People tend to relax as they get older, and most people sit more. Each extra hour of sitting increases the odds that they won't be able to get out of bed or do other daily activities.

Micro-gardens are small spaces, such as balconies, patios and rooftops, cultivated with planting containers like wooden boxes and trash cans. Now, creative reuse of old materials and some new tools for sale are making it easier for urban dwellers to stretch their green thumbs.

Kristen Johnson, also known as Lady Houdini, goes far beyond the role women usually play in escape acts. "It was important for me to be a strong example for young women in particular," she says.

The new mobile operating system's design acknowledges that we no longer need physical analogs — like a camera shutter or old-timey microphone — to describe an app's function.

Discovered in Montana in 1988, the Wankel T. Rex is a prize find — a nearly complete skeleton, now bound for display at the Smithsonian, in Washington, D.C. But first, those old bones need some work.

The Affordable Care Act created insurance subsidies that are under legal challenge. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in 2015 and could rule against a key provision of the law.

The number of tuberculosis cases is far higher than previously thought. And Ebola is making some patients stay away from hospitals. Yet the mortality rate is dropping.

Detox diets are a hot trend, but scientists say there's really no evidence that they are necessary or helpful. One strategy that does make sense: Cut back on sugar. We tell you why.