Freakonomics, M.D.

In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature?s trash is another?s cash.  (Or, how one man found profit in pee.)

A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show.

Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show.

Doctors and nurses get most of the attention ? but a new study suggests we can improve health care by raising wages for a group of workers who are often overlooked.

In hospitals, a softer pillow or a nicer room might be more than just amenities ? they could improve outcomes for patients.

Americans eat a lot of sugar ? and it?s hard to determine how it affects our health. Bapu explains how a new study uses data from the 1950s to help solve the mystery.

 It?s not a new question, but it?s a tricky one to study. Bapu explains why, and talks about how an N.F.L. labor dispute helped him get some answers. 

The most expensive drugs in the world are treatments for genetic diseases. And more of these cures are on the horizon. How will anyone be able to afford them?

Breakthroughs in biotech that seem like science fiction are becoming reality. Why aren?t more patients benefiting from them?

mRNA vaccines helped bring the pandemic under control. Could they also train the immune system to fight cancer?

Success and failure are hard to measure in medicine. Bapu looks at how surgeons are judged after a bad outcome ? and whether men and women are treated the same.

We take it for granted that, when people are acutely ill, they should be in the hospital. Is there a better way?

Figuring out which patients to hospitalize and which to safely send home can be tricky. Is there a way to make this decision easier for doctors ? and get better outcomes, too?

A small number of patients with multiple chronic conditions use a lot of resources. Dr. Jeffrey Brenner found a way to identify and treat them. Could it reduce health-care spending too?

Bapu tries to stump master clinician Dr. Gurpreet Dhaliwal with a medical mystery. 

It?s a surprisingly hard question to answer. Bapu talks with a health economist about a natural experiment that led to some unexpected findings. 

At the start of the 20th century, there weren?t many hospitals in the U.S. That changed in 1918, thanks to the Great Influenza pandemic. Its effects on health care are still being felt today. Which makes us wonder: will the impact of Covid-19 also be felt 100 years from now?

Half the world's population uses social media ? and a new study suggests that it causes anxiety and depression. Can anything be done, or is it too late?

Some diagnostic tests give distorted results for Black patients. How are doctors trying to change that?

Promising drugs keep failing in trials. Allegations of fraud have cast a shadow over the field. An expert explains why Alzheimer?s treatments have been so hard to find ? and why one clue may lie in the Andes Mountains.

Bapu talks to White House Covid Czar Dr. Ashish Jha about becoming a household name, studying pandemics, and the frustrations of politics. Also, when will he be out of a job?

Colonoscopy is strongly recommended for Americans over 45. But a new study suggests its benefits have been overstated. Should we change how we screen for colorectal cancer?

Chances are, at some point you?ll be treated by a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant instead of a doctor. Will your care suffer? 

Time is precious. How can doctors and patients make the best use of it ? especially when there isn?t much left? 

Can a clever new study shed light on one of parenting?s most elusive and contentious questions? 

Antibiotics save lives. But what happens when we use them too much? Bapu looks at how changing physician behavior could help prevent a major public health disaster.

Incarceration has been linked to infectious diseases, mental illness, cancer, and violence. But new research suggests it can extend some people?s lifespans. Bapu investigates the paradox of prison time.

Behavioral economists say ?regret lotteries? are powerful motivational tools. When Philadelphia tried one in 2021, the results were disappointing. Bapu looks at how incentives can backfire ? and what we can learn from failures.

When COVID hit, telemedicine use in the U.S. exploded. But how are we using it now? Bapu Jena explores the consequences of this evolving technology.

After the Supreme Court?s abortion decision, doctors in some states are concerned that delivering treatment could put them in legal jeopardy. Bapu Jena looks at how the practice of ?defensive medicine? can compromise patient care. 

Medical tests can save lives. So how do doctors decide who gets tested, and when?

When researchers analyzed which day of the week most F.D.A. drug-safety alerts are released ? and what it means for public health ? they were stunned. So, what can we do about the ?Friday Effect??

A small number of patients with multiple, chronic conditions use a lot of resources. Dr. Jeffrey Brenner found a way to identify and treat them. Could it reduce health care spending too?

When a hospital closes in a rural area, it?s a big deal. But are all patients affected equally? We look at new research on the unexpected outcomes of traveling farther for care.

Promising drugs keep failing in trials. Allegations of fraud have cast a shadow over the field. An expert explains why Alzheimer?s treatments have been so hard to find ? and why one clue may lie in the Andes Mountains.

Beyond the immediate casualties, school shootings have costs ? for survivors, and for the rest of us.

Hospitals compete for prime spots on the U.S. News rankings ? but could those lists be doing more harm than good? 

Our cognitive health can change as we get older. So, does leaving the workforce make problems like memory loss and difficulty focusing worse? We investigate the research, and Bapu asks: is it time for his dad to retire?

Chronic fatigue syndrome looks remarkably similar to Long Covid, but has been ignored by the medical community. Could patients finally get some answers to their debilitating illness?

Learning requires practice ? and if you visit a teaching hospital in July, there?s a good chance your doctor hasn?t had much of it. So, will your care suffer? The dean of a medical school, an economist, and a hospital administrator help Bapu Jena find out.

Can you diagnose cancer too early? Do in-flight medical emergencies vary by location? We asked you to send Bapu your questions, and this week he tries to answer them. We?d love to get to the bottom of even more topics. Send your voice memos to [email protected]

Dr. Will Flanary, a.k.a Dr. Glaucomflecken, has always been a comedy fan. During the pandemic, he found an audience. But should doctors be funny with their patients? Bapu Jena asks when laughter is ? and isn?t ? the best medicine.

When a doctor?s shift ends, or a physician retires, are patients left in the lurch? Bapu Jena looks at the challenge of managing medical transitions. 

You?ve heard that the weather can make your joints hurt. Maybe you?ve even felt it yourself. But, is it true? Bapu Jena looks at why we think we know certain things in medicine, even when the data don?t agree.

The world is warmer than ever, and getting hotter. Bapu Jena looks at how heat affects our bodies and our behavior ? and how we might adapt to rising temperatures.

For Black men, the barbershop is a neighborhood hub. It could also be a place for them to get medical care. Plus: What happens to patients when affirmative action ends?

Bapu Jena talks with Albert Bourla about his unusual path to the top, developing a life-saving vaccine in record time, and the second-hardest decision he made along the way.

Fear is a popular tool in public health campaigns. But is it an effective one? Bapu Jena discusses new research on whether we can ? and should ? scare people into being healthier.

Distractions are everywhere ? including in the operating room. So, what happens if a surgeon loses focus? A tap dancer, a health researcher, and a surgeon help Bapu Jena find out.

For lots of things, price is an indicator of quality. But what about in health care? Bapu Jena gets some clues from Steve Levitt?s wine tasting experiment, and looks at why shopping for health care is so hard.