Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Mike from Stranger Things is sitting at the dinner table, drinking a glass of milk. The milk is going all over his face. Text reads: Vitamin D Fortified Milk: Demogorgons could probably use some vitamin D–fortified milk, seeing as they don’t get much sun in the Upside Down. Vitamin D–fortified milk supports strong bones by enhancing calcium absorption. Fortified milk also supports immune function, muscle and nerve health, and has been linked to a potential reduced risk of other chronic diseases. You can also increase your levels of vitamin D by eating eggs, salmon, tuna, and fortified dairy alternatives—and through exposure to sunlight.

Steve from Stranger Things is sitting on a bathroom floor, his arm over the side of a toilet. Text reads: Toilets: Bathrooms aren’t just for having heart-to-hearts with Steve Harrington. Before the invention of a flushable toilet in 1596, people used communal outhouses, chamber pots, and holes in the ground. This led to human waste seeping into groundwater supplies, aiding the spread of disease. Toilets provide essential public health benefits by safely managing human waste, which: Prevents the spread of deadly diseases. Protects water sources. Improves overall community well-being, economic productivity, and safety.

Mike, Lucas, and Dustin from Stranger Things, wearing Ghostbusters costumes and riding bikes. Text reads: Bike Lane: Bikes aren't just for riding to your friend's house to play D&D anymore. People are biking to work more now than ever before—creating a greater need for bike lanes so that cyclists and drivers can safely coexist. Bike lanes reduce injury risk by 90% by separating bicyclists from automobile traffic. By offering a dedicated and protected space for cycling, bike lanes make it easier and safer for people to choose an alternative to driving, which leads to less traffic congestion and lower emissions.

Erica from Stranger Things wears a helmet with flashlights attached to the side. Text reads: Bike Helmet: Despite what Mike Wheeler and the gang might have you believe, you should ALWAYS wear a bike helmet when riding your bicycle. By absorbing impact energy, helmets protect against traumatic brain injuries, which are a leading cause of death and disability for cyclists. A brightly colored helmet or one with reflective strips can also make you more visible to drivers. Sure, this works for climbing around in mall vents, but it’s definitely not a proper bike helmet. Make sure yours fits properly.

Season 2 poster from Stranger Things. Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Will are on bikes facing a dramatic red and orange sky with ominous storm clouds above a road leading into BSPH, as seen on a welcome sign. The red and black text overlaid reads "strange-ish things in public health."

Joyce from Stranger Things holds a huge knot of Christmas lights that are lit up. She looks happy. Text reads: LIGHT BULBS: Lightbulbs came onto the scene in the 1880s (about 100 years before Joyce used them to talk to Will in the Upside Down) and subsequently revolutionized American life. Electric lighting increases productivity, can help reduce crime on streets, and reduces the risk of house fires from candles or kerosene lamps. Light bulbs also regulate circadian rhythms and improve mood and cognitive function. Modern LED lighting, in particular, offers advantages like the absence of toxic materials found in older bulbs.

Joyce from Stranger Things wears safety goggles while pulling on a rope and talking on a cordless phone. Text reads: Safety Goggles: Wearing safety goggles won’t protect you from Vecna, but they can prevent up to 90% of workplace eye injuries. About 2,000 of these injuries occur every day, with about 70% of these accidents resulting from flying or falling objects. Safety goggles also protect health care workers, dentists, laboratory staff, and others at risk of acquiring infectious diseases through ocular exposure.

Dustin and Steve from Stranger Things are walking and talking; both are wearing bright yellow rubber gloves. Text reads: Sterile Gloves: Sure, gloves are great for throwing out meat to catch baby demogorgons. But they also help prevent infections by creating a barrier against pathogens. Sterile gloves are crucial for maintaining an aseptic environment, protecting patients from post-operative infections and health care workers from exposure to blood-borne diseases and other biohazards.

While this isn't the Upside Down, there are some "strange-ish things" in public health. Swipe to read more!

globalhealthnow.org/100-objects

That’s a wrap!

Thanks for tuning in, learning, and laughing with us this year

More dropping soooon

Your Giving Tuesday gift will help advance lifesaving solutions. Make a gift today! We cannot do this work without you: secure.jhu.edu/form/GVGTS

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Illustration of a turkey on a plate. Text reads: No food poisoning at this table. Keep your household safe from food poisoning caused by raw meat! Do not wash the turkey as this can spread bacteria. Wash your hands after handling raw meat and disinfect any surfaces or utensils that come in contact with raw meat. Cook the turkey to an internal temperature of 165⁰F (as measured by a meat thermometer) to eliminate bacteria.

Illustration of smoke alarm with a pot on the stove that has caught on fire. Text reads: Grateful for a loud smoke alarm. Test your home’s smoke alarms before the holiday and make sure to have an unexpired fire extinguisher handy.

Illustration of a pie with a label that says "contains milk." Text reads: No allergic reactions here! Be mindful of food allergies your guests may have. Label ingredients and potential allergens on notecards next to each dish.

Illustration of leftovers in a container. Text says: Got leftovers? Don’t let leftovers go to waste... Leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours to avoid health risks from bacteria growth. Use shallow dishes to cool leftovers faster. Eat leftovers within four days or freeze them. Donate unopened prepackaged products to a local food bank. If anything does go bad, compost it instead of throwing it in the trash.

Illustration of a turkey, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pumpkins. Text reads: Thanksgiving Day Safety, one plate at a time...

With Thanksgiving just a day away, we wanted to brush up on our top safety tips for this year's holiday.

Whether you're the host or a guest, a turkey person or a sides person, we hope these tips help you have the happiest and healthiest holiday possible. 🦃

YouTube video by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health A Public Health Thank You Day message from Dean Pollack Porter

As we recognize Public Health Thank You Day, Dean Pollack Porter shares how deeply grateful she is to be part of a community that is united in a shared mission of improving health for people everywhere.

youtube.com/shorts/PYLwy...

Illustration of a kitchen. @Johnshopkinssph invites you to Talk turkey. Raw turkey can contaminate surfaces by carrying harmful bacteria, which increases the risk of food poisoning during the holidays. Proper handling, thawing, cooking, and storage of the turkey are essential to prevent illness. Follow our steps to minimize the risk of food poisoning and ensure a safe (and delicious) holiday meal.

illustration of a fridge. Text reads: Storage: Frozen raw turkey should be stored in the freezer until you are ready to thaw it. No frozen turkeys should be in a car trunk, a basement, a back porch, or snow.

Illustration of a turkey in a bag in a bowl of cold water in the sink. Text reads: Thawing: However you safely thaw your bird, be sure that it is in a leakproof bag to prevent dripping and contamination of the area or nearby food. In the fridge: Allow 24 hours of thawing for each 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. The turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before cooking. In cold water: Allow 30 minutes for each pound of turkey. Change the water every 30 minutes. Must be cooked immediately after. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter.

Illustration of a sink with a sign that reads "turkey handlers mush wash their hands before returning to work. Text reads: Handling: Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling the turkey. Use a designated cutting board that will only be used for raw turkey. Wash cutting boards, utensils, dishes, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing raw turkey and before you prepare the next item.

Let’s talk turkey! 🦃

Keep your holiday feast safe by following our tips on handling, thawing, cooking, and storing your bird properly to avoid the spread of any harmful bacteria.

For more info: www.cdc.gov/food-safety/...

Illustration of people sitting at a round table eating Thanksgiving dinner. Text reads: Sharing is for side dishes, not symptoms. Follow our tips for reducing risks of respiratory illnesses and staying healthy this Thanksgiving.

Illustration of a pie, salad, and mashed potatoes. Text reads: Feasts > Fevers. Here are a few ways you can help keep respiratory illnesses off your guest list: Stay up to date with immunizations. Vaccines are still available and recommended for COVID and flu. Practice good hygiene. Cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands, and clean frequently touched surfaces. Take steps for cleaner air. Open windows to increase ventilation, use an air purifier, and spread out guests when possible. Wear a mask. Masks protect you from inhaling germs. Consider wearing one in crowded places and when traveling to prevent illness.

Illustration of a turkey. Text reads: We know turkey is important, but if you are not feeling well, stay home. The CDC recommends that people who are sick stay home for at least 24 hours, until both are true: Your symptoms are getting better overall. You have not had a fever and are not using fever-reducing medication. You can resume normal activities after that, but take additional precautions around other people: Wear a mask, wash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and socialize in more spacious, ventilated areas.

Illustration of a person looking at their phone, reading a text message. Text reads: Pass the convo, not the germs. Lead a judgement-free conversation. It’s best to be transparent about symptoms, exposures, and comfort levels. Others may be feeling the same way. Some people are at a higher-risk of severe illness if they get sick. Ask those individuals what they’re comfortable with. Consider wearing a mask and definitely avoid kissing babies.

While respiratory illnesses can spike during the holidays, here are some important reminders to help keep you and your loved ones healthy this Thanksgiving 🦃

The cover of the Fall 2025 edition of Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine, a giant hand holds an hourglass. Within the hourglass, a child plays with toys in the sand. The sand is slowly dropping into the lower half of the hourglass. Text reads: Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health. Their Health, in Our Hands. Child health is essential for lifelong well-being. Will we take the necessary steps to improve it?

Traveling this weekend? Make sure you have your reading materials ready!

The latest edition of Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health features a section on child health, and public health approaches and research that can help kids make their way toward a healthy adulthood.

magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu

El Salvador’s Surge in Chronic Kidney Disease | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Is extreme heat causing an epidemic of kidney disease among otherwise healthy workers?

Already strained public health systems have found themselves confronting two urgent questions: How do you treat chronic kidney disease of unknown causes (CKDu), and how do you prevent it?

magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/el-salv...

A 1998 article first suggested that vaccines cause autism. The article was retracted, but that theory has persisted.

Dan Salmon, director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Vaccine Safety, details the rigorous studies that debunk this claim.

🔗 publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/vaccine...

Updated research unravels claims about alcohol’s potential health benefits and links drinking at any amount with increased cancer risk.

@drjthrul.bsky.social shares how these findings can help people make their own decisions about drinking.

podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/977-the-heal...

Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health How a retracted study from the 1990s led to a persistent myth about vaccines.

Questions about vaccines and autism have been around for a while, despite multiple scientific studies that do not show a connection.

Read how a retracted study from the 1990s undermined trust in vaccines and why vaccines don't cause autism.

Building Continuums of Care: Lessons from Hawai’i’s Youth Justice System A new approach to youth justice in Hawai'i has reduced youth incarceration rates by 80%.

“What's happening in Hawai’i is likely to look different in major cities like New York,” said @americanhealth.bsky.social fellow Nehali Vishwanath (MPH '23).

“Tailoring that approach to the young people, their communities, and families is really the best way forward.”

8 Ways to Keep American Kids Healthy | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine These proven strategies help kids thrive and lay the foundation for healthy adulthoods.

More than 16 million children and adolescents were diagnosed with a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral health condition from 2022–2023. More than half of kids who needed treatment had difficulty accessing care.

magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/8-ways-...

The Business of Public Health | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Translating discoveries into products and services can broaden public health’s impact—and sometimes turn a profit.

BSPH's Innovation Translation Council aims to provide public health benefits in a financially self-sustaining way, whether by helping form startups, licensing intellectual property to outside companies, or helping secure corporate sponsorship for research.

So, what IS public health?

We went to @jhu.edu Homewood campus and asked students what they think public health is. Here's how they responded (really good in our opinion!)

Drop below what question we should ask next

Chronic Absenteeism: An Overlooked Vital Sign | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Chronic school absenteeism is a national crisis—for education and for public health.

Chronic absenteeism can reflect current health problems—and foreshadow future ones. Researchers see absenteeism as another vital sign of the well-being of students, just like height, weight, and blood pressure.

magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/chronic...

Water Safety, Everywhere | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Drowning is a leading cause of death for young children worldwide—and one of the most preventable.

Unlike some public health challenges, drowning prevention can be straightforward. Low-cost, community-based solutions, when scaled, can save the lives of thousands.

magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/water-s...

illustration of a thumbs up and yogurt. Text reads: On the other end: Some UPFs actually have healthy benefits to them. For example: Whole grain breads, low-fat yogurts, instant oatmeal, and jarred pasta sauces have lower levels of saturated fats and added sugars while containing a plethora of nutrients that help reduce disease risk. Baked beans have been shown to support heart health by lowering cholesterol, improving digestive health through fiber, and helping stabilize blood sugar.

Reducing Consumption of bad UPFs: There are realistic solutions to limiting our ultra-processed food intake. For example: Educating the public about UPFS through improved front-of-package food labels. Taxes and policy changes for food production companies (like the soda tax). But recognizing that these foods are widely used—and why—would be crucial. UPFs save time and effort, but most importantly, they are more affordable. If policy changes are put into action, “we need to help people afford the alternative,” says Julia Wolfson, associate professor in International Health.

Illustration of a lot of whole foods, like fruits, vegetables, and fish. Text reads: On an individual level, reducing UPF intake can be a gradual process. If possible, you should: Keep healthy foods at home and try not to purchase UPFs when at the grocery store. Read labels and ingredient lists, looking for foods that have only a few pronounceable, recognizable ingredients. Try substituting fruit or vegetables for ultra-processed foods. Use minimally processed frozen or canned options if fresh fruit or vegetables aren’t available. Replace sugary beverages with water.

What are ultra-processed foods (UPFs)? The term “ultra-processed foods” originated from the Nova food classification system, ranging from least to most processed: Unprocessed/minimally processed: fruit, vegetables, milk, or fish. 2. Processed culinary ingredients: salt, sugar, olive oil, and butter. 3. Processed: jam, pickles, or canned fruit. 4. Ultra-processed: energy drinks, instant oatmeal, sliced bread, or hot dogs

What’s actually in UPFs? UPFs have one or more ingredients that wouldn’t be found in a kitchen, like: Chemical-based preservatives, Emulsifiers like hydrogenated oils, Sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, Artificial colors and flavors. They also undergo processing techniques like pre-frying, molding, extrusion, fractioning, and other chemical alterations, leaving the final product bearing almost no resemblance to the original ingredients. But not all ultra-processed foods are the same.

Illustration of a donut, chips, an energy drink, applesauce, peanut butter, and cereal. Text reads: When thinking of UPFs, one might only think of “junk foods,” like donuts, energy drinks, chips, candy, boxed mac and cheese, frozen pizza, and lunch meat. they are UPFs, but so are: High-fiber breakfast cereals, most granola or protein bars, applesauce, plant-based “meat” burgers, liquid egg whites, and nut butters. Don’t get us wrong—a lot of UPFs are associated with worse diet quality and a long list of adverse health outcomes. What’s important is to look at the ingredients in what you are consuming to determine whether or not they are good for you.

Illustration of a thumbs down. Text reads: UPFs CAN BE ADDICTIVE. Ultra-processed foods are designed to appeal to the human palate and contain ingredients like sugar, fat, and salt that stimulate the brain's reward system, making it hard to stop eating them. A 2024 review found that diets high in UPFs are linked to 32 health conditions, including: Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, Cardiometabolic diseases, Many cancers, Gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, Anxiety, Depression, Cardiovascular events, and All-cause mortality.

One grocery cart filled with chips, ice cream, instant ramen, and soda. Another cart filled with whole grain bread, almond milk, peanut butter, and cereal. Text reads: Which cart is full of ultra-processed foods (UPFs)? It's a trick question. They both are.

Most of the foods we eat are ultra-processed. So what does that actually mean?

Swipe to learn what ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are, if they are healthy, and ways that you can reduce bad UPF intake.

To read more: publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-ar...

still from Family Guy of Peter looking at a bandaid on his arm with a doctor standing next to him. Text reads: It's time to get your flu shot

Still from Family Guy of Stewie on the couch, sick, with a cup of tea and pain relief medication. Text reads: It’s that time of Year again: Flu Season. The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get a flu vaccine. Flu vaccination also has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated, but still get sick. Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine.

Still from The Simpsons of the Simpson family on the couch, sick. Text reads: and if you’re sick, stay home. Take actions every day to help stop the spread of germs. The CDC recommends that people who are sick stay home for at least 24 hours, until both are true: Your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever and are not using fever-reducing medication.

Still from SpongeBob SquarePants of Squidward sick. Text reads: Click the link in caption to find where you can get the flu vaccine

It's getting cold out...that means it's flu shot season!

Find where you can get yours now: vaccinefinder.org

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is taking a public health approach to reducing gun violence.

So far, the city has seen an unprecedented reduction in the number of homicides and other violent crimes. He discusses this progress on Public Health On Call 🎧

podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/973-baltimor...

illustration of an older person talking with a doctor. Text reads: How would these changes to the ACA impact Americans? There’s a concern that many people will be priced out of their plans and drop out. As prices rise, many people can’t afford to pay for health insurance when they have to pay rent and buy food and clothes. People without these subsidies are going to have to make a really difficult choice.

Illustration of a hospital. Text reads: The increases have implications beyond just what the individual seeking care is facing. They will also affect hospitals, physicians, drug companies, and everybody else in the health care system. For example: Hospitals are required to treat people that go to the emergency department, regardless of their ability to pay for care. Especially in rural areas, that debt can become a loss for the hospital which could force them to close.

Illustration of a telemedicine call, medication, and arrows showing an increase. Text reads: What’s Behind Rising Health Insurance Costs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted to control rising health care costs—but key subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. Gerard Anderson, professor in Health Policy and Management and International Health, unpacks elevating insurance costs and the ripple effects across health care providers. This information is sourced from Public Health On Call episode 972.

Illustration of a doctor looking at someone who hurt their arm. Text reads: Health insurance premiums are increasing. What’s going on? As open enrollment begins, consumers buying insurance through ACA plans are seeing premiums rise by up to 59%. This is because of service prices, not quantity. It's not that people are using health care services more often than they were previously. It’s that prices for services keep going up, which increases insurance premiums.

Illustration of a person on their phone looking at health care plans. Text reads: What role does ACA play in covering costs? About 30 million Americans are on ACA plans right now. These are people who typically do not have employer-based insurance—they work in the gig economy, at small firms that don't offer insurance, or are self-insured, for instance. For someone with an employer-sponsored insurance plan, the employer pays a significant portion of the insurance premium. Something similar happens for people receiving insurance under the Affordable Care Act, except with ACA subsidies, the government pays for part of the premium.

illustration of pharmaceuticals. Text reads: Why are insurance costs going to be even higher? In the United States, each state’s market is different. It all depends on what type of insurance you have. Under some insurance plans, premiums are rising rapidly, while other plans might not go up. If you are on an ACA plan, you may now have to pay the full rate of insurance. This happens because the subsidies—your cost-sharing with the government—are being reduced, eliminated, or expiring.

Cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies highlight a troubling trend in health care costs.

Swipe to learn what this means in insurance costs for Americans.

Read more: publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/whats-b...

Kristen Johansson. Text reads: "Public health is my bridge from personal survival to collective change ... I want my story to lead to a day when patients and scientists alike not only understand Lyme disease but use their superpowers to overcome it.” Kristen Johansson, Molecular and Cellular Biology Student at Johns Hopkins University

Kristen Johansson details her journey with Lyme disease and how it led her to public health in the newest issue of Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine.

Read her full story: magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/when-ly...

Decoding Environmental Exposures’ Lifelong Impacts | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Tracing the health impacts of chemical exposures decades after they happen is endlessly complex. Researchers are finding new ways to untangle the effects.

Environmental toxins can cause neurodevelopmental problems, obesity, and more in kids. Researchers are working on strategies to identify exposures, new methods for understanding chemicals’ dangerous synergies, and better ways to minimize risks.

magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/decodin...

From Narcan to Gun Silencers, Opioid Settlement Cash Pays Law Enforcement Tabs - KFF Health News Local governments have received hundreds of millions of dollars from the opioid settlements to support addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts. Their spending decisions in 2024 were some...

🧵Is opioid settlement $ living up to its promise? @kffhealthnews.org @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social & @shatterproofhq.bsky.social built a database showing 10,500+ ways it was spent—or not—last year, from treatment & housing to police drones & a drug awareness magician kffhealthnews.org/news/article...