From Jenna Orkin US Senate to hold vote on protecting birth control in effective dare to GOP The end of the great northern forests? The tiny tree-killing beetle wreaking havoc on our ancient giants US maternal mortality rate far higher than in peer nations, report finds Alarming disparities persist, particularly between white and Black mothers, according to new report by Commonwealth Fund Can State Supreme Courts Preserve—or Expand—Rights? Charted: Declining Birth Rates in the Most Populous Countries (1950-Today) Giant venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs heading to New York area as they spread across East Coast, experts say The United Nations predicts dozens of countries will have shrinking populations by 2050. China and Japan, two countries with falling birth rates, are trying new things to entice people to have children--China with a cash incentive, and Japan through a government-run dating app, announced this week. But declining populations are good news, says Stephanie Feldstein, the population and sustainability director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "Considering no other large animal’s population has grown as much, as quickly or as devastatingly for other species as ours, we should all be celebrating population decline," she says. END THE PHONE-BASED CHILDHOOD NOW Scientists have discovered a cause of inflammatory bowel disease. They said it's a 'holy grail' discovery that could transform treatments. More young people are having strokes. A doctor shares 3 ways to help prevent them.