U.S. life expectancy is bouncing back, signaling a remarkable turnaround from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the average lifespan climbed to 78.4 years, almost a full year higher than in 2022, when it was 77.5 years. The upward trend, driven by fewer deaths from COVID-19, heart disease, and drug overdoses, highlights a hopeful resurgence in public health. However, this is the second consecutive year of improvement after a sharp drop during the pandemic, which saw...