Public Health
How to Stop Restaurants from Driving COVID Infections
Mobile phone data suggest restaurants, gyms and cafés can be COVID hotspots—and reveal strategies for limiting spread
Stories by David Cyranoski
Medicine
What China’s Speedy COVID Vaccine Deployment Means for the Pandemic
China has promised vaccines to many countries, but whether it can meet its commitments is unclear
Medicine
Coronavirus Vaccine U.K. Trial Restarts, but Scientists Question Lack of Transparency
U.K. trials of the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine have resumed after a brief pause, yet key details of the events have not been released
Medicine
Scientists React to Halt of Leading Coronavirus Vaccine Trial
Scientists urge caution in the global vaccine race as AstraZeneca reports an “adverse event” in a person who received the University of Oxford vaccine
Public Health
The Biggest Mystery: What It Will Take To Trace The Coronavirus Source
SARS-CoV-2 came from an animal, but finding which one will be tricky—as will laying to rest speculation of a lab escape
Public Health
Scientists Fear Second Coronavirus Wave as China’s Lockdowns Ease
Other countries on lockdown will be watching for a resurgence of infections in Hubei province now that travel restrictions are lifting
Public Health
Scientists Question China’s Decision Not to Report Symptom-Free Coronavirus Cases
Researchers say that excluding these people could conceal the epidemic’s true extent, but others say the practice makes sense
Public Health
Some Scientists Skeptical about Snakes Spreading New Virus in China
A genetic analysis suggests a reptilian reservoir, but researchers doubt the coronavirus could have originated in animals other than birds or mammals
Policy & Ethics
What CRISPR-Baby Prison Sentences Mean for Research
A Chinese court sent a strong signal by punishing He Jiankui and two colleagues
Biology
Stem Cells 2 Go
Japan has turned regenerative medicine into a regulatory free-for-all. Patients across the world could pay the price
Biology
Russian “CRISPR Baby” Scientist Has Started Editing Genes in Human Eggs with the Goal of Altering Deaf Gene
Denis Rebrikov says that he does not plan to implant gene-edited embryos until he gets regulatory approval
Medical & Biotech
Japan Approves First Human-Animal Embryo Experiments
The research could eventually lead to new sources of organs for transplant, but ethical and technical hurdles need to be overcome
Medical & Biotech
Russian Biologist Plans More CRISPR-Edited Babies
The proposal follows a Chinese scientist who claimed to have created twins from edited embryos last year
Policy & Ethics
Scientist behind "CRISPR Babies" Fired by University
An investigation by Chinese authorities found He Jiankui broke national regulations in his controversial gene-editing work
Medical & Biotech
Baby Gene Edits Could Affect a Range of Traits
The gene targeted for its role in HIV is linked to increased severity of other infectious diseases—and has implications for learning in mice
Policy & Ethics
First CRISPR Babies: 6 Questions That Remain
Startling human-genome editing claim leaves many open questions, from He Jiankui's next move to the future of the field
Neuroscience
Reprogrammed Stem Cells Implanted into Patient with Parkinson’s Disease
A man in his 50s is the first of seven patients to receive the experimental therapy
Medical & Biotech
Japan Set to Allow Gene Editing in Human Embryos
Draft guidelines permit gene-editing tools for research into early human development, but would discourage manipulation of embryos for reproduction
Policy & Ethics
China Expands Surveillance of Sewage to Police Illegal Drug Use
Privacy concerns, cultural differences fuel skepticism about this approach in other settings
Biotech
“Reprogrammed” Stem Cells Approved to Mend Human Hearts in Pilot Study
Three patients in Japan will receive the experimental therapy in the next year
