Public HealthAugust 4, 2021
‘Breakthrough’ Infections Do Not Mean COVID Vaccines Are Failing
Getting flu again postinoculation is more common than a return case after a COVID shot
Stories by Emily Willingham
Emily Willingham is a science writer and author of the books Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis (Avery, Penguin Publishing Group, 2020) and The Tailored Brain: From Ketamine, to Keto, to Companionship: A User's Guide to Feeling Better and Thinking Smarter (Basic Books, 2021).
NeuroscienceJuly 15, 2021
New Brain Implant Transmits Full Words from Neural Signals
No spelling out of letters is needed for a paralyzed person to use the first-of-a-kind neuroprosthesis
BiologyJune 14, 2021
Why Scientists Tweak Lab Viruses to Make Them More Contagious
Some “gain of function” studies explore how a dangerous pathogen might cross species barriers to start an outbreak. They are not without controversy
PhysiologyMay 25, 2021
Humans Could Live up to 150 Years, New Research Suggests
A study counts blood cells and footsteps to predict a hard limit to our longevity
EvolutionMay 10, 2021
Genes Linked to Self-Awareness in Modern Humans Were Less Common in Neandertals
Brain networks for memory and planning may have set us apart from Neandertals—and chimps
BehaviorDecember 17, 2020
A Smile at a Wedding and a Cheer at a Soccer Game Are Alike the World Over
A survey of six million videos from 144 countries suggests facial expressions are nearly universal
EvolutionDecember 3, 2020
When Same-Sex Mating Makes Reproductive Sense
Under the right circumstances, indiscriminate mating with both males and females can enhance animals’ evolutionary success
BehaviorNovember 5, 2020
In the Early Americas, Female Hunters Pursued Big Game, Study Suggests
Millennia-old burial sites show equal-opportunity hunting roles might have been commonplace
BehaviorSeptember 8, 2020
Mountain Peaks Seem to Shape Personality Traits in the American West
Topography may contribute to the formation of regional temperament
BiologyAugust 28, 2020
Cells Solve an English Hedge Maze with the Same Skills They Use to Traverse the Body
A study reveals the Pac-Man-like strategies adopted by different cell types when making long journeys through an organism
OpinionAugust 24, 2020
Penis Size Has Nothing to Do with Masculinity
Mocking men who tote big guns or drive fast cars as “compensating” for their presumably inadequate endowment is sexist and toxic
NeuroscienceAugust 3, 2020
Neural Switch Flips on Aggression in Male Mice
A separate set of cells in the same region regulate sexual behavior
Public HealthJuly 21, 2020
Genes May Influence COVID-19 Risk, New Studies Hint
DNA changes tied to immune reactions, a viral doorway and blood type could affect disease severity
OpinionJune 29, 2020
The Condoms of the Face: Why Some Men Refuse to Wear Masks
It’s not the first time masculine ideology has driven resistance to a public health initiative
BiotechApril 22, 2020
Snorkeling Mask Apparatus Might Help COVID-19 Patients Avoid Intubation
The jury-rigged breathing aid, invented to deal with ventilator shortages, is now being tested as a kinder, gentler alternative to a tube in the trachea
EvolutionFebruary 28, 2020
Ability to Take on Diverse Roles May Be Key to Which Animals Survive Mass Extinction
An analysis spanning geologic history found that species able to occupy different ecological niches have a survival edge
EvolutionDecember 4, 2019
Missing Link Found for How Modern Humans Evolved Friendly Faces
A genetic condition helps uncover how modern human mugs came to differ from those of Neandertals
ChemistryNovember 13, 2019
Key Photosynthesis Complex Viewed in Spinach
Findings fuel hopes for improved food-crop efficiency
NeurologyOctober 10, 2019
Sleep Deprivation Shuts Down Production of Essential Brain Proteins
A deficit arises in molecules needed for neurons to communicate efficiently
Public HealthSeptember 17, 2019
Hunt for Cause of Vaping Illness Suggests Multiple Mechanisms of Damage
The leading hypothesis for the appearance of deadly lung problems does not fit with all presentations of the illness
Mental HealthSeptember 10, 2019
A Blood Test Might One Day Mass Screen Military Personnel for PTSD
An assay that measures 28 variables could identify individuals who need further treatment
MedicineJuly 30, 2019
Testosterone Therapy Can Restore Women’s Libido—but Questions Remain
Although the hormone has few serious short-term side effects, its long-term risks remain a black box
BehaviorJuly 18, 2019
Universal Desire: Men and Women Respond Identically to Erotic Images
The result is not the final word, as findings will likely turn up the heat on questions of divergent sexual arousal
HealthJune 24, 2019
Elite Athletes’ Gut Bacteria Give Rodent Runners a Boost
The chemical these bacteria produce appears to enhance athleticism