Lori Youmshajekian is a science journalist who reports on consumer health, environmental issues and scientific misconduct. She holds a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University and has written for National Geographic, Wired and Retraction Watch, among other outlets.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic don’t work for everyone. Genetic variants offer new clues
The weight you lose and the nausea you experience from GLP-1 drugs may be linked to common gene variants, but they can’t fully explain why some people lose more weight than others
A single course of antibiotics may reshape the gut microbiome for years
A study in Sweden found that some antibiotics affected microbial diversity in the gut more than others
These cells in the body remember fat. Here’s what that means for weight loss
Obesity leaves a lasting imprint on fat and immune cells in ways that might make weight regain harder to avoid
Is Melatonin Safe? Experts Explain the Potential Risks—And the Benefits
Melatonin supplements have become a ubiquitous sleep aid, but research shows that benefits are modest, and the heart health effects of long-term use are unknown
People Who Don’t Lose Weight on Wegovy May Have Genetic Differences
Scientists look to genetics to explain why GLP-1 drugs work for some people but not for others
Which anti-inflammatory supplements actually work?
Experts say the strongest scientific studies identify three compounds that fight disease and inflammation
Why Ozempic and Wegovy Might Change Some People’s Favorite Foods
Some users of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have been reporting strange changes in food preferences, such as a new dislike for meats or fried foods, and scientists are beginning to figure out why
Are Foodborne Illnesses and Deaths in the U.S. Worsening? New Data on Recalls Explain
Despite headlines, there were fewer food recalls in 2024 than in 2023, but more people died from food poisoning linked to outbreaks
Most People Stop Ozempic after Two Years. What Happens to Weight and Health?
Ozempic and similar GLP-1 weight-loss medications are designed to be a lifelong treatment. But a new study finds the majority of people who use these drugs quit after just two years
Which Foods Are the Most Ultraprocessed? New System Ranks Them
Scientists have created a ranking of grocery store items based on their degree of processing
How Retinol Cosmetics Change Skin at a Chemical Level
Experts explain the differences between popular retinol products and the way they trigger molecular changes deep in the skin
Can Coffee's Effects on Appetite and Digestion Cause Weight Loss?
A new generation of coffee concoctions on social media is putting the spotlight back on the drink’s possible weight-loss effects
Domestication Squished Dogs’ Heads and Obscured Their Emotions
Pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs and boxers—dogs with less wolflike facial features are worse at conveying their feelings
Are Plant-Based Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Heart Disease?
A recent study found that eating ultraprocessed plant-based foods was linked to heart attack and stroke risk. But the devil is in the details
Like-Charge Particles Are Supposed to Repel—But Sometimes They Attract
Scientists think they’ve cracked the long-standing mystery of attraction among particles with a similar charge
Experimental Ovarian Tissue Freezing Could Delay Menopause, but Experts Are Weighing the Risks
Extracting, freezing and retransplanting slices of hormone-producing ovarian tissue could postpone menopause, but some experts say it’s not effective enough—or necessary
Visualizing Climate Disasters’ Surprising Cascading Effects
See how climate disasters cause rippling effects far beyond the initial event
Science News Briefs from around the World: February 2024
A missing mammal rediscovered in Indonesia, a speedy new species of dinosaur in Brazil, Ivory Coast chimpanzees that snoop on their neighbors, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
JWST Spots Baby Sun Spitting Up Supersonic Flows
A newly released image from the James Webb Space Telescope provides a detailed view of a star’s infancy
Science News Briefs from around the World: January 2024
Deciphering a scorched scroll from ancient Herculaneum, unlikely flavors in climate-change-affected wine, an undiscovered ore found in China, and more in this month’s Quick Hits
The 6 Most Intriguing Things We Learned about Pet Cats and Dogs This Year
In 2023 we learned that cats really are choosing to ignore humans and that—despite dogs getting all the glory when it comes to retrieving prowess—cats want to play fetch, too
Your Organs Might Be Aging at Different Rates
It turns out that your chronological age really is just a number. What’s more important for knowing disease risk is the biological age of each of your organs
The Vaginal Microbiome May Affect Health More than We Thought
A recent study finds varying combinations of microbes in the vaginal microbiome may influence health outcomes such as risk of sexually transmitted disease and preterm birth
See the Brain Like Never Before in This Gorgeous Art
The complexity of the brain comes to life in the annual Art of Neuroscience competition