Stories by Marla Broadfoot

Scientists are exposing the biological information hidden in ancient parchments without leaving a mark

Deep emotional distress after birth kills many mothers. A new kind of drug offers better, faster treatment

Short sleepers cruise by on four to six hours a night and don’t seem to suffer ill effects. Turns out they’re genetically built to require less sleep than the rest of us

A new class of drugs treats pain at the periphery. Here’s what that could mean for those with chronic pain.

The medication initially known as VX-548 blocks sodium channels in nerves, blocking pain signals before they reach the brain

Hostility toward LGBTQ kids, enshrined in hundreds of new bills, has put families with such children under unprecedented threat, raising risks of suicide and physical attacks

Snotty, stuffy noses are the hallmark of cold and flu season, but some medications and at-home remedies may offer relief

Cops—no matter their own race—are more confrontational toward Black drivers. Social psychologist Nicholas Camp describes ways to reduce police antagonism

Three nasal spritzes, now in advanced trials, could trigger stronger immunity than shots in the arm

Infectious disease expert William A. Haseltine cautions that a coronavirus variant could emerge with the transmissibility of Omicron and the deadliness of the original SARS

The huge jump in cases means more hospitalizations. And children’s small airways can be more easily blocked by infections

This year is unlikely to see as many severe cases as last year, but relaxed restrictions and a patchwork of vaccination could still mean trouble, experts warn

Researchers, practitioners and patients must balance the discipline’s promise with its reality

Florida governor Ron DeSantis and politicians in Texas say research does not support mask mandates. Many studies show they are wrong

By aiming at specific genes or cells, researchers can boost effectiveness and reduce side effects

Sign-up systems for vaccines are horribly confusing, so people across the U.S. set up Facebook pages and phone lines with hands-on help

Some evidence indicates that short waits are safe, but there is a chance that partial immunization could help risky new coronavirus variants to develop

Emergency physician Leana Wen says we must balance prioritizing those who most “deserve” a vaccine with getting people vaccinated quickly

Despite pandemic precautions, the common cold and other illnesses are still circulating

The two could come together, making things worse—or our new hygiene habits may actually reduce the flu’s spread

Epidemiologist Sarah Cobey describes the massive epidemic as burning through the population

Pooling diagnostic samples, and using a little math, lets more people get tested with fewer assays

To avert a future famine, scientists are manipulating the complex conversation that plants have with microbes, pests and other elements of the phytobiome

The hidden placenta connects a fetus to outside dangers—and scientists have found new ways to study it