Public Health
The COVID Lab-Leak Hypothesis: What Scientists Do and Do Not Know
An examination of the arguments that SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a lab in China and the science behind them
Stories by Smriti Mallapaty
Public Health
India’s Massive COVID Surge Puzzles Scientists
The virus is spreading faster than ever before in the country despite previous high infection rates in megacities, which should have conferred some protection
Public Health
What’s Next in the Search for COVID’s Origins
A World Health Organization report makes a reasonable start, scientists say, but there are many questions yet to be answered
Space
Asteroid Dust Recovered from Japan’s Daring Hayabusa2 Mission
Scientists hope the dark grains from asteroid Ryugu will improve their understanding of the solar system’s formation
Space
China Set to Retrieve First Moon Rocks in 40 Years
Chang’e-5 has just one lunar day to collect material from a previously unexplored region of the moon’s near side
Public Health
Why COVID Outbreaks Could Worsen This Winter
It’s too soon to say whether COVID is seasonal like the flu—but where clusters aren’t under control, infections will continue to swell
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
The Body
‘Mini Organs’ Reveal How the Coronavirus Ravages the Body
The virus can damage lung, liver and kidney tissue grown in the lab, which might explain severe COVID-19 complications
Public Health
Dogs Caught Coronavirus From Their Owners, Genetic Analysis Suggests
There is no evidence that dogs can pass the virus to people, however
Public Health
How Do Children Spread the Coronavirus? The Science Still Isn’t Clear
Researchers are still trying to understand what the deal is with kids and COVID-19
Public Health
Antibody Tests for the Coronavirus May Not Change Everything
Touted as society’s way out of widespread lockdowns, scientists say the true potential of these rapidly developed tests is still unknown
Public Health
How Sewage Could Reveal True Scale of Coronavirus Outbreak
Wastewater testing could also be used as an early-warning sign if the virus returns
Biology
Cats Can Get Coronavirus, Study Suggests—but Pet Owners Need Not Panic
Scientists say it is unclear whether felines can spread the virus to people
Medical & Biotech
Engineering a Biomedical Revolution in China
A permissive regulatory climate and a pragmatic approach have fostered soaring growth
Policy & Ethics
11 Rising Stars of Science
These newcomers are making their mark in research across a variety of fields
Policy & Ethics
African Scientists Launch Their Own Preprint
The free, online outlet allows academics on the continent to share their work
Sustainability
Farmers in Nepal Use Urine to Boost Crop Yields
New toilets allow villagers to collect urine to use as fertilizer
