Katalin Karikó’s Nobel Prize–Winning Work on mRNA Was Long Ignored—And Led to COVID Vaccines
Despite decades of doubt and dismissal, biochemist Katalin Karikó never gave up on the research that gave us mRNA COVID vaccines in record time
American Global Health Leadership in a Second Trump Administration
The Trump administration may undermine U.S. leadership and the international system of global health cooperation. Pandemic preparedness, resilient health systems and reproductive rights will suffer worldwide
Nearly Forgotten ‘Phage Therapy’ Fights Antibiotic Resistance
In a new book, a science journalist recounts the story of a lifesaving treatment for infection that scientists broadly dismissed until recently
Why Some Brains Don’t Rot and Other Wild Things We Learned about the Human Body in 2024
From periods of rapid aging in our 40s and 60s to ancient brains that don’t decompose, here are some of the year’s most intriguing stories about human biology
A Quiet Bias Is Keeping Black Scientists from Winning Nobel Prizes
The way scientists recognize one another’s work overlooks the seminal contributions of Black scientists. The Nobel Committees need to recognize how this excludes Black scientists from awards
Addiction Telemedicine Has Saved Lives. Let’s Keep It Going
Pandemic relaxation of buprenorphine-prescribing restrictions must continue to keep saving lives amid a U.S. overdose epidemic
Leaded Gasoline Tied to Uptick in Mental Health Disorders, and a Mysterious Outbreak Occurs in the DRC
A mysterious outbreak occurs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and researchers find evidence that exposure to leaded gasoline was linked to increases in mental illness. Plus, we discuss orcas wearing salmon as hats.
Why Anthony Fauci Is Concerned about Bird Flu and Public Division
“America’s Doctor” says that our common enemy is the danger posed by viruses, not each other.
Confronting the Dangers of Silent Spread Is Necessary to Prevent Future Pandemics
We need targeted public health interventions to reduce transmission from asymptomatically infected individuals. Like COVID, silently spreading pathogens can lead to far more infections and fatalities
Health Research Could Face Severe Cuts and Changes under Trump
Sweeping reorganization and more research scrutiny could be on the way for the U.S. National Institutes of Health
RFK, Jr., Is a Bad Prescription for U.S. Public Health
Prominent vaccine skeptic RFK, Jr., is a proven menace to public health. But with a bird flu outbreak looming, he is poised to take a perch atop the federal public health enterprise
The U.S. Must Lead the Global Fight against Superbugs
Antimicrobial resistance could claim 39 million lives by 2050, yet the pipeline for new antibiotics is drying up. U.S. policymakers can help fix it