Public Health
Misinformation and Miscalculation in the Time of the Coronavirus
COVID-19 has turned many of us into homebodies with one eye always on the outbreak
Public Health3569 articles archived since 1845
Policy
What ‘Less Lethal’ Weapons Actually Do
Rubber bullets and tear gas are not as innocuous as they sound
Environment
Heat and Racism Threaten Birth Outcomes for Women of Color
Environmental factors have adverse impacts on pregnancies, and there are clear racial disparities
Fitness
‘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
The Risks of Rushing a COVID-19 Vaccine
Telescoping testing time lines and approvals may expose all of us to unnecessary dangers
Public Health
How to Evaluate Coronavirus Risks from Black Lives Matter Protests
Large crowds, tear gas and jail cells could contribute to transmission of the virus. But it would not be easy to separate that danger from the risks of states reopening businesses and workplaces...
Public Health
The Virtuous Side of Viruses
As drug-resistant superbugs spread, researchers are turning to microbes that kill bacteria
Environment
Air, Sea and Space: Ocean Health, Atmosphere Insights and Black Holes
Biological oceanography expert Miriam Goldstein talks about issues facing the oceans. Reporter Adam Levy discusses air pollution info available because of the pandemic. And astrophysicist Andrew Fabian chats about black holes...
Public Health
Coronavirus News Roundup for June 13–June 19
Here are pandemic highlights for the week
Public Health
Summer Weather Won’t Save Us from Coronavirus
Though hotter, humid weather can dampen transmission, it is not enough to significantly curtail the pandemic
Policy
Trump vs. Biden: How COVID-19 Will Affect Voting for President
Republicans’ and Democrats’ distinct responses to the pandemic could influence in-person and mail-in voting—and who wins
The Sciences
Coronavirus Antibody Tests Have a Mathematical Pitfall
The accuracy of screening tests is highly dependent on the infection rate
Climate Change
Science on the Hill: Calculating Climate
For the fourth Science on the Hill event, Future Climate: What We Know, What We Don’t, experts talked with Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti about what goes into modeling our climate—and how such models are used in addition to long-term climate prediction...
Mental Health
COVID-19 Worsens Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—but Therapy Offers Coping Skills
The pandemic has heightened OCD phobias such as fear of germs. Yet some patients say experience with anxiety, and treatment for it, gives them an advantage
Biology
Genetic Diversity of Malaria in a Single Mosquito Bite May Be Huge
New blood tests help to track disease-causing Plasmodium strains
Public Health
Latin America Faces a Critical Moment in the Battle against COVID-19
A Pan American Health Organization public health expert shares his views on the outlook for the region, which has more than 1.5 million cases—and growing
Public Health
COVID-19 and Amazon Fires Choke the Lungs of Brazilians—and the Planet
Fine dust from the burning rain forest could exacerbate coronavirus infections amid signs that the blazes might be particularly severe in 2020
Behavior
Police Violence Calls for Measures beyond De-escalation Training
Pairing the practice with greater accountability, better oversight of law enforcement and efforts to reimagine the role police play in communities could help reduce officers’ use of force...
Public Health
Fatal Opioid Overdoses May Be More Common Than Thought
A new model shows opioid deaths may be significantly underreported
Public Health
A Visual Guide to the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus
What scientists know about the inner workings of the pathogen that has infected the world
