Vaccines
Why Vaccine Doses Differ for Kids and Adults
An immunologist explains how the immune system changes as people mature
"The Coronavirus Outbreak"
Vaccines
Trust Us: Nurses Are at the Breaking Point
The pandemic has brought the nursing profession into crisis; the solution is in the public’s hands
Vaccines
COVID Vaccine Authorized for Kids Aged 5 to 11
The FDA’s decision to expand eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine to young kids could mean less illness, safer school and more freedom
Vaccines
How COVID Vaccines for Young Kids Could Change the Pandemic
As U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers recommend authorizing shots for children aged five to 11, researchers predict what this might mean for populations
Mental Health
COVID Expanded the Boundaries of Personal Space—Maybe for Good
Our physical safety perimeters have widened, a study suggests
Animals
Home Alone: The Fate of Postpandemic Dogs
Our canine companions have become accustomed to having their humans around 24/7
Vaccines
COVID Vaccine Makers Prepare for a Variant Worse Than Delta
Companies are updating vaccines and testing them on people to prepare for whatever comes next in the pandemic
Vaccines
COVID Quickly, Episode 17: Vaccine Lies and Protecting Immunocompromised People
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.You can listen to all past episodes here...
Ethics
Will Giving COVID Booster Shots Make It Harder to Vaccinate the Rest of the World?
Wealthy countries have bought up most of the available vaccine doses for booster shots but still have far more than they need
Vaccines
Who Needs a COVID Booster Shot? Experts Answer Common Questions
Now that the FDA has authorized the shots for a broad range of Americans, many people want to know if they need a booster dose. Here’s what we have learned so far
Pollution
Assessing COVID Risk and More with Air Quality Monitors
The consumer devices track pollutants as well as CO2—a proxy for potentially virus-laden human breath
Health Care
The Smartest Way to Use Rapid At-Home COVID Tests
The self-administered tests are sold over the counter, holding out the promise of safer gatherings. But interpreting results requires savvy
Public Health
Pandemic Year One Saw a Dramatic Global Rise in Anxiety and Depression
In hindsight, 2020 witnessed a disproportionate mental health burden on women and young people
Public Health
COVID Quickly, Episode 16: Vaccines Protect Pregnancies and a New Antiviral Pill
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.You can listen to all past episodes here...
Behavior
How Pandemic Life Mimicked Pioneer Times
Sourdough, seeds, shovels and other basic survival needs made a comeback
Reproduction
Vaccination Protects Pregnant People and Their Babies from Severe COVID
Studies show the vaccines against the disease not only can be safely given to people who are expecting but can also save lives
Vaccines
Pregnant and Unvaccinated: Delta’s Deadly Toll
The number of pregnant people suffering from severe COVID is preventable tragedy
Public Health
Why We Need to Upgrade Our Face Masks—and Where to Get Them
High-quality respirators such as N95s and KN95s are now widely available and provide the best protection against COVID, according to experts. Why aren’t more people wearing them?
Pharmaceuticals
Fringe Doctors’ Groups Promote Ivermectin for COVID despite a Lack of Evidence
The organizations touting unproved protocols for the antiparasitic drug may be harming vaccination efforts
Epidemiology
Closest Known Relatives of Virus Behind COVID-19 Found in Laos
Studies of bats in China and Laos show southeast Asia is a hotspot for potentially dangerous viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2
