Viruses

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The Ten Best Science Books of 2021

From captivating memoirs by researchers to illuminating narratives by veteran science journalists, these works affected us the most this year

The researchers note that the gum looks and feels like the type of gum found in convivence stores and can be stored at normal temperatures for years without damaging the ACE2 protein molecules that trap the SARS-coV-2 particles.  

Could This Chewing Gum Reduce the Spread of Covid-19?

Preliminary results show the viral load in infected saliva was reduced viral load by 95 percent, but the research has a long way to go

Survivors received “fever passes” that certified their immunity, allowing them increased freedom of movement at a time when a substantial portion of the population was being held under strict quarantine.

In 19th-Century Gibraltar, Survivors of a Deadly Virus Used 'Fever Passes' to Prove Their Immunity

Should historic health officials' response to yellow fever outbreaks on the Iberian Peninsula serve as a model for modern pandemic management strategies?

The new antiviral pill could help unburden hospitals in states with low vaccination rates.

Merck Asks FDA to Authorize Promising Covid-19 Pill

If approved, the antiviral drug could be a game-changer in the fight against the virus

Increased immunity from vaccines and previous infections could be a reason behind the drop in cases of "Covid toes." (Pictured: Nurse Sandra Lindsay—the first person to receive vaccine in the USA on December 14, 2020— receives COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine booster in New York on October 6, 2021.)

Powerful Immune System Response May Be Behind 'Covid Toes'

A new study brings doctors closer to understanding the mysterious frostbite-like lesions on patients' toes and fingers

A public art installation commemorating Americans killed by Covid-19 on the National Mall featuring more than 650,000 small plastic flags, some with personal messages to those they’ve lost.

More Than 700,000 Americans Have Now Died of Covid-19

There have been over 100,000 deaths since mid-June despite widespread vaccine availability

An advisory panel says most fully vaccinated Americans are still well-protected from Covid-19.

FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Covid-19 Booster for Older and High-Risk Americans

The committee says most Americans don’t need a booster shot just yet

Instead of giving the same mRNA shot a third time, the group suggests boosters could be tweaked to better handle new variants as the emerge, similar the annual flu shot.

Some Experts Say Most Vaccinated Americans Don't Need Booster Shot Yet

A new analysis concludes vaccines still offer substantial protection against Covid-19

Children head back to school in August even as the Covid-19 delta variant makes its rounds. For reasons that aren’t fully understood, kids do not get as sick from Covid-19 as adults do. The role of schools in fostering spread of the virus is also under study.

Why Don't Kids Tend to Get as Sick From Covid-19?

Some children have been hospitalized and some have died, but at a tiny fraction of the adult rate. Scientists are trying to find out why.

A nurse administers the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Los Angeles, California, in August. More than one million individuals have gotten a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in the United States.

Six Important Questions About Booster Shots Answered

Experts weigh in who needs the shot first, when it should happen and how it will help

Those eligible for boosters include some organ transplant recipients, those with certain cancers, and others with similarly compromised immune systems.

FDA and CDC Authorize Covid-19 Booster Shot for Some Immunocompromised People

Certain transplant recipients, cancer patients and others can soon get a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine

Researchers extracting an ice core from the Guliya Ice Cap in the Tibetan Plateau in 2015.

Scientists Extract 15,000-Year-Old Viruses From Tibetan Glacier

Researchers say the ancient pathogens are unlikely to cause humans any harm, but 28 out of the 33 viruses found are new to science

This transmission electron microscopic image shows the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Over 20,000 Years Ago, a Coronavirus Epidemic Left Marks in Human DNA

The oldest modern coronavirus is about 820 years old, but humanity has been fighting similar viruses for millennia

Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anticipate that Delta will become the dominant variant in the United States within the next few months.

Covid-19 Delta Variant Emerges as Primary Threat Around the World

A surge of cases in the United Kingdom suggests that Delta is the most transmissible variant yet identified

Minute Molecular, the company developing the device, has high hopes for it as an efficient and accurate means of testing people at schools, workplaces and sports stadiums.

This Compact PCR Test for Covid-19 Could Give Accurate Results in 15 Minutes

The speed and ease of the DASH testing platform would be a boon for screening efforts

Microscope image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of Covid-19. Viral particles are visible in blue.

WHO Releases Results of First Investigation Into the Origin of Covid-19

The virus was most likely first spread from a wild animal, possibly bats, to an unknown intermediate animal, possibly farm animals, and then to humans

AstraZeneca's vaccine is approved for use in over 20 countries.

Why U.S. Approval of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Is Taking So Long

An unprecedented public exchange with a data review board is the latest of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine’s hurdles

Since scientists haven’t yet found evidence that the vaccines provide mucosal immunity, someone who is vaccinated and has no symptoms of illness may be carrying the live SARS-CoV-2 virus and spreading it to others when they cough, breath or sneeze.

Why It's Important to Still Wear a Mask After Covid-19 Vaccination

Vaccinated people should still wear masks around unvaccinated individuals to prevent transmission

An analysis of the genome of the B.1.1.7 variant of the coronavirus overlaid on the CDC's map of different states' genome sequencing rates. Darker-shaded states have processed more genomes (relative to their total case count) than lighter, greener states.

Why the U.S. Is Struggling to Track Coronavirus Variants

A scattered and underfunded effort at genomic sequencing has hindered the country’s ability to detect different forms of the virus

Signals from smartwatches can help catch infections early.

Can Smartwatches Be Adapted to Help Detect Covid-19 Infections?

With new algorithms, wearable devices—collecting vital signs like heart rate and skin temperature—could catch illness early

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