Viruses | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/viruses/RSS feed for VirusesenThu, 08 Oct 2026 15:24:59 +0000Flu Season Started Early in Parts of the U.S., and Experts Say You Should Consider Getting the Seasonal Jab ASAP. Here's What to Knowhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flu-season-started-early-in-parts-of-the-us-and-experts-say-you-should-consider-getting-the-seasonal-jab-asap-heres-what-to-know-180989639/The season usually starts in October or November. But some western states, including California, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, began seeing a rise in flu cases as early as AugustThu, 08 Oct 2026 15:24:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flu-season-started-early-in-parts-of-the-us-and-experts-say-you-should-consider-getting-the-seasonal-jab-asap-heres-what-to-know-180989639/The Ancient DNA of a Deadly Animal Virus Has Been Lurking in Medieval Manuscripts for Centuries, Researchers Findhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-manuscripts-preserved-traces-of-a-deadly-virus-for-centuries-180989522/A new analysis of teeth and parchment suggests that the devastating sheep pox virus has been infecting livestock for 3,700 yearsFri, 18 Sep 2026 15:10:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-manuscripts-preserved-traces-of-a-deadly-virus-for-centuries-180989522/Scientists Used A.I. to Design New Viruses. The Technology Could Be a Boon for Medicine, but Experts Worry About Harmful Pathogenshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-used-ai-too-design-new-viruses-the-technology-could-be-a-boon-for-medicine-but-experts-worry-about-harmful-pathogens-180989336/The findings represent the first genomes, or complete genetic instruction books, designed entirely with generative A.I. The resulting viruses attack only bacteria, which could one day help overcome the problem of antibiotic-resistant microbesMon, 24 Aug 2026 16:08:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-used-ai-too-design-new-viruses-the-technology-could-be-a-boon-for-medicine-but-experts-worry-about-harmful-pathogens-180989336/