Special Report
Covid-19
Bringing historical context and scientific evidence as the pandemic unfolds
Why It’s So Hard to Make Risk Decisions in the Pandemic
Our brains weren’t built to do public health calculus like this, but following a few pieces of advice from the experts will help as you weigh your options
FDA Panel Endorses Updated Covid Boosters Targeting Omicron Subvariants
Updated vaccines will target both virus strains that dominated in the past and current Omicron subvariants
FDA Says Both Moderna and Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccines Are Effective for the Youngest Children
A panel of experts is set to vote Wednesday on whether the agency should authorize the use of the vaccines for little kids
Latest News
The Asian Game of Mahjong, Which Creates Order Out of Chaos, Is Trending in the West
The 200-year-old tile game is popping up in clubs, hotels and parties as a way for Gen Zers and millennials to connect
The Longest-Running Show in Broadway History Opened on This Date in 1988. Read Why Its Legacy Is So Controversial
“The Phantom of the Opera” entertained decades of fans—and lives on even after closing
What Have We Learned From Intentionally Infecting People With Covid-19?
Challenge trials help researchers study immune responses. Skeptics still doubt the approach is worth the risks
The Real Story Behind Netflix’s ‘The Decameron’
Loosely based on Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century collection of short stories, the series follows a group of Italian nobles and servants who flee to the countryside to escape the Black Death
Why Are Some People Seemingly Immune to Covid-19? Scientists May Now Have an Answer
Researchers tracked the immune responses of 16 people intentionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and pinpointed a gene that seems to help resist the virus before it can take hold
COVID-19 and Culture
Revisit 51 Years of Giant Pandas at the National Zoo, From Beloved Babies to Fun in the Snow
The Panda House’s eight occupants have played a key role in conservation efforts over the decades
What Wild Animals Were Really Doing During Covid-19 Lockdowns
Researchers around the world traced mammals’ movements and behaviors when fewer humans and cars were outside in spring 2020
These Artworks Are Good Enough to Eat—Literally
The Blanton Museum in Austin asked bakers to create edible versions of pieces in its collection
The Art Market Is Rebounding—but Only at the Top
Sales increased in 2022, but growth was concentrated largely at the high end of the market
Dictionary.com Adds More Than 300 New Words
Additions like “digital nomad,” “anti-fat” and “liminal space” reflect the dynamic nature of the English language