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Pandemic

Building a Corsi-Rosenthal box portable air filter comes down to duct-taping together a set of furnace filters and a box fan.

The Homemade Air Purifier That’s Been Saving Lives During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Made from everyday items found in hardware stores, the Corsi-Rosenthal box is a testament to the power of grassroots innovation

A woman who is six months pregnant receives a Covid booster shot in Los Angeles. The CDC advises pregnant women to get vaccinated.

Covid-19

Seven Things to Know About Covid-19 and Pregnancy

From the effect of vaccines on a baby’s immunity to whether Covid-19 can cause stillbirths, experts weigh in with helpful information and advice

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders could affect between 1 and 5 percent of children in the United States.

New Tools May Help Diagnose Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

If conditions stemming from exposure to alcohol in-utero can be better identified, then scientists can more effectively research treatments

Properly fitted N95 masks should filter 94-95 percent of viral particles.

Covid-19

What You Need to Know About Covid Masks in the Age of Omicron

From what to wear to how to avoid counterfeits, experts weigh in on the latest advice about masks and Covid-19

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This Missouri Company Still Makes Cassette Tapes, and They Are Flying Off the Factory Floor

National Audio Company is the largest manufacturer in the world for this retro sound

With Omicron’s high transmissibility and record number of infections, public health experts encourage the use of high-quality masks to prevent spreading the airborne virus.

Biden Administration Plans to Provide 400 Million N95 Masks to Americans Amid Omicron Surge

Starting next week, adults can pick up three free masks each at pharmacies, community centers and vaccination sites

When putting on or taking off a mask, handle it by the edges or straps to avoid contamination.

Covid-19

Can You Reuse a KN95 or N95 Mask? Experts Say Yes, but Follow These Steps

Regularly check for stretched-out straps, staining and soiling, which can compromise masks’ ability to filter viruses like Covid-19

With more reports on the rise, doctors and public health experts are emphasizing that vaccines against covid-19 and influenza are the best way to protect against cases of severe infection.  

Covid-19

What Is ‘Flurona’? Cases of Co-Infections Increase Amid Peak Influenza Season and Omicron Variant Surge

In the United States, most infections are being reported in young children and teens

Preliminary evidence suggests that rapid tests like Abbott BinaxNOW and Quidel QuickVue struggle to detect the omicron variant during an individual’s first few days of infection. 

Should You Add a Throat Swab to Your At-Home Covid-19 Test?

Mounting evidence suggests the extra step might catch Omicron infections earlier than a nasal swab alone, but the FDA warns against it

More than a quarter of American ICU beds are currently occupied by Covid-19 patients.

U.S. Sets Record With Over 1 Million New Daily Covid-19 Cases

Experts credit the recent surge to the spreading omicron variant and a lag in case reporting over the holidays

Sharks have been on the planet for close to 500 million years and, in that time, have developed an extraordinary immune system with immune mechanisms that mammals do not have.  

How Shark Antibodies Could Aid the Fight Against Coronavirus and Prepare for Future Outbreaks

The protein-like immune molecules were found to block SARS-Cov-2 from entering human cells

From amazing firsts on Mars to the impacts of climate change on Earth, these science stories stood out as the most important of 2021

The Ten Most Significant Science Stories of 2021

Thrilling discoveries, hurdles in the fight against Covid and advancements in space exploration defined the past year

The CDC said Thursday that “receiving any vaccine is better than being unvaccinated.”

The CDC Now Recommends Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 Vaccines Over J&J

The decision comes after more evidence linking the Johnson & Johnson shot to a rare blood clotting syndrome

The Food and Drug Administration could authorize the experimental pill within days.

Pfizer Says Covid-19 Pill Is Effective and Likely Works Against Omicron

The drug helps those already infected, but experts say vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting and spreading the virus

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The Best Books of 2021

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

Indian buffets invite a range of eaters—from the timid to the adventurous—to explore and experiment without intimidation.

Searching for Curry and Enlightenment on the Indian Buffet Line

A return to trays of glistening tandoori and hand-rolled naan for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic is a return to normalcy

To reduce the risk of contracting and spreading Omicron, experts offer the same proven advice as they do against all Covid-19 variants: social distancing, masking, and getting vaccinated and boosted.

What Experts Do and Don’t Know About the Omicron Covid-19 Variant

Scientists have dubbed Omicron a “variant of concern,” but warn against panic

The skin patch vaccine is administered by a pocket-sized device with 5,000 needle-like projections.

Covid-19

Could Skin Patches Be the Future of Covid Vaccines?

The device might survive longer storage times and pose a better option for people afraid of needles

The Food and Drug Administration And Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are likely to authorize the vaccine for young kids within the next few days.

FDA Panel Recommends Pfizer Vaccine for Children 5 to 11

The lower-dose vaccine was deemed safe and highly effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infections in young children

Since the country’s first booster shot was approved last month, some 11.6 million individuals have received the additional jab.

FDA Backs Moderna and J&J Boosters, Plus Mix-and-Match Strategy

Experts say fully vaccinated Americans are still well protected, but boosters could provide added immunity for millions

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