pandemics

Latest in pandemics

a COVID-19 at-home test
Health

Which at-home COVID-19 test should you buy?

By Marion Renault

It’s too early to dismiss Omicron as a mild COVID variant
Health

It’s too early to dismiss Omicron as a mild COVID variant

By Philip Kiefer

A gloved hand holds a vial of COVID vaccine.
Health

Why the CDC now recommends mRNA COVID vaccines over J&J’s

By Hannah Seo

The CDC is urging pregnant people to get COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s how we know it’s safe.
Health

The CDC is urging pregnant people to get COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s how we know it’s safe.

By Kate Baggaley

Three nicotine plants with flowers in a sunny field.
Health

This new COVID vaccine uses plants as factories for viral proteins

By Philip Kiefer

A plastic plate with differently colored wells, being held up to a light by gloved hands.
Health

Researchers are racing to figure out if Omicron can beat our vaccines

By Philip Kiefer

COVID-19 can attack fat cells, but it’s still not clear what that means
Health

COVID-19 can attack fat cells, but it’s still not clear what that means

By Hannah Seo

E. coli bacteria on a green background to show germ theory vs. terrain theory
Health

This pseudoscience movement wants to wipe germs from existence

By Isobel Whitcomb

A pile of wet surgical masks that still protect from COVID
Health

Your damp or sweaty mask still works fine

By Elana Spivack

the novel coronavirus
Health

Omicron may not be more dangerous than other variants, early hospital report suggests

By Hannah Seo

A blonde person wearing a medical face mask and standing in a mostly empty airport while holding onto a white rolling suitcase.
Health

Your up-to-date guide on international travel during COVID-19

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Spiky cactus and SARS-CoV-2 viral particles on a pale yellow background to represent COVID vaccines and infertility misinformation
Health

These urologists are setting the record straight about penises and COVID

By Hallie Lieberman

Flight bans won’t stop Omicron
Health

Flight bans won’t stop Omicron

By Philip Kiefer

astrazeneca covid-19 vaccine vials
Health

New information may explain why the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine caused blood clots

By Hannah Seo

The top 10 health and medicine breakthroughs of 2021
Technology

The top 10 health and medicine breakthroughs of 2021

By Claire Maldarelli, Rebecca Sohn

Omicron isn’t going away. Here’s how to protect yourself from the latest COVID variant.
Health

Omicron isn’t going away. Here’s how to protect yourself from the latest COVID variant.

By Philip Kiefer

A frustrated blonde woman with fogged glasses while wearing a black face mask.
Health

5 ways to keep your glasses from fogging up with a mask

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Yellow soft vitamin d supplements and pills for potential covid-19 protection
Health

How much does vitamin D protect us from diseases like COVID?

By MK Menon

A sun rising over a mountain in Spain.
Health

How to tell when the COVID pandemic is nearing its end

By Philip Kiefer

Three white and pink Pfizer COVID antiviral pills in plastic packaging.
Health

You might not be ‘fully vaccinated’ soon

By Elana Spivack

A blonde child running with open arms toward an elderly woman who is ready to hug him, in a room decorated for the holidays with a lot of food on the table.
Health

When to get your kids vaccinated in time for the holidays

By Jean Levasseur

A gloved hand drawing a vaccine.
Health

Which COVID-19 booster should I get?

By Philip Kiefer

A woman in white and a child wearing a pink shirt and brown pants lying on a white bed, talking.
Health

How to talk with your kids about the COVID vaccine

By Jean Levasseur

Person with luggage traveling through airport during COVID-19 pandemic
Health

Some people have a gene that could make COVID far more deadly

By Margo Milanowski

a disposable face mask in a pile of wet fall leaves
Health

Humans created an extra 8 million tons of plastic waste during the pandemic

By Kate Baggaley

A model heart
Health

How dangerous is myocarditis? The truth about the scary-sounding condition.

By Philip Kiefer

Wild deer are giving each other COVID—a lot
Health

Wild deer are giving each other COVID—a lot

By Hannah Seo

There’s a new Delta variant. Here’s why you shouldn’t panic.
Health

There’s a new Delta variant. Here’s why you shouldn’t panic.

By Hannah Seo

A boy gets a vaccine while sitting on his mom's lap.
Health

Why are kids’ immune systems different from adults’?

By Philip Kiefer

a young woman with short, bright red hair and dark skin smiles against the background of a plain blue wall
Health

Worried about COVID vaccine side effects? Try this simple trick.

By Robin Blades

You can get a COVID booster shot. Here’s what else you need to know.
Health

You can get a COVID booster shot. Here’s what else you need to know.

By Philip Kiefer

Lego construction of house on fire meme
Health

Can I offer you a nice meme in these trying times?

By Charlotte Hu

A gloved hand holds a vial of COVID vaccine.
Health

Mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines could provide superior immunity

By Kate Baggaley

The FDA just authorized boosters for Moderna and J&J—here’s what you need to know
Health

The FDA just authorized boosters for Moderna and J&J—here’s what you need to know

By Hannah Seo

Are US booster shots sapping the world’s vaccine supply?
Health

Are US booster shots sapping the world’s vaccine supply?

By Betsy Ladyzhets

A zookeeper wearing a mask vaccinates an orangutan through a grille.
Health

Zoo animals are getting COVID vaccines made specially for them

By Philip Kiefer

holiday dinner
Health

Is it safe to travel for the holidays this year? Here’s the CDC’s advice.

By Margo Milanowski

Millions of people are vaccinated—less than 8,000 of them have died from the virus
Health

Millions of people are vaccinated—less than 8,000 of them have died from the virus

By Sara Kiley Watson

Three syringes and ampules.
Health

What the COVID-19 vaccine booster data still can’t tell us

By Philip Kiefer

FDA expert panel recommends all J&J vaccine recipients get a booster
Health

FDA expert panel recommends all J&J vaccine recipients get a booster

By Claire Maldarelli

women in hospital bed
Health

Mixing boosters, tuberculosis rising, and other COVID news you missed this week

By Margo Milanowski

A clinician readies a vaccine for injection.
Health

The FDA advisory panel recommends Moderna boosters for certain at-risk groups

By Claire Maldarelli

A child dressed as Spider-Man and a child dressed as Captain America
Health

Pfizer formally asked the FDA to authorize its COVID vaccine for kids 5 to 11

By Elana Spivack

person in car gets covid nose swab test
Health

What can viral load really tell us about infectiousness?

By Philip Kiefer

people standing in medical center hallway
Health

YouTube is blocking big anti-vax accounts, and other COVID news you missed

By Margo Milanowski

line of covid-19 vaccines
Health

If you’re unsure about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, read this

By Kate Baggaley

Unmarked vials to represent the COVID-19 vaccines in the US
Health

Which COVID-19 vaccine is the best?

By Popular Science Team

Everything you need to know about COVID booster shots
Health

Everything you need to know about COVID booster shots

By Kate Baggaley

gloved hand holding petri dish
Health

E. coli isn’t always bad—it’s actually an unlikely research hero

By Erin Fennessy

pfizer covid vaccine vials
Health

The CDC recommends booster shots for healthcare workers and other at-risk groups

By Claire Maldarelli, Sara Chodosh

A gloved hand holding a syringe and vial.
Health

CDC panel gives a thumbs-up to Pfizer boosters, but not for everyone

By Elana Spivack

What we know so far about J&J booster shots
Health

What we know so far about J&J booster shots

By Margo Milanowski

Lockdown made cities friendlier for some birds
Environment

Lockdown made cities friendlier for some birds

By Kate Baggaley

vending machine
Technology

Meat vending machines are just the latest way the pandemic has reinvented eating

By Charlotte Hu

A folded American flag rests on top of a grave stone, with other gravestones in the background.
Health

COVID-19 has now killed 1 in 500 Americans

By Hannah Seo

Will microschools dominate post-pandemic education?
Health

Will microschools dominate post-pandemic education?

By Barnett Berry/The Conversation

Vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 could be available by Halloween
Health

Vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 could be available by Halloween

By Claire Maldarelli

Biden’s new COVID vaccine mandates, explained
Health

Biden’s new COVID vaccine mandates, explained

By Claire Maldarelli

A small child is having a bandage put on his arm after receiving a shot. A caregiver stands behind him.
Health

This year’s flu season could be a rager. Shots can help.

By Hannah Seo

a rocket takes off
Science

The COVID oxygen shortage is delaying NASA rockets

By Shira Feder

A woman in bed wears a mask and reads a book.
Health

Vaccination cuts the risk of long COVID in half

By Hannah Seo

A woman lying on a bed in dim light, looking lonely.
Health

Why loneliness is increasing, and how to fight back

By Morgan Sweeney

More than 100,000 Americans are currently hospitalized for COVID-19
Health

More than 100,000 Americans are currently hospitalized for COVID-19

By Claire Maldarelli

Seriously, do not take ivermectin to treat COVID
Health

Seriously, do not take ivermectin to treat COVID

By Claire Maldarelli