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Health & Medicine

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine stimulates an immune response in people

An mRNA vaccine triggers the immune system to make as many virus-blocking antibodies as in people who have recovered from COVID-19, early data show.

Chemistry

Astronauts may be able to make cement using their own pee

Lunar dust and a compound found in urine could be used to build future dwellings on the moon, a new study finds.

Science & Society

Past plagues offer lessons for society after the coronavirus pandemic

Starting with the Roman Empire, societies have often dealt resiliently with deadly pandemics.

Paleontology

Saber-toothed anchovy relatives hunted in the sea 50 million years ago

Unlike today’s plankton-eating anchovies with tiny teeth, ancient anchovy kin had lower jaw of sharp spikes paired with a single giant sabertooth.

Health & Medicine

T cells may help COVID-19 patients — and people never exposed to the virus

Researchers found certain immune cells that help the body fight off an infection in the blood of people who recovered from a coronavirus infection.

Chemistry

Moisture, not light, explains why Munch’s ‘The Scream’ is deteriorating

Edvard Munch’s 1910 “The Scream” is famous for its loud colors. New insight into paint preservation could keep those pigments from fading out.

Archaeology

50 years ago, explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s Atlantic crossing hit a snag

Explorer Thor Heyerdahl followed an aborted Atlantic voyage with a second trip that indicated ancient Egyptians could have traveled over long distances by sea.

Climate

These 6 books explore climate change science and solutions

Science News staff read recent books about climate change to help guide you to which ones you might like.

Humans

Malaria parasites may have their own circadian rhythms

Plasmodium parasites don’t depend on a host for an internal clock, studies suggest.

Earth

Long-dormant volcano Mauna Kea has been quietly grumbling for decades

Small, periodic earthquakes have happened every seven to 12 minutes for decades, but aren’t reason for alarm, a new study finds.

Anthropology

Africa’s biggest collection of ancient human footprints has been found

Preserved impressions in East Africa offer a glimpse of ancient human behavior.

Neuroscience

Blind people can ‘see’ letters traced directly onto their brains

Arrays of electrodes can trace shapes onto people’s brains, creating bursts of light that people can “see.”