Science in the News

  1. Health & Medicine

    COVID-19 is hitting some patients with obesity particularly hard

    Doctors say some of their sickest COVID-19 patients are young and obese. One study shows they have higher rates of hospital admission and death.

    By Dawn Fallik
  2. Physics

    Gravitational waves have revealed the first unevenly sized black hole pair

    For the first time, LIGO and Virgo scientists spotted gravitational waves produced when one big black hole merged with a smaller one.

    By Emily Conover
  3. Humans

    Here’s where things stand on COVID-19 tests in the U.S.

    Government officials are weighing how to loosen social distancing measures across the United States, but that hinges on widespread COVID-19 testing.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  4. Health & Medicine

    Why 6 feet may not be enough social distance to avoid COVID-19

    Scientists who study airflow warn that virus-laden drops may travel farther than thought.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  5. Health & Medicine

    Why African-Americans may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19

    African-Americans are more likely to die from COVID-19 than white Americans, data show. Experts blame long-standing health disparities.

    By Sujata Gupta
  6. Health & Medicine

    Meet Sophia Upshaw, a volunteer in a coronavirus vaccine trial

    In Seattle and Atlanta, scientists have started testing the safety of a potential vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

    By Laura Sanders
  7. Health & Medicine

    Can fabric masks stem the coronavirus’ spread?

    It’s unclear whether homemade masks made from fabric will prevent an infected person from spreading the virus to others, experts say.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  8. Health & Medicine

    Warm weather probably won’t slow COVID-19 transmission much

    While some evidence has suggested higher temperatures can affect coronavirus transmission, summer’s arrival probably won’t curb the pandemic much.

    By Jonathan Lambert
  9. Health & Medicine

    Can plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients treat the sick?

    Researchers are racing to set up clinical trials of antibody-rich convalescent plasma from recovered patients to treat or prevent COVID-19.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  10. Math

    How large a gathering is too large during the coronavirus pandemic?

    Mathematical models explain why large gatherings are especially dangerous in an epidemic, and identify how large is too large.

    By Dana Mackenzie
  11. Health & Medicine

    How coronavirus control measures could affect its global death toll

    Slowing the virus’ spread will save millions of lives, but differences among countries could vary the pandemic’s toll in different places.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  12. Animals

    A cat appears to have caught the coronavirus, but it’s complicated

    While a cat in Belgium seems to be the first feline infected with SARS-CoV-2, it’s still unclear how susceptible pets are to the disease.

    By Helen Thompson