Laura Beil

Laura Beil

Contributing Correspondent

Laura Beil is an independent journalist specializing in medicine, health policy and science. She was the recipient of the Victor Cohn Prize for Medical Science Reporting in 2018. In addition to being a contributing correspondent at Science News, her work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Reader's Digest, Men's Health, and other magazines. She began freelancing in 2007 after working as medical writer for the Dallas Morning News from 1992 to 2006. In 2018, she reported and hosted the podcast Dr. Death, which has been downloaded more than 50 million times.

All Stories by Laura Beil

  1. Health & Medicine

    Will animal-to-human organ transplants overcome their complicated history?

    The elusive goal of using animal organs for transplants could be within reach, but it’s too soon to tell.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Can supplements really help fight COVID-19? Here’s what we know and don’t know

    Unless you’re deficient, there’s little evidence yet for taking Vitamin D and other supplements to treat or prevent a coronavirus infection.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Stem cell clinics’ much-hyped treatments lack scientific support

    Stem cell treatments for knee pain are strong on marketing, weak on science.

  4. Health & Medicine

    New approaches may help solve the Lyme disease diagnosis dilemma

    Lyme disease is hard to detect, but scientists are investigating new diagnostic approaches.

  5. Health & Medicine

    Vitamin D supplements aren’t living up to their hype

    Once seen as a supplement with a long list of benefits, vitamin D’s glow may be dimming.

  6. Health & Medicine

    A gut-brain link for Parkinson’s gets a closer look

    Early evidence suggests that Parkinson’s may be a gut disease that affects the brain.

  7. Health & Medicine

    The brain may clean out Alzheimer’s plaques during sleep

    Sleep deprivation may speed up development of Alzheimer’s disease.

  8. Neuroscience

    Depression among new mothers is finally getting some attention

    Scientists search new mothers’ minds for clues to postpartum depression.

  9. Environment

    Pollution killed 9 million people in 2015

    First global look estimates the massive human and financial toll caused by pollution-related health problems.

  10. Health & Medicine

    A universal flu shot may be nearing reality

    Scientists are developing a universal vaccine against flu, making annual shots a thing of the past.

  11. Environment

    The list of diseases linked to air pollution is growing

    Air pollution levels have come down since the 1970s, but smog is being linked with a growing list of diseases, including dementia, obesity, diabetes and even Parkinson’s.

  12. Genetics

    The Zika epidemic began long before anyone noticed

    Zika spread undetected into Brazil and Florida, a genetic study suggests.