Meghan Rosen headhsot

Meghan Rosen

Staff Writer, Biological Sciences

Meghan Rosen is a staff writer who reports on the life sciences for Science News. She earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology with an emphasis in biotechnology from the University of California, Davis, and later graduated from the science communication program at UC Santa Cruz. Prior to joining Science News in 2022, she was a media relations manager at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her work has appeared in Wired, Science, and The Washington Post, among other outlets. Once for McSweeney’s, she wrote about her kids’ habit of handing her trash, a story that still makes her (and them) laugh.

All Stories by Meghan Rosen

  1. Health & Medicine

    Early mRNA research that led to COVID-19 vaccines wins 2023 medicine Nobel Prize

    Biochemists Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman devised mRNA modifications to make vaccines that trigger good immune responses instead of harmful ones.

  2. Animals

    Seen Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster? Data suggest the odds are low

    Floe Foxon is a data scientist by day. But in his free time, he applies his skills to astronomy, cryptology and sightings of mythical creatures.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Mouth taping may be a trending sleep hack, but the science behind it is slim

    Mouth taping is big on social media, but few studies have evaluated it. Some evidence suggests that sealing the lips shut may help people with sleep apnea.

  4. Health & Medicine

    Doctors found a live python parasite in a woman’s brain

    The infection is the first known case of the worm Ophidascaris robertsi in a person. It’s not the only type of worm that can infect human brains.

  5. Animals

    The world’s highest-dwelling mammal isn’t the only rodent at extreme elevation

    After discovering a mouse living nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, scientists scoured other extreme environments to make sure the find wasn’t a fluke.

  6. Health & Medicine

    What we still don’t know about Wegovy’s effect on strokes and heart attacks

    A clinical trial suggests that semaglutide, a drug used to treat obesity and diabetes, may protect cardiovascular health in a broad group of people.

  7. Health & Medicine

    Why are more people under 50 getting colorectal cancer? Scientists have some clues

    Science News spoke with doctors about their research into early-onset colorectal cancer. Here’s what they’re learning and what questions remain.

  8. Life

    A fantastical world of potential giant viruses lurks beneath the soil

    Giant viruses were already known for their large sizes. A close look at a scoop of soil shows that they may come in a variety of funky shapes as well.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Many sports supplements have no trace of their key ingredients

    A chemical analysis of 57 supplements found that 40 percent had undetectable amounts of key ingredients. Only 11 percent had accurate amounts.

  10. Neuroscience

    Elyse G.’s brain is fabulous. It’s also missing a big chunk

    A new project explores interesting brains to better understand neural flexibility.

  11. Earth

    Wildfires aren’t going away. Here’s how smoke can affect your health

    How does repeat exposure to wildfire smoke affect our health? Three experts weigh in on the massive air pollution fueled by Canada’s ongoing fires.

  12. Animals

    A grisly trick helps snow flies survive freezing: self-amputation

    When a snow fly’s leg begins to freeze, a quick amputation can prevent ice from spreading, keeping the cold-hardy insect alive.