Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

Coronavirus shutdowns don’t need to be all or nothing

Governments are implementing more targeted restrictions like limiting restaurant capacity to slow a fall surge. Research suggests they could work.

Health & Medicine

The FDA has approved the first drug to treat the rapid-aging disease progeria

Children with a rare genetic disorder called progeria age quickly and often die before they are 15. A newly approved drug may give them more time.

Health & Medicine

Immunity to COVID-19 may persist six months or more

Even after recovery, the body continues to improve its antibody response to the coronavirus — perhaps thanks to viral bits hiding in the intestine.

Health & Medicine

Oxford and AstraZeneca say their COVID-19 vaccine works too

A third major vaccine, which may be easier to distribute than others, appears to prevent disease and maybe transmission of the coronavirus.

Health & Medicine

Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold

Both Pfizer and Moderna built their vaccines on RNA. Freezing them keeps their fragile components from breaking down.

Health & Medicine

New Pfizer results show its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective

With final results – including showing its vaccine is 94 percent effective in the elderly – Pfizer is poised to request emergency use authorization.

Neuroscience

Psilocybin may help treat depression, a small study finds

Researchers found that a compound in psychedelic mushrooms eased depression symptoms, but larger studies are needed.

Health & Medicine

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective

Another coronavirus vaccine appears to be very effective in preventing people from developing COVID-19 symptoms.

Health & Medicine

Measles has come back with a vengeance in the last several years

The steep number of measles cases in 2019 doesn’t bode well for 2020, considering disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthropology

Bolivia’s Tsimane people’s average body temperature fell half a degree in 16 years

A new study echoes other research suggesting that people’s average body temperature is lower today than it used to be.

Health & Medicine

Protecting the brain from infection may start with a gut reaction

In mice, immune cells in the meninges are trained to battle infections in the gut before migrating to the brain.

Health & Medicine

Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing. Here’s what it will take to gain control

Basic public health measures can still curb COVID-19, if everyone does their part.