Heidi Ledford works for Nature magazine.
Scientists React to RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has expressed support for some fields of science but has also declared he’d like a “break” in infectious-disease research. Here’s what he might do as the U.S.’s newly confirmed secretary of health and human services
Solving Inflammatory Bowel Disease’s Mysteries May Lead to New Therapies
Understanding genetics, immunology and the microbiomes of people with inflammatory bowel disease could aid in finding the right treatments for the condition
Cells Organize Themselves into ‘Neighborhoods’ That Could Shape Treatment
“Cell atlases” offer an unprecedented look at how kidney cells become diseased and how fetal cells invade and remodel the placenta’s blood vessels
Could Endometriosis Be Caused by Bacteria? Study Offers Fresh Clues
A link between endometriosis and bacterial infection suggests a potential way to treat the painful disorder
Evidence of 1-Billion-Year-Old ‘Lost World’ of Microbes Discovered beneath Australian Outback
Fatlike compounds in ancient rocks point to a vast array of previously unknown microbes that once dominated complex life on Earth
Severe COVID May Cause Brain Changes Similar to Aging
Key genes that are active in the brains of older people are also active in the brains of people who developed serious COVID
In First, Scientists Use CRISPR for Personalized Cancer Treatment
The “most complicated therapy ever” tailors bespoke, genome-edited immune cells to attack tumors
Internet and Extremism Experts Predict More Hate Speech and Conspiracy Theories on Musk’s Twitter
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, extremists could flock back to Twitter under the guise of “free speech,” and researchers are gearing up to study their impact
Neurons in a Dish Learn to Play Pong
A cellular version of the computer game challenges assumptions about intelligence
New Polio Outbreaks Worldwide Put Scientists on Alert
Cases of paralysis in the U.S. and Israel suggest vaccine-derived poliovirus has infected many people
A Deluge of New Drugs for COVID
Two years into the pandemic, the COVID-19 drugs pipeline is primed to pump out novel treatments—and fresh uses for familiar therapies.
Can Drugs Reduce the Risk of Long COVID? What Scientists Know So Far
Researchers are trying to establish whether existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments can prevent lasting symptoms
How Severe Are Omicron Infections?
A rapidly spreading variant could dangerously strain health-care systems, even if the severe disease risk is relatively low for an individual
Should Children Get COVID Vaccines? What the Science Says
With vaccination campaigns underway in some countries while others weigh the options, Nature looks at the evidence for vaccinating younger people
Six Months of COVID Vaccines: What 1.7 Billion Doses Have Taught Scientists
At a pivotal moment in the pandemic, Nature explores key questions about the vaccines that countries are racing to deliver while viral variants spread around the globe
Delaying a COVID Vaccine’s Second Dose Boosts Immune Response in the Elderly
People older than 80 who waited 11 to 12 weeks for their second jab had higher peak antibody levels than did those who waited only three weeks
Malaria Vaccine Shows Promise—Now Come Tougher Trials
Preliminary results suggest the vaccine is up to 77 percent effective in young children, but researchers await larger studies
How Could a COVID Vaccine Cause Blood Clots?
Researchers are searching for possible links between unusual clotting and the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine
Scientists Grew Tiny Tear Glands in a Dish—Then Made Them Cry
Organoids made of tear-producing cells offer chances to study, and possibly treat, eye disorders
COVID Antibody Treatments Show Promise for Preventing Severe Disease
Uptake by patients and physicians has been low in the U.S. even though some therapies have been authorized for months
Moderna COVID Vaccine Becomes Second to Get U.S. Authorization
Two RNA vaccines will be useful as U.S. infections surge, but the speedy authorizations complicate clinical trials
Evidence for Convalescent Plasma Coronavirus Treatment Lags behind Excitement
Despite calls for more rigorous clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency authorization for the therapy
The Coronavirus Outbreak Could Make it Quicker and Easier to Trial Drugs
Remote clinical trials and other changes could permanently alter pharmaceutical development
CRISPR Gene Editing in Human Embryos Wreaks Chromosome Mayhem
Three studies showing large DNA deletions and reshuffling heighten safety concerns about heritable genome editing