Infectious Disease

Infectious Disease

An illustration of a padlock with one half depicting a DNA strand and the other half showing a green circuit board pattern, symbolizing biodefense, set against a pink background.
From global DNA screening standards to safeguards for benchtop synthesizers and AI tools, a new biosecurity playbook is taking shape.
A man with short hair and a beard, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, sits indoors in front of a wooden wall.
21mins
"By keeping people biologically younger, we can enjoy a longer health span, a longer period of healthy life where we're active, where we're happy, where we can engage in our hobbies, and play with our grandkids and great grandkids."
satellites
Scientific truths remain true regardless of belief. These 10, despite contrary claims, remain vitally important as 2025 draws to a close.
Microscopic view of green cyanobacteria chains forming spiral and linear patterns against a dark background, highlighting their role within the microbiome.
In "The Microbiome Master Key," Brett and Jessica Finlay argue that we need to stop waging war on all germs and start working with the microbes that make us who we are.
A healthcare worker wearing blue gloves gently inserts an IV into a man's hand as he lies on a hospital bed, battling lung cancer.
Here in 2025, many of us claim to come to our own conclusions by doing our own research. Here's why we're mostly deluding ourselves.
A man in glasses and a suit jacket, resembling John Green, stands in front of a light background with a purple rectangle and abstract black lines.
John Green opens up about his struggle to remain hopeful while writing about suffering and injustice.
A human cell and the Earth are shown side by side in outer space against a starry background.
1hr 11mins
“It's a remarkable series of events that were required for us to be here, and that so many things could have happened in a different way that we wouldn't be here at all, both individually, and as a species.”
A healthcare worker wearing gloves administers an injection with a syringe into a person's upper arm, reminding us that when it comes to vaccines, do your own research and stay informed.
For centuries, vaccines have been the top life-saving, expert medical intervention known to humans. How can individuals make the right call?
lab leak SARS-CoV-2
In theory, scientists could've produced a deadly virus that accidentally infected lab workers. In practice, we know that didn't happen.
From a vantage point reminiscent of Carl Zimmer's explorations, an aerial view captures a massive swirling cloud formation over Earth, resembling a hurricane or cyclone against the infinite darkness of space.
In his new book, the popular science writer tells the story of how scientists discovered the “gaseous ocean” we all swim in — and the trillions of invisible life forms we share it with.
round Earth messenger
All scientific theories are limited in scope, power, and application, being mere approximations of reality. That's why consensus is vital.
covid nasal spray
A new bill introduced into the US Senate claims to make us safer. Instead, it would destroy all virology research, and for no real cause.
Group of people in a formal setting, with a man holding a large book, others standing nearby, and photographers capturing the scene. There is a large portrait and flags in the background.
We're all entitled to our own opinions, no matter how ill-informed they are. But facts are facts; we can't just choose the ones we prefer.
Large hall with rows of hospital beds occupied by patients and attended by medical staff, likely during an early 20th-century medical crisis.
Caitlin Rivers wants to tell the story of epidemiology and the public health heroes who keep the world safe and healthy.
Orange spherical cell with elongated extensions against a black background.
Some go gently into the night. Others die less prettily in freak accidents or deadly invasions, or after a showy display.
A person in protective gear cautiously holds a white chicken inside a controlled environment chamber, underscoring precautions against bird flu.
Differences in certain avian and mammalian proteins explain why avian influenza doesn't (typically) infect humans.
Illustration depicting human evolution from a primate to an early human holding a spear, advancing from left to right.
8mins
Biological evolution in humans has slowed. Can AI, culture wars, and modern tech explain why?
SARS-CoV-2 first emerged in humans in 2019. Despite much noise generated by lab leak proponents, the evidence indicates a natural origin.
A person with a bandage on their arm after receiving an HPV vaccination, with a focus on a vial of the Gardasil vaccine.
More than 90% of sexually active men will be infected with human papillomavirus in their lifetime. The virus may reduce fertility.
A tick clinging to a blade of grass against a green background.
More than 90% of ticks that bit treated volunteers were dead within 24 hours.
A black and white image of a black and white image of a black and white image of a black and white image of a.
We don’t yet know if these strange “obelisks” are helpful or harmful.
A banknote with a portrait of a man in a hat.
New DNA analyses raise questions over the theory that Christopher Columbus and his men brought syphilis to Europe.
A man in a blue shirt is holding his neck in front of a laptop, possibly experiencing inflammation.
Western societies seem to be getting inflammation achingly wrong.
A young boy is getting an RSV injection from a doctor.
The FDA approved a single-dose, long-acting injection to protect babies and toddlers from RSV over the fall and winter.
A close up image of a cell exhibiting immune resilience.
People with higher immune resilience live longer, resist diseases, and are more likely to survive diseases when they do develop.
A man wearing a face mask walks past a poster of a coronavirus, symbolizing the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
Artificial intelligence can forecast the behavior of viruses and quickly make vaccines to thwart them.
EBT-101 is not the only candidate for an HIV cure. Stem cell transplants, medications, and other CRISPR therapies are being researched.
A person in a protective suit working in a mRNA vaccine factory.
AI was key to making Moderna's COVID mRNA vaccine. Its role in mRNA therapeutics will rapidly grow in the coming years.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, a group of individuals lay together on beds in a vast room, seeking solace and care.
The young and healthy were not just as likely to die as the old and frail, according to a new analysis.
Cells
It temporarily puts the immune system on high alert to prevent MRSA, pneumonia, and other infections in the hospital.