Latest articles by Nicoletta Lanese
Science news this week: Artemis II lifts off, diabetes cured in mice, and smog in China shapes Arctic storms
April 4, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
'It could revolutionize, completely, the way we treat depression': Researchers are exploring promising immune therapy for treating psychiatric symptoms
INTERVIEW Live Science spoke with the scientists behind an upcoming clinical trial testing an immune therapy for depression.
'Some of them have accuracy that's close to zero': Experts unpack the promise and pitfalls of genetic tests aimed at consumers
INTERVIEW Live Science spoke with a bioethicist and sociologist about emerging genomic technologies, including those that enable parents to "score" and "select" IVF embryos.
Emerging embryo-selection technologies are currently 'little more than snake oil.' But someday, they could widen social inequities.
Book In the book "What We Inherit," experts unpack long-standing myths about genes and how those myths could shape public opinion around emerging embryo-selection technologies.
'Universal' nasal-spray vaccine protects against viruses, bacteria and allergens in mice
In an early animal test, a new nasal-spray vaccine has shown promise against a variety of germs and a common allergen, scientists report.
Are you a night owl or an early bird?
Research suggests night owls may face different health risks than early birds do. Which category do you fit into, if either?
'There's no reason to ban us from playing': Analysis debunks notion that transgender women have inherent physical advantages in sports
A meta-analysis of 52 studies that included over 5,000 transgender people suggests that transgender women's physical fitness after hormone therapy is comparable to that of cisgender women.
South Carolina's measles outbreak nears 790 cases — making it the biggest in decades
Nearly 790 people, primarily children, have been infected in South Carolina's ongoing measles outbreak, officials report.
The UK has lost its measles elimination status — again
Measles has been spreading continuously in the U.K. for over a year, meaning the country has lost its elimination status.
New US food pyramid recommends very high protein diet, beef tallow as healthy fat option, and full-fat dairy
The federal government has released new dietary guidelines, introducing an emphasis on consuming meat and dairy and avoiding highly processed foods.
'Mitochondrial transfer' into nerves could relieve chronic pain, early study hints
A new study reveals that nerve cells receive periodic infusions of mitochondria from neighboring cells — and this may point to a new way of treating nerve pain.
US government overhauls the childhood vaccine schedule in unprecedented move
Federal health officials are attempting to make the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule more like that of Denmark. Experts say the decision lacks scientific backing.
An experimental mRNA treatment counters immune cell aging in mice
A trio of mRNA molecules could help guard against the harmful effects of aging on immune cells, a study in mice finds.
From gene therapy breakthroughs to preventable disease outbreaks: The health trends that will shape 2026
Opinion Live Science's health channel editor makes predictions about the medical breakthroughs and public health shifts to come in 2026.
Scientists are developing a 'self-driving' device that helps patients recover from heart attacks
INTERVIEW Live Science spoke with Dr. Joe Alexander of NTT Research about "digital twins" and the development of an autonomous device for acute cardiac care.
Year in review: The standout health stories of 2025, from measles outbreaks to AI-made viruses
Catch up on the latest trends in health news in this roundup of long-reads compiled by Live Science's health channel editor.
Tooth-in-eye surgery, 'blood chimerism,' and a pregnancy from oral sex: 12 wild medical cases we covered in 2025
Here are a dozen strange and interesting tales from the medical literature.
Diagnostic dilemma quiz: Can you guess the diagnosis in these strange medical cases?
Based on our "Diagnostic Dilemma" series, this quiz tests your medical know-how.
Neuroscience word search — Find all the parts of the brain
How well do you know that organ between your ears? Test your recognition of neuroscience terms with this word search.
An otherwise 'fit' man had a stroke after drinking 8 'high-potency' energy drinks a day
A man with few risk factors unexpectedly experienced a stroke, and his daily energy drink habit may have been to blame.
'Unprecedented': Woman delivers full-term abdominal pregnancy while also having 22-pound cyst removed
A California woman was scheduled to have a large cyst removed but, in the lead-up to the procedure, learned she had a rare ectopic pregnancy.
Man caught rabies from organ transplant after donor was scratched by skunk
A Michigan man died of rabies despite having no recent exposure to a potentially infected animal.
CDC panel, stuffed with vaccine skeptics, votes to end recommendation for universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination
The CDC's vaccine committee has voted to roll back a universal recommendation that newborns be vaccinated against hepatitis B, which is one of public health's major success stories.
'Intelligence comes at a price, and for many species, the benefits just aren't worth it': A neuroscientist's take on how human intellect evolved
Book In his book "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin explores explanations for how consciousness evolved, and ultimately, what makes us human.
