Nicoletta Lanese

Nicoletta Lanese

Channel Editor, Health

Articles by: Nicoletta Lanese

illustration of an RNA virus spilling its contents into a cell to infect it; there's a cut-away through the virus so you can see the RNA molecule inside

Scientists discover viruses that secretly rule the world's oceans

By Nicoletta Lanese published

RNA viruses may influence the flow of carbon through the ocean.

a map of the globe with countries with monkeypox cases marked

More than 1,000 cases of monkeypox detected in 29 countries

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated

The CDC raised the alert level for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak as the nation's case count hit 30 and the global case count rose above 1,000.

t cells converging on a cancer cell

Experimental rectal cancer drug caused all patients' tumors to disappear in small trial

By Nicoletta Lanese published

More research is needed to know if the patients' cancer could return.

bottle of melatonin tablets with pills on a table

Melatonin poisonings on the rise in US kids

By Nicoletta Lanese published

About 4,000 children were hospitalized after ingesting huge amounts of melatonin.

The newly described D. xiezhi had a protective head shield and a shorter neck than its giraffoid cousins.

Short-necked giraffe relative discovered in China. It used its helmet head to bash rivals.

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists uncovered 16.9 million-year-old fossils of the beast.

hand holding an ultrasound scan of twins in a womb; in the background, two infants can be seen sitting

Texas woman gives birth to rare set of twins conceived one week apart. How is this possible?

By Nicoletta Lanese published

This phenomenon is called "superfetation."

photo of plastic containers of strawberries in grocery store refrigerator

Contaminated strawberries linked to hepatitis outbreak, FDA says

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Health agencies in the U.S. and Canada are investigating the outbreak.

photo of baby in a crib sleeping on her back

No, scientists didn't discover the cause of SIDS. Here's what they did find.

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The results of the study were initially overstated on social media.

A video clip shows an adult Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin rubbing against a bush-like coral on the seafloor.

Red Sea dolphins slather their skin in coral mucus, because nature is wonderfully gross

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Young dolphins seem to learn this skin care routine from their elders.

Pox viruses (shown here in this illustration) like monkeypox are oval-shaped with double-strand DNA.

Rare monkeypox infections detected in several European countries

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated

It's unknown whether the monkeypox cases in different countries are linked.

photo of little penguins marching onto phillip island from the water

5,000 of the world's smallest penguins waddle onto Australian beach in record-breaking parade

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A nightly penguin parade takes place on Phillip Island.

The GOES-17 satellite captured images of an umbrella cloud generated by the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on Jan. 15, 2022. Crescent-shaped bow shock waves and numerous lighting strikes are also visible.

Record-shattering Tonga volcanic eruption sent atmospheric waves zipping around the Earth

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The eruption triggered huge atmospheric waves called Lamb waves.

Artist rendition of coronavirus under a microscope. there are 5 spherical cells, each with trumpet-shaped spikes all over.

What are viruses?

By Aparna Vidyasagar published

Reference Viruses are microscopic parasites that lack the capacity to thrive and reproduce outside of a host body.

illustration of b cells

Scientists finally have proof of mysterious immune cell in humans

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The existence of these cells was hotly debated.

A nearly empty baby formula display shelf is seen at a Target store in Orlando

US baby formula shortage: What to know

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The shortage has grown steadily worse in recent weeks.

a Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) hanging from a cave ceiling

Bats tell predators to 'buzz off' — literally

By Nicoletta Lanese published

This is a unique example of animal mimicry.

Author Chloe Gustafson and mountaineer Meghan Seifert installing a magnetotelluric station on the Whillans Ice Stream, West Antarctica.

'Giant MRI of Antarctica' reveals 'fossil seawater' under ice sheet

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Fossil seawater can be found in the depths of the aquifer.

Demonstrators during an abortion-rights protest in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

Roe v. Wade FAQ: What if abortion rights law gets overturned?

By Rachael Rettner, Nicoletta Lanese published

Here are answers to questions about what could happen if the landmark ruling is overturned.

middle aged man sitting and looking at laptop with slight confusion and frustration

Severe COVID-19 may cause similar cognitive deficits as 20 years of aging

By Nicoletta Lanese published

People hospitalized for COVID-19 showed cognitive impairments.

aedes aegypti mosquito

How do mosquitoes sniff out humans to bite?

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Some mosquitoes can smell humans from a distance.

front steps of the us supreme court

Roe v. Wade: Facts about the landmark case

By Nicoletta Lanese published

In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling.

photo of the Murchison meteorite on a stand at a museum

These meteorites contain all of the building blocks of DNA

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Could these compounds have helped to spark life on Earth?

illustration of a clock with various animal species depicted on its face, instead of numbers

Ticking time bombs of DNA mutation may dictate when animals die

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Mutational clocks may drive the aging process.

CDC facility from the outside

Cluster of mysterious hepatitis cases in US children prompts CDC health alert

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The CDC alerted doctors to be on the lookout for more cases.

Woman holds her head in both hands with her eyes closed; the background is blurred around her as if she's spinning or dizzy

Woman's sudden dizziness and hearing loss had a rare cause

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Air bubbles were trapped in the woman's ear.

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