
Nicoletta Lanese
Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She holds a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains heavily involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.
Latest articles by Nicoletta Lanese

Why America is losing its 50-year 'war on cancer,' according to scientist Nafis Hasan
By Nafis Hasan published
"This line of attack in the War on Cancer has had few meaningful outcomes for cancer patients."

Biological aging may not be driven by what we thought
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A new study draws a line between random genetic mutations and predictable epigenetic changes used to measure biological aging.

2nd form of bird flu detected in US cows
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A branch of the H5N1 bird flu family tree that hadn't previously been seen in cattle has now been detected in dairy cows.

Scientists are building an ultimate atlas of the vagina. Here's why.
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Scientists are studying the vaginal microbiome in populations all around the world to see how it might differ in different people and in health and disease.

Massive study of 3 million people reveals genetic 'hotspots' linked to bipolar disorder
By Sibani Ram published
A new study has greatly expanded the number of gene variants thought to be tied to bipolar disorder.

Massive tuberculosis outbreak sickens dozens in Kansas
By Nicoletta Lanese last updated
An ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in two Kansas counties has sickened dozens since January 2024.

Chinese scientists created mice with 2 dads — and they survived to adulthood
By Nicoletta Lanese published
By modifying 20 regions of the genome, scientists successfully bred mice with two male parents and raised them to maturity.

Faster brain aging tied to X chromosome inherited from Mom
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Female mammals typically carry two X chromosomes — one from each parent — and a new study suggests that the maternal X is linked to faster brain aging.

FDA bans red dye No. 3 in food
By Nicoletta Lanese published
The FDA will no longer allow red dye No. 3 in foods or ingested drugs, citing evidence that high doses of the dye can cause cancer in male rats. There is no evidence it's carcinogenic in humans.

Scientists discover new kind of cartilage that looks like fat-filled 'Bubble Wrap'
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A new study describes a type of cartilage that may have been discovered, forgotten and found again at several points in history.

'Reanimated' herpes viruses lurking in the brain may link concussions and dementia
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A study using lab-made models of the brain suggests that a herpes virus may be a key link between concussions and dementia risk.

1st deadly case of H5N1 bird flu reported in US
By Nicoletta Lanese published
The patient in Louisiana who contracted a severe case of bird flu has died, officials announced.

Pet cats in Los Angeles County are catching bird flu from raw food, milk
By Nicoletta Lanese published
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has warned that raw pet food products have tested positive for bird flu and sickened pet cats in the area.

15 times the brain blew our minds in 2024
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Lab-grown minibrains, remarkable brain scans and psychedelic trips — take a look back at some of Live Science's most interesting neuroscience stories from 2024.

10 'superbug' stories from 2024, from bacterial 'Kryptonite' to deep-sea antibiotics
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Antibiotic and antifungal drug resistance pose a major public health threat. Live Science is covering the spread of this problem and the potential solutions that are emerging in turn.

Health news quiz: Test your knowledge of medical research from 2024
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Newfound cells, ancient DNA, groundbreaking surgeries — test your memory of health discoveries from 2024.

Case report quiz: What's the diagnosis? Test your knowledge of medical cases from 2024
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Doctors write case reports to call attention to unique, unusual or perplexing medical cases. Do you remember these stand-out cases from 2024?

The biggest health news of 2024, from bird flu to CRISPR
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Health channel editor Nicoletta Lanese looks back on some of our standout health stories from 2024.

Some schizophrenia cases stem from malformations of the skull, study suggests
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A new study hints at a "previously recognized" mechanism that links a rare chromosomal disorder to schizophrenia.

'Mystery disease' in Congo turned out to be malaria — and potentially, another disease
By Nicoletta Lanese published
An initially "unknown" illness affecting hundreds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may be attributable to malaria, malnutrition and a viral infection. But investigations are ongoing.

Recycled black plastic can contain flame retardants, viral study found. That's still true — but their math was off
By Michael Schubert last updated
Researchers detected flame retardants in household items made from recycled black plastic. The study later received a correction — but regardless of this paper, the chemicals' health effects remain unclear.

Person in Louisiana hospitalized with H5N1 in nation's 1st severe case
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the United States' first serious case of H5N1 bird flu, following 60 milder cases this year.

'She was waiting for a 1-in-a-million match': Alabama woman is the 3rd patient to ever get a pig kidney
By Nicoletta Lanese published
An Alabama woman underwent a transplant procedure to get a new kidney from a gene-edited pig.
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