Articles by: Rachael Rettner

Rachael Rettner

Rachael has been with Live Science since 2010. She has a masters degree in journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and a Master of Science in biology from the University of California, San Diego.

Articles by: Rachael Rettner

Electron microscopy images of monkey cells infected with the virus show tentacle-like projections.

Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

By Yasemin Saplakoglu, Jeanna Bryner, Rachael Rettner

Among the top news today: The U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and there have now been more than 32.2 million COVID-19 cases reported worldwide.

1st US airline offers rapid COVID-19 testing to some passengers

By Rachael Rettner

Customers will have the option to take a COVID-19 test at the airport or to submit a self-collected mail-in test.

Nurses and healthcare workers mourn and remember their colleagues who died of COVID-19 during a demonstration outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on April 10, 2020.

US reaches staggering milestone — 200,000 COVID-19 deaths

By Rachael Rettner

It took eight months to reach 200,000 deaths.

A person getting a flu shot while wearing a face mask.

Flu season may be very mild this year, thanks to COVID-19 precautions

By Rachael Rettner

Flu activity in the U.S. right now is at "historical lows," according to a new report.

Close-up of a woman wearing glasses and a face mask.

Could wearing glasses lower the risk of COVID-19?

By Rachael Rettner

It's still too early to recommend that everyone don eyeglasses, goggles or face shields in public to protect against COVID-19.

A hand sanitizer dispenser next to an elevator.

COVID-19 may become a seasonal virus

By Rachael Rettner

COVID-19 may eventually become a seasonal illness like the flu.

Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating" amoeba

13-year-old dies of rare 'brain-eating' amoeba after swimming in Florida lake

By Rachael Rettner

Infections with this organism are almost universally fatal, with less than a 3% survival rate.

Friends drinking cocktails with their face masks pulled down.

Eating out may be riskier than riding a bus during COVID-19 pandemic

By Rachael Rettner

People who tested positive for COVID-19 were twice as likely to report dining at a restaurant before becoming sick than people who tested negative.

Flu shot facts & side effects

By Rachael Rettner

The seasonal flu shot is a yearly vaccine administered to protect against the flu, or influenza. In the United States, flu shots are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older.

When scientists mixed the new coronavirus with heart cells in a lab dish, the virus appeared to carve heart muscle fibers into small fragments. On the left, an image of healthy heart muscle cells, which have long fibers that allow them to contract. On the right, an image of heart muscle cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 in which the long fibers appeared to be diced into small pieces.

Coronavirus may dice heart muscle fibers into tiny snippets, remove cells' DNA

By Rachael Rettner

The finding is unlike anything researchers have seen before.

Images of SARS-CoV-2 captured with a scanning electron microscope. The SARS-CoV-2 virus particles appear as tiny, ball-looking structures. The noodle-like projections in the images are cilia, or hair-like structures on the surface of some airway cells.

Creepy images show airway cells teeming with SARS-CoV-2

By Rachael Rettner

The images were captured with a scanning electron microscope.

Droplets from a simulated cough easily move around the sides of a face shield in a new visualization.

Visualization shows face shields may not protect against COVID-19 spread

By Rachael Rettner

Droplets from a simulation cough spread about 3 feet to the front and sides of the face shield.

A teen unknowingly swallowed a sewing pin. It pierced his heart.

By Rachael Rettner

The 17-year-old went to the emergency room after experiencing chest pain for three days.

Some companies are packaging hand sanitizer in water bottles.

Hand sanitizers sold in beer cans and children's food pouches? Don't buy them, FDA says.

By Rachael Rettner

Some hand sanitizer products are being packaged in containers typically used for food and drinks.

A doctor holding a vaccine vial and syringe.

China started giving experimental COVID-19 vaccine to medical workers in July

By Rachael Rettner

The vaccine has been approved for emergency use in medical workers, customs and border officials and other high risk groups.

A stock photo of a commercial fishing boat.

Fishing boat outbreak suggests antibodies protect against COVID-19 reinfection

By Rachael Rettner

Three crew members had neutralizing antibodies against the virus prior to the boat's departure.

California reports first human plague case in 5 years

By Rachael Rettner

"Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious," officials said.

FDA approves new saliva test for COVID-19 that's simple, cheap and available now

By Rachael Rettner

The test doesn't require any proprietary equipment or technology, meaning designated laboratories could follow a specific protocol to conduct their own tests.