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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

An illustration of SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

By Yasemin Saplakoglu, Jeanna Bryner, Rachael Rettner

Among the top coronavirus news out today are: As the U.S. prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July, new coronavirus cases continue to surge, breaking records in multiple states.

Woman wears a facemask on a bus.

14 Coronavirus myths busted by science

By Rachael Rettner

There's plenty of nonsense about the coronavirus online. Here are some of the biggest COVID-19 myths out there and the science to explain why they aren't true.

Officials in Astana, Kazakhstan carry out disinfection measures due to COVID-19 on March 30.

Deadly 'unknown pneumonia' outbreak in Kazakhstan is probably undiagnosed COVID-19

By Rachael Rettner

It's very likely that these mystery cases of pneumonia are in fact COVID-19.

A store sign telling customers to stay 6 feet apart.

WHO releases new COVID-19 guidance on airborne transmission, but it doesn't change much

By Rachael Rettner

WHO still maintains that COVID-19 is largely spread through larger droplets from coughs and sneezes.

A person applying hand sanitizer to their hand from a bottle.

How hand sanitizer caused a man's unusual 'hangover'

By Rachael Rettner

The man was taking disulfiram, a medication to treat alcohol abuse that causes hangover-like effects.

Images of a human brain scan

COVID-19 is tied to deadly brain inflammation in some patients

By Rachael Rettner

COVID-19 may cause dangerous neurological problems.

Cows and sheep on a field in Inner Mongolia.

Bubonic plague case confirmed in China's Inner Mongolia

By Rachael Rettner

Cases of plague crop up from time to time on nearly every continent worldwide.

A firework sparlker

Hand sanitizer and fireworks don't mix, experts warn

By Rachael Rettner

It's a dangerous combo.

A lab worker's gloved hand hold sample with forceps.

Lab tech develops fatal brain condition after accident with 'mad cow disease' samples

By Rachael Rettner

The woman was accidentally exposed to prions, the infectious proteins that cause "mad cow disease."

The inside of a pig farm.

New flu virus with 'pandemic potential' found in pigs. Here's what that means.

By Rachael Rettner

Scientists in China are now warning that they have identified a new flu virus in pigs that could possibly cause a future flu pandemic.

A health care professional conducting a COVID-19 test at a drive through testing site.

Many Americans with COVID-19 don't know how they got infected, survey suggests

By Rachael Rettner

Many Americans with COVID-19 can't pinpoint how they got the infection, a new study suggests.

In a new visualization, researchers simulated a cough, which appears as a glowing green vapor flowing from a mannequin's mouth. The visualizations shows that face masks dramatically reduce the spread of cough droplet particles, from 12 feet without a mask to just a few inches with a mask. Homemade cloth masks (top) and cone-style masks (bottom) worked the best at reducing droplet spread, although there was some leakage at the top of the mask in each case.

Visualization shows exactly how face masks stop COVID-19 transmission

By Rachael Rettner

But some cloth masks appear to work better than others at stopping the spread of potentially infectious droplets.

A pregnant woman in the hospital.

Pregnancy may make COVID-19 more severe, new study suggests

By Rachael Rettner

However, pregnant women don't appear to be at increased risk of death from the disease.

A group of friends on the beach.

60 college students caught COVID-19 on a spring break trip to Mexico

By Rachael Rettner

About one-fifth of students who tested positive were asymptomatic at the time of the test.

A person using a bottle of hand sanitizer.

One company's hand sanitizer products contain potentially deadly substance, FDA warns

By Rachael Rettner

The warning applies to nine hand sanitizer products made by the company, called Eskbiochem.

A jar of "V8" male enhancement supplements, which contain blue tablets that closely resemble prescription Viagra.

Tainted sexual enhancement supplements linked with dangerously low blood sugar in 17 men

By Rachael Rettner

The outbreak occurred in Virginia men who bought the supplement from local convenient stores.

A worker disinfecting tables at a restaurant.

As COVID-19 spikes, will some states shut down again?

By Rachael Rettner

Will states reach a "tipping point" in COVID-19 cases that triggers more shutdowns?

An outdoor waiting area at a restaurant in Illinois, with seats placed six feet apart.

How to stay safe at a cookout, the library, restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Rachael Rettner

The CDC has released additional guidance to help Americans reduce their risk of COVID-19.

A toilet next to a handrail

Toilet flushes may spread Legionnaires' disease

By Rachael Rettner

Legionnaires' disease could potentially spread through toilet flushing.

A nearly empty shelf of bleach at a store in Georgia amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Way too many Americans have gargled with bleach, sprayed their bodies with disinfectants to prevent COVID-19

By Rachael Rettner

Nearly 4 in 10 American adults reported engaging in dangerous cleaning practices to prevent COVID-19.

hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets

Prominent study showing harm from hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients is retracted

By Rachael Rettner

The study was withdrawn over concerns about the study's data, which was provided by an obscure U.S. analytics company called Surgisphere.

A man taking a pill from a blister pack.

Hydroxychloroquine doesn't prevent people from catching COVID-19, study finds

By Rachael Rettner

Taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine did not prevent people from coming down with COVID-19 after being exposed to the disease.

Personal protective equipment, including face masks, goggles and gloves.

Face masks may reduce COVID-19 spread by 85%, WHO-backed study suggests

By Rachael Rettner

The WHO-backed study found that face masks and eye protection really do prevent spread of COVID-19.

An employee at the Vauxhall car factory in the United Kingdom working in his office during preparedness tests and redesign ahead of re-opening following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Here's what office life could look like amid COVID-19, according to new CDC guidelines

By Rachael Rettner

The guidelines recommended offices take a number of steps to help keep workers safe.

A pregnant woman in the hospital.

How COVID-19 might affect a pregnant woman's placenta

By Rachael Rettner

Most of the 16 women in the study showed signs of abnormal blood flow in their placentas, but delivered healthy babies.