Health News - Science and Medicine Articles

Baby born with 'twin' fetus inside her stomach

By Rachael Rettner

The condition occurs in about 1 in 500,000 births.

Strange DNA 'borgs' discovered in California

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

It's not totally clear what these massive strings of DNA do, but they may help supercharge the organisms' ability to break down chemicals in the soil.

The real reason CDC is updating their mask guidelines

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

On Tuesday (July 27), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their coronavirus mask guidelines. Here's why.

CDC expected to revise coronavirus mask guidance as delta spreads

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

The announcement will likely be that people who live in areas with high or substantial COVID-19 transmission should start wearing masks again.

A coronavirus particle binds to a human cell.

Will we ever find COVID-19's 'Patient Zero?'

By Stephanie Pappas

Researchers have narrowed down the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 to a few weeks in the fall and to a few animal suspects.

close up of a person's right eye from the right side of their face

Nerve damage in cornea could be sign of 'long COVID,' study hints

By Nicoletta Lanese

The results align with other evidence that some symptoms of long COVID may arise from nerve damage.

A nurse fills a syringe with COVID-19 vaccine in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Dozens of medical groups urge COVID-19 vaccination mandates for health workers

By Rachael Rettner

The signatories include the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This illustration shows a coronavirus particle in blood plasma showing the Y-shaped immunoglobulin G antibodies (IgG, light blue) bound to the coronavirus' spike proteins (red). IgG antibodies are Y-shaped proteins produced by B-lymphocyte white blood cells as part of an immune response. Immunoglobulin M antibodies (IgM) are also shown in light blue.

How early was the novel coronavirus circulating?

By Rebecca Sohn

A boy's yellow tongue (left) was a sign of a rare autoimmune disorder. He also developed dark urine (right).

Boy's bright-yellow tongue was a sign of rare disorder

By Rachael Rettner

An autoimmune disorder was the culprit.

A man getting a nasal swab COVID-19 test.

We may finally know why the delta variant of coronavirus is so infectious

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

People infected with the delta variant of the novel coronavirus may be carrying more than a thousand times more virus particles, according to an early new study.

A security guard stands outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market where the coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan in January 2020.

7 facts about the origin of the novel coronavirus

By Rachael Rettner

Some theories point toward a natural origin and others claim the virus accidentally leaked from a lab.

illustration of adenoviruses against dark background

Common cold virus may predate modern humans, ancient DNA hints

By Nicoletta Lanese

An adenovirus that causes the common cold may have emerged 700,000 years ago.

Hidden compartments launch 'fireworks' when eggs get fertilized

By Stephanie Pappas

When eggs are fertilized, they release a shower of zinc and manganese that may protect against multiple sperm penetrating the egg.

Memorials hang from the front gate of Greenwood Cemetery during an event and procession organized by Naming the Lost Memorials to remember and celebrate the lives of those killed by the Covid-19 pandemic on June 08, 2021 in New York City.

US life expectancy declined by a staggering 1.5 years in 2020

By Rachael Rettner

The decline can largely be attributed to deaths from COVID-19.

A doctor holding a SARS-CoV-2 test swab.

Delta variant now makes up 83% of new COVID-19 cases in US

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

The delta variant now makes up 83% of new U.S. cases, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday (July 20).

Macaque monkeys are common carriers of the 'monkey B' virus. Above, a macaque photographed in Bangkok in February, 2021.

Man in China dies of rare 'monkey B' virus

By Rachael Rettner

When human cases of this virus occur, they are often deadly.

A lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros).

What is SARS-CoV-2's original reservoir?

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

We may not know what animal SARS-CoV-2 came from, but similar viruses circulate in bats.

How does DNA know which job to do in each cell?

By Donavyn Coffey

How does DNA know when to become active?

Do you need a COVID-19 booster vaccine to prevent delta variant?

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S. are strongly protected against the delta variant of the coronavirus, and do not need booster shots yet, according to experts.

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

Rare case of monkeypox reported in Texas resident

By Rachael Rettner

The first case of human monkeypox in the U.S. in nearly 20 years has been confirmed in a U.S. resident who recently returned from traveling to Nigeria.