Should pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine? Will it protect against asymptomatic infections and mutated viruses? An immunologist answers 3 questions

With vaccines forthcoming for most Americans, many groups, including expectant mothers, are wondering if the vaccine is safe for them and their babies. A physician-scientist explains.

William Petri, Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
Dec. 23, 2020 • ~6 min

MIT in the media: 2020 in review

In a particularly newsworthy year, news and views from the MIT community made headlines.

MIT News Office • mit
Dec. 22, 2020 • ~9 min

Top MIT research stories of 2020

The year’s popular research stories include astronomical firsts, scientific breakthroughs, and engineering milestones addressing Covid-19 and other global problems.

MIT News Office • mit
Dec. 22, 2020 • ~5 min

Fewer tourists meant less money for wildlife during the pandemic – but there's an alternative

Wildlife tourism is big business – until a pandemic halts international travel.

Joseph Hamm, PhD Candidate in Conservation Science, University of Leeds • conversation
Dec. 22, 2020 • ~6 min

Why it matters that the coronavirus is changing – and what this means for vaccine effectiveness

A new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be spreading fast in the the UK. What does this mean for vaccine developers and vaccinations?

David Kennedy, Assistant Professor of Biology, Penn State • conversation
Dec. 22, 2020 • ~6 min

New antidepressants can lift depression and suicidal thoughts fast, but don’t expect magic cures

Drugs like ketamine can relieve depression symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, within hours, but they also carry risks that patients need to understand.

Nicholas Mischel, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences; Director, Interventional Psychiatry and Neuromodulation Research Program, Wayne State University • conversation
Dec. 21, 2020 • ~8 min

The top scientific breakthrough for 2020 was understanding SARS-CoV-2 and how it causes COVID-19 – and then developing multiple vaccines

The development of multiple vaccines against the virus that causes COVID-19 has been hailed as the breakthrough of 2020. But there were many more supporting discoveries that made this possible.

David Pride, Associate Director of Microbiology, University of California San Diego • conversation
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~11 min

Awareness vs. fatigue battle affects COVID’s spread

The battle between awareness of COVID-19's severity and fatigue with months of pandemic precautions can shape the spread of the virus, researchers say.

John Toon-Georgia Tech • futurity
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~6 min

10 reasons why Anthony Fauci was ready to be the face of the US pandemic response

2020 was a big year for Fauci – but he's been on the national stage for decades. Here's more about his work before COVID-19 and why he was perfectly poised to help the US respond to the pandemic.

Barbara Gastel, Professor of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and of Humanities in Medicine, Texas A&M University • conversation
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~10 min

Seasonal changes in UV may increase spread of COVID-19

Seasonal changes in UV may alter the spread of COVID but not as much as social distancing.

Leah Burrows • harvard
Dec. 16, 2020 • ~5 min

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