From furry friends to fish, turning up the heat helps animals fight germs − how Mother Nature’s cure offers humans a lesson on fever

Fever isn’t necessarily a bad thing − it’s actually a useful response to infections.

Harry Bernheim, Associate Professor Emeritus of Biology, Tufts University • conversation
May 23, 2025 • ~7 min

Tiny laboratories that fit in your hand can rapidly identify pathogens using electricity

Pathogens have distinct electrical charges, shapes and sizes. Measuring how quickly they move through an electric field can help researchers separate different species in a sample in minutes.

Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 26, 2024 • ~8 min

Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall - 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

Cases of valley fever are typically most prevalent in California’s Central Valley and southern Arizona, but they have been increasing in California’s central and southern coastal areas.

Simon Camponuri, PhD Candidate in Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley • conversation
Sept. 26, 2024 • ~10 min

Summertime can be germy: A microbiologist explains how to avoid getting sick at the barbecue, in the pool or on the trail

Common summer activities can expose you to a host of infectious diseases. But there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from pathogens ranging from E. coli to T. gondii.

Bill Sullivan, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University • conversation
June 11, 2024 • ~8 min

What if every germ hit you at the exact same time? An immunologist explains

Your immune system is often able to fend off pathogens it’s never seen before. But defending your body against all of them all at once is a tough challenge.

Joseph Larkin III, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida • conversation
Jan. 15, 2024 • ~8 min

How does fever help fight infections? There's more to it than even some scientists realize

The heat and chills that come with fever are not only uncomfortable but also metabolically costly. Increased body temperature, however, can make all the difference when you’re sick.

Joe Alcock, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico • conversation
Sept. 11, 2023 • ~8 min

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

An effective nasal vaccine could stop the virus that causes COVID-19 right at its point of entry. But devising one that works has been a challenge for researchers.

Michael W. Russell, Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo • conversation
Dec. 14, 2022 • ~9 min

Plants shift to ‘wartime production’ to fight invaders

Similar to the way factories retool manufacturing in times of war, plants can reprogram their cells to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

Robin Smith-Duke • futurity
Aug. 26, 2022 • ~6 min

What is listeria? A microbiologist explains the bacterium behind recent deadly food poisoning outbreaks

Listeria causes serious illness and food recalls nearly every year.

Yvonne Sun, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Dayton • conversation
Aug. 19, 2022 • ~10 min

From watering via ice cubes to spritzing with hydrogen peroxide – 4 misguided plant health trends on social media

Plant care advice abounds on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube – but not all of it is good. A plant expert debunks four common recommendations.

Nick Goltz, Assistant Extension Educator and Director, UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Connecticut • conversation
Aug. 16, 2022 • ~7 min

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