Asymptomatic COVID-19 is linked to a gene variant that boosts immune memory after exposure to prior seasonal cold viruses

Researchers found that people with a specific gene variant were two to eight times more likely to not have symptoms after infection.

Danillo Augusto, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina – Charlotte • conversation
July 19, 2023 ~5 min

El Niño is back – that's good news or bad news, depending on where you live

The official forecast calls for a strong El Niño by winter, but other models suggest it might dip in and out. An atmospheric scientist explains.

Bob Leamon, Associate Research Scientist, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
June 9, 2023 ~8 min


Atlantic hurricane season 2023: El Niño and extreme Atlantic Ocean heat are about to clash

Current forecasts suggest a warm tropical Pacific will be interfering what could otherwise be a ferocious Atlantic hurricane season.

Christina Patricola, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University • conversation
May 30, 2023 ~7 min

2023 hurricane forecast: Get ready for a busy Pacific storm season, quieter Atlantic than recent years thanks to El Niño

El Niño years put Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera on alert for destructive tropical storms and hurricanes.

Nicholas Grondin, Recent PhD Graduate in Geography, University of Tennessee • conversation
May 25, 2023 ~9 min

Watch out for dangerous combinations of over-the-counter cold medicine and prescription drugs – two pharmacoepidemiology experts explain the risks

Some of the prescription medications you’re taking may not mix with over-the-counter drugs.

Ximena Oyarzún-González, Postdoctoral Researcher in Outcomes and Translational Sciences, The Ohio State University • conversation
April 21, 2023 ~10 min

How do you make a universal flu vaccine? A microbiologist explains the challenges, and how mRNA could offer a promising solution

Annual flu vaccines are in a constant race against a rapidly mutating virus that may one day cause the next pandemic. A one-time vaccine protecting against all variants could give humanity a leg up.

Deborah Fuller, Professor of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington • conversation
Feb. 7, 2023 ~8 min

Curious Kids: why do I feel happier when the sun is out?

Day to day, sunshine might not affect our mood – but light and dark seasons do.

Franz Buscha, Professor of Economics, University of Westminster • conversation
Feb. 6, 2023 ~6 min

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

Decades of research show that respiratory illnesses are dramatically reduced when people wear face masks.

Marisa Eisenberg, Associate Professor of Complex Systems, Epidemiology and Mathematics, University of Michigan • conversation
Dec. 14, 2022 ~9 min


Shorter days affect the mood of millions of Americans – a nutritional neuroscientist offers tips on how to avoid the winter blues

Research shows that young adults and women are particularly susceptible to seasonal affective disorder.

Lina Begdache, Associate Professor of Health and Wellness Studies, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
Dec. 5, 2022 ~6 min

COVID-19, RSV and the flu are straining health care systems - two epidemiologists explain what the 'triple threat' means for children

Respiratory viruses are hitting young children and infants particularly hard this fall and winter season, and experts don’t yet know exactly why.

Annette Regan, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of San Francisco • conversation
Nov. 18, 2022 ~10 min

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