Challenging the FDA's authority isn't new – the agency's history shows what's at stake when drug regulation is in limbo

As the government’s oldest consumer protection agency, the FDA has long butted up against drugmakers, activists and politicians. But undermining its work could be harmful to patient health and safety.

Christine Coughlin, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University • conversation
April 26, 2023 ~9 min

It's impossible to determine your personal COVID-19 risks and frustrating to try – but you can still take action

People want a simple answer. Is this action safe? But despite Anthony Fauci bouncing responsibility for COVID-19 risk assessment to individuals, your risk can’t be boiled down to one probability.

Malia Jones, Scientist in Health Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
May 17, 2022 ~8 min


For some people, religious leaders might be most effective at communicating the importance of COVID-19 vaccination

Two political scientists in their study in South Dakota found people trusted medical professionals the least when it came to public health messages.

David Wiltse, Associate Professor of Political Science, South Dakota State University • conversation
May 12, 2022 ~6 min

US is split between the vaccinated and unvaccinated – and deaths and hospitalizations reflect this divide

The US has split into "two Americas," one of the unvaccinated and one of the vaccinated. The differences in deaths and hospitalizations between the two populations are striking.

Ryan McNamara, Research Associate of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • conversation
July 22, 2021 ~8 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

Coronavirus responses highlight how humans are hardwired to dismiss facts that don't fit their worldview

Whether in situations relating to scientific consensus, economic history or current political events, denialism has its roots in what psychologists call 'motivated reasoning.'

Adrian Bardon, Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University • conversation
June 25, 2020 ~9 min

How coronavirus contact tracing works in a state Dr. Fauci praised as a model to follow

Since the state's first coronavirus case surfaced, trained case investigators have traced the contacts of every person who tested positive. Here's what else South Carolina got right.

Jenny Meredith, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, University of South Carolina • conversation
May 28, 2020 ~9 min

Coronavirus: scientists promoting chloroquine and remdesivir are acting like sports rivals

A simple head-to-head trial would resolve this conflict once and for all.

Jeremy Howick, Director of the Oxford Empathy Programme, University of Oxford • conversation
May 11, 2020 ~7 min


Coronavirus tests are pretty accurate, but far from perfect

Expanding coronavirus testing is one of the most important tasks public health officials are tackling right now. But questions over accuracy of the two main types of tests have rightly caused concern.

Maureen Ferran, Associate Professor of Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
May 6, 2020 ~10 min

How people react to the threat of disease could mean COVID-19 is reshaping personalities

Human psychology has evolved to avoid situations that could lead to infection. Behavioral choices now could have long-term effects on how people interact with others and the world.

Vivian Zayas, Associate Professor of Psychology, Cornell University • conversation
May 4, 2020 ~10 min

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