How do pandemics end? History suggests diseases fade but are almost never truly gone

As ready as you are to be done with COVID-19, it's not going anywhere soon. A historian of disease describes how once a pathogen emerges, it's usually here to stay.

Nükhet Varlik, Associate Professor of History, University of South Carolina • conversation
Oct. 14, 2020 ~9 min

Biodiversity loss could be making us sick – here's why

Rich and diverse microbiomes in our local environment are important for keeping us healthy.

Jake M. Robinson, PhD Researcher, Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield • conversation
Aug. 4, 2020 ~7 min


Yes, kids can get COVID-19 – 3 pediatricians explain what's known about coronavirus and children

Research shows that children can become infected with the coronavirus and spread it to others. Though rare, some kids do become severely ill and a few have died from COVID-19.

Shipra Gupta, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease, West Virginia University • conversation
July 28, 2020 ~8 min

How deforestation helps deadly viruses jump from animals to humans

Yellow fever, malaria and Ebola all spilled over from animals to humans at the edges of tropical forests. The new coronavirus is the latest zoonosis.

Maria Anice Mureb Sallum, Professor of Epidemiology, Universidade de São Paulo • conversation
June 25, 2020 ~11 min

What the archaeological record reveals about epidemics throughout history – and the human response to them

People have lived with infectious disease throughout the millennia, with culture and biology influencing each other. Archaeologists decode the stories told by bones and what accompanies them.

Michael Westaway, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland • conversation
June 15, 2020 ~11 min

What goes into the toilet doesn’t always stay there, and other coronavirus risks in public bathrooms

Public restrooms can be scary when it comes to coronavirus, and they get scarier when you look at how the virus spreads. A doctor explains how to stay safe when you're traveling and really gotta go.

William Petri, Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
June 5, 2020 ~5 min

Your genes could determine whether the coronavirus puts you in the hospital – and we're starting to unravel which ones matter

Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University found that variations in genes that code for parts of the cellular alarm system might play a role in how well people fight off COVID-19.

Reid Thompson, Assistant Professor of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University • conversation
May 5, 2020 ~6 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


For asthma patients, the novel coronavirus can be scary. Here's what you need to know

Asthma rescue inhalers are in short supply, and asthma sufferers are worried about the risks they face from COVID-19. A doctor answers six key questions.

S. Cindy Xi, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Southern California • conversation
April 9, 2020 ~8 min

How to model a pandemic

Behind every government announcement, there is an army of epidemiologists predicting how the virus will spread, and how to beat it.

Christian Yates, Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, University of Bath • conversation
March 25, 2020 ~17 min

/

5