The Origins of the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began during World War II to prevent the spread of malaria to troops stationed in the South.
The Weird Ways People Have Tied Blood Types to Identity
Scientific racism. Paternity tests. And mass tattooing, just in case of nuclear attack.
These Plants Are Ready for Their Closeup
Move over cats of the internet, here comes something greener.
Cytokine Storms: The Cruel Irony of an Immune Response
When bodies fight back against infection, they can overwhelm themselves with their own destructive force.
How Doctors Make End-of-Life Choices
Many people facing the end of their life receive treatments that ultimately have no benefit. A team of researchers set out to find out why.
Preprints, Science, and the News Cycle
Preprints are academic papers that haven't been peer-reviewed yet. When preprints make news, that's often overlooked.
Can We Protect Against Coronavirus by Rewriting Our Genomes?
Genome recoding could offer new modes of virus resistance, but the technology raises serious ethical concerns.
Has the U.S. Government Abandoned Birds?
Recent changes to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 leave birds vulnerable to industry, experts say.
Yes, Mass Observation Still Wants to Know about Your Life
The organization has collected interviews and diaries recording ordinary life in Britain over the course of decades. A pandemic won't stop it now.