Disease
The Ten Most Significant Science Stories of 2024
From a total solar eclipse that captivated our continent to record temperatures that scorched the planet, these were the biggest moments of the year
An Alabama Woman Got a Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Transplant. Three Weeks Later, She Has 'Never Felt Better'
On November 25, 53-year-old Towana Looney became just the third living person to receive a pig kidney in an experimental procedure
Scientists Warn of an 'Unprecedented Risk' From Synthetic 'Mirror Life,' Built With a Reverse Version of Natural Proteins and Sugars
So-called mirror cells could rampage through our ecosystems, food supply and immune systems, experts say, potentially without existing barriers to protect against them
Fat Cells Retain a 'Memory' of Obesity, Making It Hard to Lose Weight and Keep It Off, Study Suggests
Obesity leads to DNA alterations that affect gene activity and linger after weight loss, a finding that researchers say could help reduce stigma around the disease
Endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frogs Are Making a Comeback
Scientists are celebrating the recovery of the species in Yosemite National Park, where they were decimated by the introduction of non-native fish and the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus
How Sugar Rationing During World War II Fended Off Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Later in Life
Babies who were conceived and born during the period of rationing in the United Kingdom were less likely to develop certain diseases as adults, a new study finds
Is Scurvy Making a Comeback? Two Recent Cases Highlight How the Illness Can Appear in the Modern World
Scurvy diagnoses in Australia and Canada suggest doctors should consider testing for vitamin C deficiency in patients experiencing poverty, food insecurity and social isolation
Scientists Have Found Bacteria and Fungi 10,000 Feet Up in the Air
The discovery has implications for human health, since the microbes included some that were still viable, some that could be infectious to humans and others that carried drug-resistant genes
'Pirate Seabirds' Could Become a Pathway for Deadly Avian Flu to Spread to Australia, Study Finds
Kleptoparasitism, in which a bird harasses another to steal its food, might introduce avian flu to the continent, currently the only one without the severe H5N1 strain
New Hampshire Resident Dies From Rare but Serious Mosquito-Borne Illness
It's one of four cases of Eastern equine encephalitis reported in the U.S. so far this year—and the state's first since 2014
Weight Loss and Diabetes Drug Could Slow Alzheimer's Progression, Preliminary Study Suggests
In a year-long trial, people who received a daily injection of liraglutide showed an 18 percent lower cognitive decline than people who received a placebo
WHO Declares Mpox Global Health Emergency. Here's What to Know
A new virus strain has been spreading primarily the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as nearby countries that had previously not reported mpox cases
When Vultures Nearly Disappeared in India, Half a Million People Died, Too, Study Finds
By being nature's clean-up crew, the often maligned birds help prevent the spread of diseases, according to a new study
Was This Renaissance Alchemist Ahead of His Time?
New research suggests that Tycho Brahe isolated tungsten nearly 200 years before the metal was identified as an element
Parasites Are Everywhere. Why Do So Few Researchers Study Them?
Aging parasitologists are working hard to inspire more students to enter the field
The Real Story Behind Netflix's 'The Decameron'
Loosely based on Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century collection of short stories, the series follows a group of Italian nobles and servants who flee to the countryside to escape the Black Death
Trove of Tombs Sheds Light on How Ancient Egyptian Families Lived—and Died
The finds include mummies from many social classes, some of whom were buried alongside relatives after succumbing to disease
What Killed the Last Woolly Mammoths? Scientists Say It Wasn't Inbreeding
New research suggests some catastrophic event—such as a natural disaster or a virus—killed the world's last known population of mammoths on Wrangel Island
New Blood Test for Predicting Parkinson's Disease With A.I. Shows Promise, Study Suggests
In preliminary research, scientists identified eight protein anomalies in the blood of patients with Parkinson's, which they say can help diagnose the disease up to seven years before symptoms appear
'Frog Saunas' May Be the Key to Saving Amphibians From a Deadly Fungal Infection
Providing frogs with sun-warmed bricks inside mini-greenhouses can help them recover from chytrid and make them more resilient against the disease in the future, a new study finds
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