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With the possibility of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. being involved in health policy in the next administration, vaccination – especially mRNA vaccines – will become a hot topic. Is there anything to fear from an mRNA vaccine?

People are still debating whether the mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines remains in the body longer than it should. Some say it lingers and causes harm, others say that idea just doesn’t hold up. A new article in Stat brings the issue back into the spotlight. Chemistry explains what's going on.

Norovirus vaccines face significant hurdles, with virtually no success from past efforts from HilleVax and Vaxxart. But Moderna's mRNA-1403, now in Phase 3 trials, is based on the company's mRNA technology, which controlled the COVID pandemic. Will it work here? Keep a bucket handy, just in case.

Myocarditis has become a flashpoint in debates about COVID vaccines; however, new research suggests this rare heart inflammation is a window into how powerful immune technologies sometimes misfire in specific biological contexts. By tracing the immune signals involved, scientists are learning how to reduce risk while preserving protection.

COVID vaccination is no longer one-size-fits-all: US health officials now leave booster decisions to individuals, and the WHO urges “focused protection” for those at highest risk. Yet without hard numbers on whose immunity fades fastest, personal choice is a shot in the dark. A new study maps each person’s immune rise and fall—offering the data we need to turn guesswork into tailored guidance.

Remember the wisdom of the not-so-distant past? Leaving delivered boxes outside for 24 hours, then donning gloves to wipe them down before carefully opening the cartons? It’s time to shed a bit of scientific light on what we know now. 

The U.S. has been adept at inventing The Next Big Thing, but sometimes stumbles when it comes to exploiting it. From cars to electronics, solar panels, and semiconductors, this pattern has been repeated. Biotechnology could be next unless we invest aggressively and regulate wisely.

Pseudoscience has recently re-emerged in the U.S. While much of it concerns vaccines, an "oldie" is again making the rounds: HIV is neither the cause nor the sole cause of AIDS. This nonsense has been dormant for a while, it is once again "up for debate." But not in the sane world. Here is a look at the irrefutable evidence that should put this to rest. But will it?

We have made amazing progress in the treatment of COVID-19. Two therapies – steroids and remdesivir – have already been shown to help. Those who benefit from these treatments owe thanks to patients who volunteered to participate in controlled clinical trials, and the physicians and pharmaceutical companies that lead them.

From grade-school “remedial” teaching to the Nobel stage, molecular biologist Carol W. Greider turned obstacles into fuel for discovery. Her groundbreaking discovery of a crucial enzyme, telomerase, reshaped our understanding of aging, cancer, and cellular immortality. Greider’s story is a rebuke to the cult of “perfection” and a reminder that brilliance often hides behind what the system calls “deficiency.”

Although COVID-19 is giving us a temporary respite, influenza in humans and animals remains a serious threat. Its deadly H5N1 strain is spreading geographically and in more species of mammals, making the emergence of a pandemic strain more likely. We need to prepare.

Two women in California are unhappy about phosphates and carrageenan in Costco’s rotisserie chicken. I’m fine with them—by which I mean the additives, not the women. Their lawsuit claims Costco misled customers with a “no preservatives” label, even though neither ingredient is a preservative, which makes this less a food safety issue than a masterclass in scientific confusion.