Animals
More People Die from Venomous Snakebites Each Year Than Have Ever Died from Ebola
In low- and middle-income nations, snakebite envenoming is more deadly than almost any other neglected tropical disease
Stories by Cassandra Willyard
Genetic Engineering
Mouse Embryos Grown without Eggs or Sperm
Two research teams grew synthetic embryos using stem cells for long enough to see some organs develop
Epidemiology
Are ‘COVID Toes’ Actually Caused by the Coronavirus?
A study adds to evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection doesn’t cause an inflamed-toe condition called chilblains, but it doesn’t close the door
Cancer
The Colon Cancer Conundrum
Colorectal cancer rates in younger adults are climbing. The race is on to figure out why
Pharmaceuticals
How Antiviral Pill Molnupiravir Shot Ahead in the COVID Drug Hunt
The Merck pill, which could become the first oral antiviral COVID treatment, forces the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to mutate itself to death
Public Health
Blood Clots Are Mysteriously Tied to Many Coronavirus Problems
Research begins to pick apart the mechanisms behind a deadly COVID-19 complication
Computing
Can AI Fix Electronic Medical Records?
Digitization of patient charts was supposed to revolutionize medical practice. Artificial intelligence could help unlock its potential
Biotech
How a Revolutionary Technique Got People with Spinal-Cord Injuries Back on Their Feet
Electrical stimulation has promised huge gains for people with paralysis. Now comes the hard part—getting beyond those first steps
Biotech
New Human Gene Tally Reignites Debate
The controversy over how many genes are contained in the human genome continues to simmer
Medicine
Squeaky Clean Mice Could Be Ruining Research
Pristine lab conditions may not provide the best model for human disease
Fitness
Cancer Therapy: An Evolved Approach
Tumours are subject to the same rules of natural selection as any other living thing. Clinicians are now putting that knowledge to use
Health
Biotech Interest in Mini Organs Booms
Biologists are building banks of ‘organoids’, and learning a lot about human development on the way
Health
Time for a ‘Completely Different’ Haemophilia Treatment?
A promising therapy curtails clotting inhibitors rather than replacing proteins that promote blood clotting
Health
How Do Tumors Grow?
An alternative explanation for cancer's origins could lead to better therapies
Environment
Drastic Measures: 8 Wild Ways to Combat Invasive Species
Employing everything from love potion to meat-eating ants, scientists try to stem the influx of new invasive species with some "creative" ideas
