Measles Is Back, and That Is Scary
The deadly virus was practically eliminated in the U.S., but now it’s infecting more people.
Tanya Lewis is a senior editor covering health and medicine at Scientific American. She writes and edits stories for the website and print magazine on topics ranging from COVID to organ transplants. She also appears on Scientific American's podcast Science, Quickly and writes Scientific American's weekly Health & Biology newsletter. She has held a number of positions over her seven years at Scientific American, including health editor, assistant news editor and associate editor at Scientific American Mind. Previously, she has written for outlets that include Insider, Wired, Science News, and others. She has a degree in biomedical engineering from Brown University and one in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Follow her on Bluesky @tanyalewis.bsky.social
Measles Is Back, and That Is Scary
The deadly virus was practically eliminated in the U.S., but now it’s infecting more people.
Bird Flu Detected in Humans in the U.S.: What We Know So Far
Two people have tested positive for avian influenza after being exposed to cows thought to be infected with the virus
Why Short Naps Are Good for You
A quick nap can boost your memory, your mood and even your creativity
Partial Heart Transplants Grow with Their Young Recipients
A heart valve transplant could save the life of a baby—or two
Large Study of ME/CFS Patients Reveals Measurable Physical Changes
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, long dismissed by doctors, causes immune system dysfunction and other problems. But treatments are lacking.
Hunger in Gaza Could Affect Survivors’ Health for Decades
Epigenetics research reveals how famines can cause health problems later in life—and how those changes might be passed down to future generations.
Should You Swab Your Throat plus Your Nose for COVID?
Nose-plus-throat swabbing for COVID could increase test accuracy—but could create problems, too
New IVF Test Could Increase Chances of Pregnancy Success
A noninvasive test for genetic material could predict embryo quality in IVF.
64,000 Pregnancies Caused by Rape Have Occurred in States with a Total Abortion Ban, New Study Estimates
Researchers calculated the number of pregnancies resulting from rape in states where abortion was banned throughout pregnancy after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision
The Best Way to Use Home COVID Tests Right Now
When symptoms start, COVID tests may say you’re not infected when you really are.
No, COVID mRNA Vaccines Won’t Damage Your DNA
You have a “better chance of becoming Spider-Man” than being harmed by DNA from COVID vaccines
How to Avoid Holiday Hangovers
The holidays are a time for indulgence, but there are ways to drink alcohol without suffering the painful effects.
New Class of Antibiotics Discovered Using AI
A deep-learning algorithm helped identify new compounds that are effective against antibiotic-resistant infections in mice, opening the door to AI-guided drug discovery
The Biggest Health and Medicine Stories of 2023
From new uses for weight-loss drugs to the first CRISPR gene editing therapy, these were some of the most impactful health stories of the year
A New Type of Heart Disease is on the Rise
Problems with the heart, kidneys and metabolic health are all connected
COVID Caused a Baby Bump when Experts Expected a Drop. Here’s Why
During the COVID pandemic, the U.S. initially saw a drop in births followed by a bump
How the War in Gaza Has Devastated Hospitals
The Israel-Hamas war has disrupted hospitals’ access to electricity, fuel and medicine. A physician from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières explains why health care is so vulnerable during war
Why Childhood Vaccination Rates Are Falling
Fewer kids got their routine childhood vaccines since before the pandemic. Are lack of access and a loss of trust in science to blame?
Quick Naps Are Good for Your Brain
Daytime naps of about 30 minutes really improve your thinking and may spark creativity.
Doctors Complete First Successful Face and Whole-Eye Transplant
Surgeons transplanted part of a face and an entire eyeball into a man with severe electrical burns. He is not yet able to see out of the eye, but preliminary evidence suggests it may retain some function
How New Advances in Organ Transplants Are Saving Lives
Advances are increasing the supply of organs. But this isn’t enough. Enter the genetically modified donor pig
What Are Ultraprocessed Foods, and Are They Bad for You?
More than half of our diet consists of foods that have been industrially processed in some way, and they may be harmful to our health
Milestone Pig-to-Human Heart Transplant May Pave the Way for Broader Trial
Surgeons transplanted a genetically modified pig heart into a human for the second time ever, and the recipient survived for six weeks
How to Handle This New COVID Season
The dangerous virus is still here. Here’s how you can stay safe.