public health

Latest in public health

Health

The next pandemic could be lurking anywhere. Can this wildlife-tracking app help prevent it? The next pandemic could be lurking anywhere. Can this wildlife-tracking app help prevent it?

By Brian Barth, Flávia Milhorance

Young person receiving vaccine from healthcare worker while wearing a mask.

Health

COVID-19 vaccines are working in the real world COVID-19 vaccines are working in the real world

By Sara Chodosh

Health

These states are on the cusp of another COVID-19 surge These states are on the cusp of another COVID-19 surge

By Erin Fennessy

salmon healthy food

Health

5 heart-healthy foods—and 2 to absolutely avoid 5 heart-healthy foods—and 2 to absolutely avoid

By Sara Chodosh

Vaccine shot vials on pink background.

Health

Vaccines may help alleviate symptoms for people with long-COVID Vaccines may help alleviate symptoms for people with long-COVID

By Sara Kiley Watson

doctor putting bandaid on arm after person gets a vaccine

Health

COVID vaccine hesitancy is showing up in unexpected places COVID vaccine hesitancy is showing up in unexpected places

By Philip Kiefer

Woman applying lotion in mirror

Health

Are ‘clean’ cosmetics better for us than other beauty products? Are ‘clean’ cosmetics better for us than other beauty products?

By Sara Kiley Watson

A calendar with the page for March 2021 displayed and a red circle around Thursday the 11th sits next to an N95 mask on a blue background surrounded by red illustrations of the coronavirus.

Health

What the first year of COVID tells us about the next What the first year of COVID tells us about the next

By Popular Science Team

a person wearing a backpack and holding textbooks against a blue background with several red coronavirus illustrations

Health

Where are we most likely to catch COVID-19? Where are we most likely to catch COVID-19?

By Betsy Ladyzhets

a person wearing a mask

Health

Long-term COVID-19 symptoms are even more common than we thought Long-term COVID-19 symptoms are even more common than we thought

By Sara Kiley Watson

social distancing

Health

Animals are better at social distancing than we’ll ever be Animals are better at social distancing than we’ll ever be

By Ellie Shechet

Health

Masks, well-ventilated classrooms, and other precautions are key to reopening schools Masks, well-ventilated classrooms, and other precautions are key to reopening schools

someone getting a covid-19 vaccine ready

Health

What you can and can’t do after getting a COVID-19 vaccine What you can and can’t do after getting a COVID-19 vaccine

By Claire Maldarelli

covid-19 vaccine

Health

Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine just passed the FDA’s final test Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine just passed the FDA’s final test

By Philip Kiefer

a person who is pregnant

Health

What pregnant, breastfeeding, and prospective parents should know about the COVID-19 vaccines What pregnant, breastfeeding, and prospective parents should know about the COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccine vials

Health

Why COVID cases are falling around the world Why COVID cases are falling around the world

Doctor administering COVID-19 vaccine to masked patient in medical office.

Health

COVID-19 is shortening US life expectancy—especially for people of color COVID-19 is shortening US life expectancy—especially for people of color

By Sara Kiley Watson

Prison cell with a sink and toilet behind bars

Health

Solitary confinement can’t stop COVID-19 from spreading through prisons Solitary confinement can’t stop COVID-19 from spreading through prisons

By Robin Blades/Undark

a vial of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Health

Facing COVID-19 variants, vaccine makers are weighing how to tweak their designs Facing COVID-19 variants, vaccine makers are weighing how to tweak their designs

a woman getting ready to get on a mass transit subway

Environment

Air pollution in US subway stations is disturbingly high Air pollution in US subway stations is disturbingly high

By Kate Baggaley

A Black middle-aged individual talking on a smartphone in a cafe

Health

One big hiccup in US efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines? Poor internet access. One big hiccup in US efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines? Poor internet access.

By Tamra Burns Loeb, Et Al./The Conversation

two footballs used in the NFL

Health

Even at half capacity, the Super Bowl could cause COVID-19 outbreaks Even at half capacity, the Super Bowl could cause COVID-19 outbreaks

By Kate Baggaley

Pregnant woman checking phone notifications.

Health

Pregnant people can—and should—get vaccinated against COVID-19 Pregnant people can—and should—get vaccinated against COVID-19

By Sara Kiley Watson

woman wearing mask in subway station

Health

The US finally has a national mask mandate The US finally has a national mask mandate

Health

The new COVID-19 team has a lot of work to do. Here’s how they should start. The new COVID-19 team has a lot of work to do. Here’s how they should start.

By Erin Fennessy

a healthcare worker wearing a surgical mask

Health

What you can do right now to protect yourself from the new COVID-19 variants What you can do right now to protect yourself from the new COVID-19 variants

By Claire Maldarelli

vials of COVID-19 vaccines

Health

COVID-19 vaccines could end the pandemic by eliminating severe cases COVID-19 vaccines could end the pandemic by eliminating severe cases

By Kate Baggaley

Three people in prison jumpsuits behind orange bars and the SARS-CoV-2 virus illustrations superimposed in four spots

Health

On surviving—and leaving—prison during a pandemic On surviving—and leaving—prison during a pandemic

By Sarah Scoles

a person putting a vaccine into a syringe.

Health

To get vaccines to more people, the priority system needs to loosen up To get vaccines to more people, the priority system needs to loosen up

president joe biden looking solemn

Health

What you need to know about Biden’s 5-point COVID-19 relief plan What you need to know about Biden’s 5-point COVID-19 relief plan

By Sara Chodosh

a kid sick in bed having his temperature taken

Health

What COVID-19 will look like once the pandemic ends What COVID-19 will look like once the pandemic ends

By Claire Maldarelli

United States capitol building at night.

Health

The attack on the Capitol had all the ingredients of a COVID-19 superspreader event The attack on the Capitol had all the ingredients of a COVID-19 superspreader event

By Sara Kiley Watson

a person staring at a smartphone screen

Technology

How your daily screen time affects your wellbeing How your daily screen time affects your wellbeing

By Claire Maldarelli

Health

Is one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine enough? Is one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine enough?

a medical syringe

Health

COVID vaccines are getting thrown out thanks to strict distribution rules COVID vaccines are getting thrown out thanks to strict distribution rules

By Claire Maldarelli

Health

When it comes to COVID-19 risk, what counts as ‘outdoor’ dining? When it comes to COVID-19 risk, what counts as ‘outdoor’ dining?

By Sara Kiley Watson

Health

In 2021, a new wave of evictions could also fuel a rise in COVID cases In 2021, a new wave of evictions could also fuel a rise in COVID cases

people getting rapid covid testing outside

Health

The new, more-contagious UK COVID-19 strain is officially in the US The new, more-contagious UK COVID-19 strain is officially in the US

By Sara Chodosh

two women wearing masks outside

Health

Can you spread COVID-19 after vaccination? Here’s what we know. Can you spread COVID-19 after vaccination? Here’s what we know.

By Kate Baggaley

person preparing a vaccine

Health

What you should know about allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine What you should know about allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine

By Kate Baggaley

Health

What to know about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine before it reaches you What to know about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine before it reaches you

By Claire Maldarelli

Health

The FDA just green-lit America’s first COVID vaccine The FDA just green-lit America’s first COVID vaccine

By Sara Chodosh

smoke rising from smokestack

Environment

Cracking down on soot pollution could save thousands of lives—but the EPA won’t do it Cracking down on soot pollution could save thousands of lives—but the EPA won’t do it

Two kids running on a lawn with masks on

Health

Shaming the public into smarter COVID-19 decisions won’t work. This will. Shaming the public into smarter COVID-19 decisions won’t work. This will.

By Maia Szalavitz/Undark

Pad and tampons.

Health

What we can learn from Scotland’s free period products What we can learn from Scotland’s free period products

By Sara Kiley Watson

Health

100 days of wearing masks could make an enormous difference in the pandemic 100 days of wearing masks could make an enormous difference in the pandemic

By Kate Baggaley

Health

We’re just beginning to understand how our genes and COVID-19 mix We’re just beginning to understand how our genes and COVID-19 mix

Health

Why AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine is an important addition to the fleet of offerings Why AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine is an important addition to the fleet of offerings

a person in the park wearing a mask

Health

That new study saying masks might not be effective? It has a few caveats. That new study saying masks might not be effective? It has a few caveats.

By Kate Baggaley

A doctor wearing a mask and scrubs holds up a syringe with a vaccine inside

Health

You can get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time You can get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time

By Rachael Zisk

someone reading online news

Health

Biden’s COVID-19 response plan is missing one major component Biden’s COVID-19 response plan is missing one major component

parent putting mask on their child

Health

A record number of kids got COVID-19 last week A record number of kids got COVID-19 last week

By Sara Chodosh

Health

Pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, but there’s no need to panic Pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, but there’s no need to panic

By Claire Maldarelli

women wearing masks at the grocery store

Health

When it comes to airborne COVID-19 transmission, droplet size matters When it comes to airborne COVID-19 transmission, droplet size matters

By Kate Baggaley

halloween decorations

Health

How to safely celebrate Halloween during COVID-19 How to safely celebrate Halloween during COVID-19

By Kate Baggaley

map of covid infections among nursing staff at care homes

Health

The current state of the pandemic in five graphs The current state of the pandemic in five graphs

By Sara Chodosh

Health

2020 is shaping up to be America’s deadliest year in recent memory 2020 is shaping up to be America’s deadliest year in recent memory

By Claire Maldarelli

someone in an airplane seat with a mask on

Health

COVID-19 continues to make flying a risky proposition COVID-19 continues to make flying a risky proposition

smoke stacks from energy plant

Environment

Prosecutions under the Clean Air and Water acts dropped in half after Trump took office Prosecutions under the Clean Air and Water acts dropped in half after Trump took office

older adult men playing chess together

Health

Everyone should have a social life, especially older adults Everyone should have a social life, especially older adults

A sign that says "Screening checkpoint ahead" placed in front of the door to a hospital

Health

One motorcycle rally may have triggered COVID-19′s new Midwest surge One motorcycle rally may have triggered COVID-19′s new Midwest surge

By Rachael Zisk

Health

The ‘near-Herculean’ effort by daycare workers to prevent COVID-19 spread is working The ‘near-Herculean’ effort by daycare workers to prevent COVID-19 spread is working

By Kate Baggaley

dentists working with full PPE

Health

Don’t worry. Your dentist probably won’t catch COVID-19. Don’t worry. Your dentist probably won’t catch COVID-19.

graph showing covid cases per day

Health

COVID-19 cases are on the rise yet again COVID-19 cases are on the rise yet again

By Sara Chodosh