Two-Way Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Between Humans and Minks on Mink Farms
Two-way transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between animal and humans found on mink farms. What does this mean for the current – and potentially future – COVID-19 epidemic?
COVID-19
An Unexpected Invasion: How SARS-CoV-2 affects the human brain
by Xiaomeng Han
If your best friend Betty told you that she has a sore throat, a runny nose, and has lost her sense of smell or taste, you might immediately recognize the symptoms of COVID-19. But what if she had become very forgetful lately, instead?…
Episode 17: Scientist at Home: Social distancing without social isolation
In this episode of our Scientists at Home series, Professor Iain Cheeseman (Professor of Biology, MIT and Whitehead Institute) talks about how he adapted to the new normal and juggled his various responsibilities — his family, research group, and…
Optimal Strategy for a COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
by Melis Tekantfigures by Aparna Nathan
The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has arguably been the single most devastating global crisis in recent history. As of December…
Preliminary Studies Point toward New COVID-19 Drug Targets
Breakthrough research published in Nucleic Acids Research suggests SARS-CoV-2-related RNA may serve as potential drug targets for COVID-19.
Cancer in the Time of COVID: One oncologist’s look into how the pandemic is impacting the larger medical world
by Paige Haukefigures by Paige Hauke and Catherine Ding
As the pandemic rages on and strict social distancing guidelines remain in place for much of the United States, COVID-19, for good reason, takes up most of the medical limelight. But as someone…
Racial Disparities in COVID-19
by Wei Lifigures by Olivia Foster Rhoades
The United States has the highest number COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world, with over six million confirmed cases and over 189,000 total deaths in the country as of September 9, 2020. Within the US, the…
It’s Worth a Shot: Preventing vaccine-preventable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic
by Mahaa Ahmedfigures by Tal Scully
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many corners of the world to a standstill. While researchers and scientists race to develop and distribute a vaccine, many places are still subject to a host of restrictions on…
An Introduction to Ribosomes: Nature's busiest molecular machines
by Francesca Tomasifigures by Jovana Andrejevic
Right now, the world is eagerly awaiting clinical trial data for two candidate COVID-19 vaccines known as mRNA vaccines. mRNA stands for “messenger RNA,” referring to the molecule that the vaccine…
Breathing Life into the Low Blood Oxygen Dilemma of Early COVID-19 Infections
A mathematical deep-dive into the function of the lungs may provide clinical insight for low blood oxygen levels in COVID-19 patients.