Explore our stories on COVID-19 and past pandemics.
10:18
Travel Bans Do Little To Slow Spread Of Omicron
As cases of the new variant appear globally, vaccination is a key strategy to prevent future mutations.
17:01
Happy (Holiday) Testing Season!
With so many test options on the market, what tests are best—and when should you use them this holiday season?
7:59
Blunting The Force Of Disease Is Complicated
The real-world efficacy of a vaccine may depend on factors far beyond the properties of the vaccine itself.
29:24
Fact Check My Feed: More Kids Can Get COVID-19 Vaccines. Now What?
Pfizer’s vaccine is now approved for kids aged 5 to 11. Plus, which adults need which booster, and preparing for another pandemic holiday season.
11:57
Behind The FDA’s Decision To Vaccinate Kids Under 12
No severe adverse effects were found in the study vaccinating younger kids against COVID-19 with Pfizer’s shot, according to the FDA.
12:16
Younger Kids Next In Line For COVID-19 Vaccines
How will making vaccines available for children as young as 5 change the course of the pandemic in the U.S.?
16:52
Preparing For The Next Pandemic Needs To Start Now
The U.S. was woefully unprepared for COVID-19, thanks to longstanding issues. Can we change before the next pandemic?
17:11
Will Improved Testing And New Antivirals Change The Pandemic’s Path?
As the government plans to spend $1 billion on at-home testing, a science reporter and an epidemiologist unpack this week’s pandemic news.
17:32
The Endemic End To The Pandemic
Will the COVID-19 pandemic eventually shift to an endemic stage?
9:16
Back To School During The Delta Variant
With pediatric COVID-19 cases rising, and Delta’s high transmission rates, many parents are concerned about school safety.
12:16
Pfizer’s Vaccine Is Now Fully Approved. What’s Next For The Pandemic?
Many organizations moved to require COVID-19 vaccinations after Pfizer’s shot got FDA approval. What impact will it have on the pandemic?
11:53
Why The Delta Variant Will Make More Kids Sick
The pandemic is the worst it’s ever been for children, who cannot be vaccinated. Plus booster shots, an mRNA vaccine for HIV, and more.
17:17
Wait, Am I Going To Need A Booster Shot?
Epidemiologist Dr. Céline Gounder untangles rapidly changing pandemic updates.
16:12
How Long Do Viruses Hang Out In Your Body?
A look at how viruses—from SARS-CoV-2 to HIV to measles—persist in the body and how this can provide new clues into understanding immunity.
12:06
With Delta Rising, New Rules On Masks And Vaccines
The CDC has issued new guidance on mask-wearing as COVID-19 infection rates increase around the country.
17:26
How Alarmed Should You Be About The Delta Variant?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen on the World Health Organization’s new advice to mask up (again), and good news about vaccine efficacy.
17:30
Biden’s Surgeon General On How To Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, talks about the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.
12:03
A Tale Of Two Pandemics
People getting seriously ill from COVID-19 in the U.S. are overwhelmingly from unvaccinated populations.
11:50
The Long Tail Of Long COVID
Plus, more details on the highly transmissible delta COVID-19 variant and what happens when a spider eats a snake.
19:28
COVID-19 Vaccines May Not Protect Immunocompromised People
If you have a compromised immune system, you can be fully vaccinated, but still not protected against COVID-19.
12:11
Kids Are Benefiting From Adult Vaccinations, Too
Plus, how climate change could bring cicadas out more often.
17:23
How Do We Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy?
50% of American adults are now considered fully vaccinated. How do we get everyone else on board?
17:08
How Do You Solve a Problem Like World Vaccination?
If you thought vaccinating the whole U.S. was hard, the challenges only grow on a worldwide scale.
11:45
Fully Vaccinated Can Unmask Often, CDC Says
Plus the WHO details a “lost month” in the pandemic, an update on the Colonial pipeline hack, and research on why cats love sitting in boxes.
23:40
Is COVID-19 Herd Immunity Even Possible Anymore?
Between variants and vaccine hesitancy, the U.S. may be a long way from vaccinating our way out of the pandemic.
12:01
Weighing COVID-19 Vaccinations For Teens
Pfizer’s vaccine may soon be available to Americans 12 to 15 years old. Plus, climate change models predict faster sea level rise.
37:50
What Does The Future Look Like For COVID-19 Long-Haulers?
A new study suggests around a third of COVID-19 patients have long-term symptoms.
Examining Texas And California’s Very Different Vaccination Approaches
California stresses equity for minority groups. Texas is all about personal choice and liberty. Both states face roadblocks.
12:12
It’s Okay To Be Confused About J&J’s Vaccine
The emergence of very rare complications when a vaccine is introduced isn’t surprising. Here’s what the FDA’s next steps could look like.
12:09
In New York, Essential Workers Face Eviction
A recent analysis of court data shows that Black and Latino neighborhoods hardest hit by coronavirus are also facing more evictions.
11:57
What Next For The Fully Vaccinated?
In the U.S., 95 million vaccine doses have been administered. The CDC put out guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated.
12:10
What Does Johnson & Johnson’s Shot Mean for Our Vaccine Timeline?
Plus, the latest on the U.S.’s homegrown COVID-19 variants and Google’s data tracking changes.
16:16
The Global COVID-19 Supply Problem
An unfair vaccine rollout is threatening global health—and could prolong the pandemic for everyone.
11:47
Does A Vaccine Help You If You’ve Already Had COVID-19?
Recent studies showing that a single dose of vaccine could boost immunity for former COVID-19 patients.
26:02
Fauci Says Majority Of U.S. Adults Likely To Be Vaccinated By Late Summer
NIAID Director Anthony Fauci sheds light on vaccines, variants, and a return to normalcy.
16:58
Two Masks Are Better Than One
As coronavirus variants spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now recommending wearing two masks at once.
12:07
Some People Had COVID-19 For So Long That It Mutated Inside Them
Small numbers of patients seem to be incubators for coronavirus mutation. What does this mean for our efforts to fight the virus?
17:17
Everything You Want To Know About COVID-19 Vaccines
SciFri listeners called with questions ranging from how antibodies work to who should get jabbed. A microbiologist provides the answers.
17:16
Will Vaccines Work Against New Variants Of The Coronavirus?
Vaccines are being tested against new variants of the coronavirus. Here’s what the latest data are telling us.
12:09
The Thinking Behind New Double-Masking Recommendations
Why the CDC may update its guidance on masking, plus more science news stories from the week.
23:44
Deploying President Biden’s ‘Wartime’ COVID-19 Plan
President Biden’s national COVID-19 relief effort aims to administer 100 million vaccinations in 100 days.
9:50
Life Of A Coronavirus Scientist During A Pandemic
These scientists have studied coronaviruses for years. Here’s how the pandemic has impacted their lives and research.
17:14
How Did A Vaccine Get Developed In Less Than A Year?
How decades of vaccine research, financial investment, and a bit of luck gave scientists the tools to quickly create—and test—vaccines for COVID-19.
16:21
The New Vision For Vaccines
How will the apparent success of the mRNA approach change the path of vaccine production in the future?
11:58
West Virginia Leads In Race To Distribute Vaccines
Why has New York struggled to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, while West Virginia excelled?
25:17
Fact Check My Feed: What’s Up With These COVID-19 Mutations?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen explains the virus variant and the latest controversy of the vaccine distribution.
16:47
Charting A Path To Deliver The COVID-19 Vaccine
Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved in the United States, the hard work of getting it produced and distributed begins.
12:07
COVID-19 Vaccinations Begin In The U.K.
Plus, Canada approves a vaccine, and the FDA may approve a vaccine for the US this week.
11:40
U.K. Approves Pfizer Vaccine
The U.K.’s emergency authorization approval could lead to vaccinations as soon as next week.
12:04
Can You Get COVID-19 More Than Once?
Immunologists explain how your body remembers this virus, and what that might mean for a vaccine.
17:16
Fact Check My Feed: How Excited Should You Be About COVID-19 Vaccines?
Pfizer’s promising press release about its vaccine’s efficacy wasn’t accompanied by data. Experts explain the implications.
16:51
The New Biden Administration Plans For COVID-19
Less than a week after it became clear he was president-elect, Joe Biden has named the members of a coronavirus task force.
12:05
What The Latest Promising Pfizer And Moderna Vaccine Trials Mean
Two encouraging COVID-19 vaccine trials reported strong clinical results this week. So what comes next?
Your Questions About COVID-19, Answered
You’ve had a lot of questions about the novel coronavirus. We’ve compiled answers and tips from health experts we’ve interviewed on the show.
12:03
Everywhere In America, COVID-19 Is Surging
Record hospitalizations arrives just in time for flu season. Plus, science you might have missed while you were waiting for election results.
17:17
Gathering Together (Carefully) For A Pandemic Holiday
There’s no way to have a completely safe in-person gathering this holiday season. But if you’re going to see friends and family, here’s how to do so with the least risk.
17:35
What Will The Pandemic Look Like During The Winter?
Now that we’re a year into the pandemic, what have we learned, and how can we plan for next year?
17:03
Why COVID Dreams Are Weirder Than Normal
A dream researcher has been collecting dreams since the pandemic began. Here’s what she’s learned.
17:29
Even In A Pandemic, Science Class Is In Session
The return to school hasn’t been easy, but STEM educators are finding creative ways to teach science to kids—online and in-person.
6:11
Worried About Fading COVID-19 Antibodies? Not So Fast.
Why a new study is not necessarily bad news for your COVID-19 immune response. Plus the Moon’s moisture, and new successes for livestock ‘super daddies.’
What It’s Like To Be A Science Teacher In A Pandemic
STEM educators across the country share their strategies, challenges, and experiences teaching during the COVID crisis.
Read People’s Strange (And Similar) Pandemic Dreams
Dream researcher Dierdre Barrett has been collecting COVID dreams since March. Find out about the surprisingly common themes in dreams during the pandemic.
17:06
Fact Check My Feed: Could A COVID-19 Vaccine Come Out Before Election Day?
During this week’s debate, President Trump made misleading claims about a timeline for a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what the experts have to say.
12:07
Months Into The Pandemic, Illness Lingers For Some Declared Virus-Free
Sophie Bushwick talks “Long COVID,” reinfection, and how to stay safe from the virus when going to the polls.
11:51
What Is The Status Of President Trump’s COVID-19 Case?
Reporter Umair Irfan discusses the experimental treatments President Trump received and who else in the White House may have been infected.
11:50
President Trump Tests Positive For COVID-19
What we might expect from the next few weeks of White House COVID news.
12:15
COVID-19 Vaccine Developers Promise Not To Rush Testing
As President Trump promises a vaccine before the election, some of the largest pharmaceutical companies plan to keep politics out of science.
17:25
Fact Check My Feed: Are Kids Really COVID-19 ‘Super Spreaders’?
Headlines disagree about kids and COVID-19. Here’s what the data says.
11:18
How Do You Solve The Problem Of Vaccine Distribution?
Questions swirl around how to prioritize who gets the first COVID-19 vaccines. Plus, an update on Space X’s Starlink satellite constellation.
16:59
Rethinking Our COVID-19 Testing Strategy
How might faster, cheaper tests help with better tracking of infectious COVID-19 patients?
17:06
Preparing For Long-term Health Effects Of COVID-19
As recovered patients return home, medical professionals are learning about lingering health effects from serious cases of COVID-19.
17:27
Fewer Coronavirus Antibodies May Not Mean Less Immunity
Here’s what you should know about coronavirus and children, the latest in vaccine development, and new research into aerosols and spike mutations.
17:28
Can We Keep Coronavirus Out Of The Classroom?
With little federal guidance, the country is a patchwork of plans to open schools or keep students learning from home.
12:05
A Coronavirus Vaccine Passes First Test Phase In The US
The National Institutes of Health completed a phase one trial on a vaccine created by the company Moderna.
17:28
How To Approach The Risks Of Socializing During A Pandemic
States are opening up. Should you expand your social life? How to assess and manage your risk during the pandemic summer.
10:56
Can COVID-19 Spread Through The Air?
A dive into the debate over whether the coronavirus is airborne, plus other news from the week.
33:56
COVID-19 Is Taking A Toll On Young People’s Mental Health Too
Uncertainty is hard for everyone. Here’s how caretakers can support kids and teens during social distancing.
17:21
A Crisis Of Health In Healthcare Workers
The global pandemic and national protests are adding to the mental and emotional burden of taking care of others.
11:55
How Sewage Samples Help Scientists Track COVID-19 Outbreaks
How scientists are using sewage to trace the pandemic. Plus, the toll fireworks can take on the lungs, and a birdsong gone viral.
33:56
Anthony Fauci Explains How To Make It Through His ‘Worst Nightmare’
‘America’s Doctor’ provides public health lessons from the AIDS epidemic, and strategies to make it out of the COVID-19 crisis.
11:42
The First Wave Of COVID-19 Is Still Surging
States reckon with reopening as case numbers climb, plus a new signal in a Italian dark matter detector.
17:23
Childhood Vaccinations Drop During COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 has decreased trips to the pediatrician, leaving kids vulnerable to disease.
Anthony Fauci Gives Advice On How To Reopen The United States
From second waves to vaccines, “America’s doctor” gives advice on how the country should reopen after COVID-19.
11:40
Blood Clots Linked To COVID-19 Are Raising Alarm
Doctors are seeing unusual blood clotting in some patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus.
COVID-19 Mortality Is Worsened By Air Pollution, New Research Finds
A Harvard research team finds that an increase of one part per billion of air pollution is linked with an 8% increase in COVID-19 mortality.
11:49
A Small COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Shows Promise
Early indicators from a small vaccine study are a positive step toward the end of the pandemic. Plus, what’s happening with locusts in East Africa, and how climate change is impacting hurricanes.
11:40
Monitoring Your Pandemic Health, From Your Home
New at-home tests and health monitoring devices may give a new picture of the COVID-19 pandemic.
17:15
Fact Check My Feed: Finding The Falsehoods In ‘Plandemic’
Plus, a breakdown of this week’s COVID-19 news, including what we do and don’t know about the virus in semen and coronavirus mutations.
10:37
Global Flare-ups Of COVID-19 Hot Spots
Countries that were touted as early successes in “flattening the curve” are seeing flare-ups of COVID-19 outbreaks.
34:08
The Many Ways COVID-19 Exacerbates Pre-existing Inequality
COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting Black, Latino, and Native American communities. Why?
17:15
How Do We Build Trust Into Contact Tracing?
Governments and companies are building digital solutions to trace COVID-19’s spread. But public health experts say human labor and trust is irreplaceable.
17:04
Navigating COVID-19 By The Numbers
Mathematical modeling can help guide tough decisions about how society should respond to COVID-19.
17:16
A Pandemic Precedent—Set in 1918
What can we learn from the United States’ response to the 1918 influenza pandemic?
7:38
Strokes In COVID-19 Patients, Plus Trauma In Healthcare Workers
A handful of COVID-19 patients under the age of fifty have experienced strokes, raising questions about the virus.
Looking Back At The 1918 Flu Pandemic, In Photos
Take a glimpse at archival photos of scenes and people living during one of the deadliest pandemics in human history.
12:10
The Challenging Path To A COVID-19 Vaccine
Are efforts to speed the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus adding risk to the process?
12:04
A Shifted Coronavirus Timeline
The first COVID-19 death in the U.S. was three weeks before we initially thought.
12:13
Fact Check My Feed: Can Coronavirus Reactivate In Patients After Recovery?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen clears up details on reactivation of the coronavirus in recovered patients and a study looking at runners and bikers droplet clouds.
12:07
Inequality In The Air
COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on minority populations who are exposed to polluted air.
17:12
Routine Healthcare Is Falling Through The COVID-19 Cracks
The COVID-19 crisis is restricting patients’ access to regular care.
12:07
Big Data’s Latest On Tracking The Spread of COVID-19
Are you following stay-at-home orders? In some countries, the government will use cell phone data to make sure.
17:28
With Low Supplies, DIY Medical Gear Is On The Rise
Due to shortages of crucial supplies, healthcare workers ask volunteers to make medical masks.
6:55
Pandemic Survivors May Be Key To First COVID-19 Treatment
What you need to know about the CDC’s new face mask guidelines and an experimental COVID-19 treatment launching in New York.
16:21
Citizen Scientists: Submit Your COVID-19 Symptoms (Or Lack Of Them)
How citizen scientists can help the CDC track the spread of coronavirus in the United States.
16:59
Fact Check My Feed: Which COVID-19 Treatments Are Backed By Science?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen returns to explain the studies behind the stories on your news feed.
11:15
Why Do We Still Not Have Enough COVID-19 Tests?
The new reason for the U.S.’s testing backlog? Materials like swabs, chemical reagents, and lab shortages are causing delays.
16:57
Fact-Checking Your Coronavirus News Feed
Experiencing COVID-19 information overload? Two experts offer clarity on the studies taking over news headlines this week.
28:16
Coronavirus: Sanitizing, According To Science
The coronavirus is easy to kill with soap and water. We talk how it works, and why it matters for more people than you.
How Science Friday Produces Radio, From Home
Science Friday producers share how the team has restructured a live radio show during the coronavirus pandemic.
12:26
A New World, Shaped By COVID-19
A roundup of the COVID-19 stories that will define the “new normal,” including tracking spread through smartphone location data and ventilator triage.
22:20
How To Prepare Your Healthcare System For A New Coronavirus
If COVID-19 spreads in the U.S., hospitals have ways to prepare. Public health experts explain why more testing and protecting healthcare workers will be key.
17:18
Looking To The Genome To Track And Treat The New Coronavirus
Scientists have sequenced the genome of the new coronavirus from two patients in Washington state.
17:15
How To Track And Stop The Spread Of The Coronavirus Outbreak
Nearly 10,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide, as of January 31. Experts consider measures that could be put in place to halt the spread of the pathogen.
6:44
What Does A ‘Pandemic’ Actually Mean?
What the World Health Organization’s declaration of a ‘pandemic’ means, and more from the week in science.
12:11
COVID-19 Numbers Are Rising. But How Are Those Numbers Counted?
Changes in how countries are diagnosing infection with the coronavirus can make shifting numbers difficult to interpret.
17:05
New Virus Paralyzes Chinese Cities
Officials in China have quarantined two large cities, where some 20 million people live, over fears of a novel virus outbreak.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Quarantine’
‘Trentino’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Vaccine’
This world-changing tool of immunization got its name from a cow virus.
34:06
Forecasting The Future Of Pandemics—In 1994
In 1994, Laurie Garrett and Stephen Ostroff came on Science Friday to contemplate some troubling trends in public health. Twenty-two years later, they’re back for a check-up.
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