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Saving The World, One Invention At A Time

Britain Moves Toward Ethically Controversial COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

The British government has announced plans for a coronavirus vaccine challenge trial. Volunteers will receive an experimental vaccine and be exposed to the virus to test its efficacy.

Britain Moves Toward Ethically Controversial COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

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Tobacco Plants Contribute Key Ingredient For COVID-19 Vaccine

Tobacco plants are being used in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. One is already being tested in humans. Rehman Asad/Barcroft Media via Getty Images hide caption

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Rehman Asad/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

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Tobacco Plants Contribute Key Ingredient For COVID-19 Vaccine

Here's irony: tobacco plants may be key in preventing COVID-19. Two companies are using the plants to produce proteins for a vaccine. One candidate vaccine is already in a clinical trial.

Tobacco Plants Contribute Key Ingredient For COVID-19 Vaccine

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Pfizer Seems To Lead Coronavirus Vaccine Development Race. How Did It Get Ahead?

Pfizer appears to have the lead in the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine. Results from its clinical trials could be out in a matter of weeks.

Pfizer Seems To Lead Coronavirus Vaccine Development Race. How Did It Get Ahead?

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AstraZeneca Resumes Its COVID-19 Vaccine Trials In The U.K.

Earlier in the week, AstraZeneca had paused worldwide studies of its candidate vaccine after one U.K. participant developed symptoms consistent with the spinal cord inflammation known as transverse myelitis. Alastair Grant/AP hide caption

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Alastair Grant/AP

Coronavirus Updates

AstraZeneca Resumes Its COVID-19 Vaccine Trials In The U.K.

The company had placed its worldwide vaccine trials on hold for several days. It now says a safety review by regulators and reviewers is complete. No word on when studies in the U.S. might resume.

Respirators Key To Coronavirus Battle But They Must Be Worn Correctly

N95 respirator manufactured by 3M Joe Palca/NPR hide caption

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Respirators Key To Coronavirus Battle But They Must Be Worn Correctly

A respirator is a central piece of protective gear vital for keeping health care workers healthy — but wearing one incorrectly can put the wearer at risk.

Respirators Key To Coronavirus Battle But They Must Be Worn Correctly

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Hunt For New Coronavirus Treatments Includes Gene-Silencing And Monoclonal Antibodies

Research & Development associate Divya Nagalati works on cell cultures in Regeneron's infectious disease labs in Tarrytown, N.Y. The firm is looking for tailored antibodies that might prove useful against the new coronavirus. Rani Levy hide caption

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Rani Levy

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Hunt For New Coronavirus Treatments Includes Gene-Silencing And Monoclonal Antibodies

The new coronavirus has spurred biotech labs in universities and companies to try to find new approaches to stopping the virus — from blocking its key enzymes to interfering with its genetics.

Hunt For New Coronavirus Treatments Includes Gene-Silencing And Monoclonal Antibodies

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In The Fight Against COVID-19, Labs Look To Create Coronavirus Antibodies

An approach to treating new diseases that worked for the Ebola and Zika viruses is being tested for the new coronavirus. It involves using antibodies to the disease as a drug.

In The Fight Against COVID-19, Labs Look To Create Coronavirus Antibodies

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DARPA Aims To Have Coronavirus Therapy Shortly After Outbreak's Start

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DARPA

DARPA Aims To Have Coronavirus Therapy Shortly After Outbreak's Start

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency supports a pandemic preparedness program that is designed to respond rapidly to an emerging threat such as the coronavirus.

DARPA Aims To Have Coronavirus Therapy Shortly After Outbreak's Start

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Timetable For A Vaccine Against The New Coronavirus? Maybe This Fall

Paul McKay, a molecular immunologist at the Imperial College School of Medicine in London, checks a dish of bacteria containing genetic material from the new coronavirus. He and his team are testing a candidate vaccine. Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

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Timetable For A Vaccine Against The New Coronavirus? Maybe This Fall

Recent advances in biotech make scientists optimistic that they might have a vaccine that has passed basic tests of human safety and efficacy ready to go to clinics as soon as this fall.

The U.S. Government Is Sharing Its Test For The New Coronavirus

Right now, the CDC in Atlanta is the only place that can definitively test for the new coronavirus. But soon regional public health labs will get in the game, and kits are being developed for doctors.

The U.S. Government Is Sharing Its Test For The New Coronavirus

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The State Of A Potential Vaccine For The New Coronavirus

Several teams are working on a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus. Although a vaccine is many months off, new technologies have helped build potential vaccines in record time.

The State Of A Potential Vaccine For The New Coronavirus

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Molecular Scissors Could Help Keep Some Viral Illnesses At Bay
Susanna M. Hamilton/Broad Communications

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Molecular Scissors Could Help Keep Some Viral Illnesses At Bay

A new technique uses the CRISPR molecule to snip away at the part of RNA viruses that allows them to spread infection by making copies of themselves.

Molecular Scissors Could Help Keep Some Viral Illnesses At Bay

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An App That Can Catch Early Signs Of Eye Disease In A Flash

An app uses a smartphone camera to detect leukocoria, a pale reflection from the back of the eye. It can be an early sign of disease. Here it appears light brown compared the healthy eye. Munson et al., Sci. Adv. 2019; 5 eaax 6363 hide caption

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Munson et al., Sci. Adv. 2019; 5 eaax 6363

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An App That Can Catch Early Signs Of Eye Disease In A Flash

After his son developed a rare eye cancer, a chemist in Texas developed a smartphone app that uses a camera and artificial intelligence to detect early signs of eye disease.

An App That Can Catch Early Signs Of Eye Disease In A Flash

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A Speedy Test For Norovirus Could Help Water Supplies Check For Contamination

Water utilities need quick ways to check for contamination in the drinking water supply, including from norovirus, which causes intestinal distress. Scientists are trying to make it easier to test for the virus. Rehan Hasan / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm hide caption

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Rehan Hasan / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

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A Speedy Test For Norovirus Could Help Water Supplies Check For Contamination

Flooding from storms can sometimes lead to contamination from sewage in the drinking water supply. Scientists are trying to develop a quicker test for one troublesome contaminant: norovirus.

A Speedy Test For Norovirus Could Help Water Supplies Check For Contamination

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