The Omicron variant carries worrisome mutations that may let it evade antibodies, scientists said. But it will take more research to know how it fares against vaccinated people. By Carl Zimmer Scientific experts at the World Health Organization warned on Friday that a...
Coronaviruses discovered in Laotian bats are surprisingly adept at infecting human cells, showing that such deadly features can indeed evolve outside of a lab. By Carl Zimmer The media war over the origins of the virus that causes Covid-19 will continue for a long...
Vaccine makers are betting that the mRNA technology powering two successful Covid vaccines will help curb the tragic global death toll from the flu. By Carl Zimmer As the world grapples with Covid-19, influenza isn’t getting much attention these days. But the...
By Carl Zimmer, et al. Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine may become slightly weaker over time, the company reported. But experts said that most people won’t need boosters anytime soon. This study report shows how intensely political the decision on boosters will be. ...
In a review of recent studies and comparisons to other outbreaks, a group of virologists contends that there is more evidence to support a natural spillover from animals to humans. In the latest volley of the debate over the origins of the coronavirus, a group of...
June 29, 2021 ~ The New York Times ~ by Carl Zimmer Mixing Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines provides strong protection, according to a preliminary study. Early results from a British vaccine study suggest that mixing different brands of vaccines can provoke a...
June 6, 2021 ~ New York Times ~ by Carl Zimmer We’ll Probably Need Booster Shots for Covid-19. But When? And Which Ones? Scientists are asking a lot of questions about Covid-19 booster shots, but they don’t yet have many answers. Here’s what they know so far. As the...
Early analysis suggests that another mRNA vaccine is safe, but its effectiveness isn’t yet known. New York Times, May 28, 2021 by Carl Zimmer The German company CureVac said on Friday that its Covid-19 vaccine had passed its first interim analysis, but that it was not...
New York Times, May 27, 2021, Carl Zimmer, et al. Scientists Don’t Want to Ignore the ‘Lab Leak’ Theory, Despite No New Evidence Many scientists welcomed President Biden’s call for a more rigorous investigation of a virus lab in Wuhan, China, though they said the...