If you squeeze the coronavirus, does it shatter?
This was featured in live coverage.
By Katherine J. Wu
Katherine J. Wu
Katherine J. Wu is a reporter for The New York Times, covering science and health. She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunobiology from Harvard University.
Previously, she was a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at Smithsonian magazine. Her work has also appeared in Undark, National Geographic, Popular Science, Scientific American and more. She is also a 2020 Early Career Fellow at The Open Notebook and a senior producer for The Story Collider.
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If You Squeeze the Coronavirus, Does It Shatter?
Scientists are exploring the physics of viruses, to understand how these pathogens assemble themselves — and might be rent apart.
By Katherine J. Wu
During one pandemic, students are training for the next.
By Katherine J. Wu
Amid One Pandemic, Students Train for the Next
Researchers have banded together to find safe, virtual ways to teach the principles of microbiology and epidemiology.
By Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesYour Cat Isn’t Just Getting High Off Catnip
A new study hints that plants like catnip and silver vine may also protect your feline friend from mosquitoes.
By Katherine J. Wu
Could a Smell Test Screen People for Covid?
A new modeling study hints that odor-based screens could quash outbreaks. But some experts are skeptical it would work in the real world.
By Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesFinally in 3-D: A Dinosaur’s All-Purpose Orifice
This cloaca is more than 100 million years old, and it did a lot of work for this extinct species.
By Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesA Surprise in a 50 Million-Year-Old Assassin Bug Fossil: Its Genitals
Scientists were surprised to find the insect’s preserved penis, which suggests it was an unknown species.
By Katherine J. Wu
Twins With Covid Help Scientists Untangle the Disease’s Genetic Roots
“I want to know,” one twin said, “why did she have Covid worse than me?”
By Katherine J. Wu
A leading public health organization takes stock of U.S. testing strategy.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Katherine J. Wu
Participants in Moderna’s early clinical trials are being offered a booster shot.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Denise Grady and Katherine J. Wu
Participants in Moderna’s early clinical trials are being offered a booster shot.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Denise Grady and Katherine J. Wu
Adriano Espaillat is the latest member of Congress to test positive for the virus after Capitol siege.
By Emily Cochrane and Katherine J. Wu
Traveling (or Returning) to the U.S.? Prepare to Take a Coronavirus Test
Beginning Jan. 26, international travelers bound for the United States must show negative coronavirus test results before boarding their flights. Here’s what you need to know.
By Katherine J. Wu
Experts urge caution in delaying the second dose of the vaccine.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Katherine J. Wu
States Told to Vaccinate Everyone 65 and Over as Deaths Surge
The Trump administration ordered states to use Covid-19 vaccines set aside for second doses to get the shots to more people more quickly.
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Abby Goodnough
One Mask Is Good. Would Two Be Better?
Health experts double down on their advice for slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
By Katherine J. Wu
The Trump administration calls for wider vaccine eligibility, including people 65 and over.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Michael D. Shear, Katherine J. Wu and Katie Thomas
Three lawmakers test positive after being in lockdown at the Capitol.
By Tracey Tully, Katherine J. Wu, Apoorva Mandavilli and Emily Cochrane
Here’s what to know about the South African and U.K. virus variants.
By Katherine J. Wu
Congressional memoDid Mixing a Riot With a Pandemic Yield a Superspreader Event?
Members of a mob, many unmasked, roamed the halls of the Capitol. Unmasked Republicans jammed into secure rooms. The outcome is worrisome to many members of Congress.
By Emily Cochrane
Two lawmakers test positive after being in lockdown in Capitol.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Tracey Tully, Katherine J. Wu and Apoorva Mandavilli
TrilobitesBaby Megalodons Were 6-Foot-Long Womb Cannibals, Study Suggests
The research appears to confirm that, even as newborns, the extinct sharks were very, very big.
By Katherine J. Wu
Biden pledges action on the pandemic and the economy.
By Michael D. Shear, Jim Tankersley, Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Katherine J. Wu
Biden Plans Coronavirus Vaccination Blitz After Inauguration
The incoming Biden administration plans to set up federally run mass vaccination sites and to release all government-held vials, rather than hold some back for second doses.
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Katherine J. Wu
2 Arthritis Drugs Reduce Deaths in Very Ill Covid Patients, Study Finds
The big dip in mortality shown in the trial of about 800 patients has caught some experts by surprise because previous studies of the drugs showed little benefit.
By Katherine J. Wu
Biden plans to release nearly all available vaccine doses in an attempt to speed delivery.
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Katherine J. Wu and Karen Zraick
Two arthritis drugs are found to reduce deaths of critically ill Covid patients.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Katherine J. Wu
Blood Plasma Reduces Risk of Severe Covid-19 if Given Early
Thousands of people received convalescent plasma as an experimental treatment for Covid. A new study shows that it works — but only when given within a few days of the onset of illness.
By Katherine J. Wu
F.D.A. is questioning the accuracy of a coronavirus test Congress is using.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Emily Cochrane and Katherine J. Wu
In Europe, more countries delay second vaccine doses or mull plans to do so.
By Katherine J. Wu and Rebecca Robbins
As Rollout Falters, Scientists Debate New Vaccination Tactics
Should second doses be delayed? Should most adults receive half-doses? Scientists are pondering ways to get more shots into more arms.
By Katherine J. Wu and Rebecca Robbins
U.S. officials consider half-doses of Moderna’s vaccine to give more people at least some immunity.
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By Katherine J. Wu
The U.K. tinkers with its vaccination procedures while the U.S. balks at changes.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Britain authorizes mix-and-match vaccinations, but experts warn vaccines may not be interchangeable.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Britain Opens Door to Mix-and-Match Vaccinations, Worrying Experts
If a second dose of one vaccine isn’t available, another may be substituted, according to the guidelines.
By Katherine J. Wu
Vaccines Take a While to Kick In. Experts Say That Means the Body Is Doing Its Job.
Reports of Covid-19 cases that appeared shortly after a single shot of a two-dose vaccine shouldn’t cause concern.
By Katherine J. Wu
Even as health workers receive the vaccine, their family members must wait.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Dad Got the Vaccine, but No One Else Did — Yet
Vaccinated health workers must navigate another new normal: households in which not all family members are immunized.
By Katherine J. Wu
In a first for the Moderna vaccine, a doctor in Boston reported suffering a severe allergic reaction.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Boston Doctor Reports Serious Allergic Reaction After Getting Moderna’s Covid Vaccine
The patient, who has a severe shellfish allergy, recovered quickly with treatment. Until now, reports of severe reactions had been linked to the Pfizer vaccine.
By Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesA New Population of Blue Whales Was Discovered Hiding in the Indian Ocean
The whales in the group seem to sing a unique song.
By Katherine J. Wu
How Confident Can You Be in a Coronavirus Test?
Things like which kind of test it was, and the reason for taking it, should factor into how much credence to give a positive or negative result.
By Katherine J. Wu
What You Can Do Post-Vaccine, and When
Particularly in the early months of vaccination, many activities should wait, experts say — and plan to keep your masks.
By Claire Cain Miller, Margot Sanger-Katz and Katherine J. Wu
C.D.C. Panel Endorses Moderna Vaccine for Americans
The approval sets the stage for widespread inoculations in the United States with a second coronavirus vaccine.
By Katherine J. Wu
The C.D.C. advisory panel has endorsed the Moderna vaccine.
By Katherine J. Wu
Hang in There, Help Is on the Way
Times are tough now, but the end is in sight. If we hunker down, keep our families safe during the holidays and monitor our health at home, life will get better in the spring. Here’s how to get through it.
By Tara Parker-Pope
Frontline workers were left off the vaccine list at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto. They fought back.
By Katherine J. Wu and Mike Isaac
What people with allergies need to know about the Covid vaccines.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Here’s What People With Allergies Should Know About Covid Vaccines
Four people so far have had allergic reactions after getting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Experts say that shouldn’t deter most people from getting a jab.
By Katherine J. Wu
F.D.A. Panel Endorses Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine
An advisory group’s recommendation will mean millions more Americans can be inoculated, extending protection against Covid beyond major urban areas into rural and suburban regions.
By Denise Grady, Abby Goodnough, Carl Zimmer and Katherine J. Wu
No, There Are No Microchips in Coronavirus Vaccines
Pfizer’s vaccine has 10 ingredients. None can track your location.
By Katherine J. Wu
No, there are no microchips in coronavirus vaccines.
Pfizer’s vaccine has 10 ingredients. None can track your location.
By Katherine J. Wu
A second vaccine moves closer to U.S. authorization.
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By Denise Grady, Abby Goodnough, Carl Zimmer and Katherine J. Wu
The F.D.A. green lights a $25 at-home antigen virus test.
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By Katherine J. Wu
The clinical trials of a Chinese vaccine resume in Peru after a volunteer’s illness is deemed unrelated.
A volunteer’s illness is unlikely to be related to the shot, researchers said.
By Katherine J. Wu and Mitra Taj
Pompeo is in quarantine after contact with a person who tested positive.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Lara Jakes and Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesHe’s Too Quiet for His Mate to Hear Him. So He Makes a Megaphone.
Some tree crickets amplify their calls with leaves, giving them an opportunity to mate that they otherwise might miss.
By Katherine J. Wu
The F.D.A. greenlights a new at-home virus test.
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By Katherine J. Wu
New At-Home Covid Test Gets Green Light From F.D.A.
Unlike similar at-home tests, Ellume’s does not require a prescription.
By Katherine J. Wu
The C.D.C. urges doctors to reassure their patients about the safety of Covid-19 vaccines.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Katherine J. Wu
A new study shows an arthritis drug may help Covid-19 patients recover.
By Katherine J. Wu
Hospitals Prepare for First Shots as Virus Vaccine Shipments Blanket U.S.
The first of nearly three million doses were sent across the country, the start of the most ambitious vaccination campaign in the nation’s history.
By Jack Healy, Amy Harmon and Simon Romero
Covid Study Shows an Arthritis Drug May Help Patients Recover
Baricitinib had previously attracted some scrutiny from experts, who were unsure when it would most help their patients.
By Katherine J. Wu
Peru halts trials of a Chinese vaccine, citing an adverse event in a volunteer.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Rebutting Trump, the F.D.A. chief says the vaccine could not have been authorized any sooner.
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By Katherine J. Wu
No, there isn’t evidence that Pfizer’s vaccine causes infertility.
A flurry of rumors online has prompted concern. But scientists assert the claims are baseless.
By Katherine J. Wu
Do you have questions about coronavirus tests? These experts have answers.
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By Tara Parker-Pope and Katherine J. Wu
What You Need to Know About Getting Tested for Coronavirus
Long lines, slow results and inconsistent advice have left many of us confused about when and how to get tested. We talked to the experts to answer your questions.
By Tara Parker-Pope and Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesMenaced by Murder Hornets, Bees Decorate Their Hives With Feces
Asian honeybees have exhibited what scientists call a form of tool use to deter attacks by giant predatory wasps.
By Katherine J. Wu
No, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine development has not been ‘reckless.’
Experts maintain that widespread rollout of these vaccines, which have undergone rigorous testing, is very likely to be safe.
By Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesWhy Are Pandas Covering Themselves With Horse Manure?
Researchers in China spent a decade studying this question.
By Katherine J. Wu
Doctors Are Skeptical of Pricey Drug Given Emergency Approval for Covid
Baricitinib, an arthritis drug made by Eli Lilly, may reduce recovery time by a day, but costs about $1,500 and comes with side effects.
By Katherine J. Wu
‘Nobody Sees Us’: Testing-Lab Workers Strain Under Demand
Laboratory technologists have been working nonstop to help the nation diagnose an ever-growing number of coronavirus cases.
By Katherine J. Wu
Experts are raising concerns about rapid tests’ accuracy when used on children.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Rapid Testing for Children Barrels Ahead, Despite a Lack of Data
Testing companies have revealed little about how their products perform in minors. That could be a problem.
By Katherine J. Wu
Doctors and nurses on the front lines are grappling with Covid combat fatigue.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Covid Combat Fatigue: ‘I Would Come Home With Tears in My Eyes’
Doctors and nurses on the front lines are running on empty, under increasing duress as the pandemic surges and hospitals are overrun with patients.
By Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesThis Rat Covers Itself With Poison That Can Take Out an Elephant
The African crested rat gnaws on poisonous tree branches, then grooms its noxious spittle into its fur.
By Katherine J. Wu
Machine-made molecules fight the coronavirus in lab animals.
By Katherine J. Wu
Sorry, but a negative test does not give you a green light for Thanksgiving.
By Claire Cain Miller, Katherine J. Wu and Margot Sanger-Katz
Antibodies Good. Machine-Made Molecules Better?
With help from computer algorithms, researchers designed proteins from scratch that can trounce the coronavirus in lab animals.
By Katherine J. Wu
No, a Negative Coronavirus Test Does Not Mean You Can Safely Socialize
A negative test is helpful, scientists and doctors say. But it doesn’t mean you should skip other measures, like quarantining, masking and distancing.
By Claire Cain Miller, Katherine J. Wu and Margot Sanger-Katz
Andrew Giuliani, a White House official, tests positive after attending a news conference with his father and other Trump lawyers.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Maggie Haberman and Katherine J. Wu
TrilobitesDon’t Get Between a Caterpillar and Its Milkweed
Before metamorphosis, monarch butterflies will aggressively head butt each other for access to their favorite food.
By Katherine J. Wu
F.D.A. authorizes the first at-home coronavirus test.
By Katherine J. Wu
F.D.A. Authorizes First At-Home Coronavirus Test
The test relies on a nose swab and can be run in just 30 minutes. But it requires a prescription, and has not been evaluated in asymptomatic people.
By Katherine J. Wu
The F.D.A. authorizes the first at-home coronavirus test.
This was featured in live coverage.
By Katherine J. Wu
Use mouthwash to reduce your chances of getting gingivitis, not coronavirus.
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By Katherine J. Wu
Elon Musk ‘most likely’ has Covid-19.
The announcement came after the SpaceX founder sent a series of tweets about an assortment of coronavirus tests he took.
By Katherine J. Wu
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