Science

The White House Said My COVID Tests Would Be Fully Covered. Instead I Got Charged $43.
The United States’ messy plan for at-home COVID tests made the pandemic even more chaotic. Can we get it together before the next surge?

Here’s What The New Climate Report Says About The Future Of My 1-Year-Old Daughter
Not halting global warming, said one expert, “would be the final, truly unfair thing to do to a generation of kids coming up right now.”

A Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Is Now A War Zone. Here’s What That Means.
“We are in completely uncharted waters,” the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

New York's Attorney General Is Calling For Emergency Alerts In More Languages
“Language should never be a barrier to critical information that could save lives,” New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote in a letter to federal officials.

The Housing Crisis Led Them to Basement Apartments. Climate Change Flooded Them Out.
As a growing number of intense storms batters the country, more Americans are at risk of losing everything as high rents push tenants below ground.

This Doctor Has Pushed Unproven Drugs And Questioned COVID Vaccines. She’s Now Pleaded Guilty To Crimes In The Jan. 6 Insurrection.
Simone Gold’s group America’s Frontline Doctors has fought the medical consensus on COVID. Critics want her license to practice medicine to be revoked.

How Open-Source Intelligence Is Helping Clear The Fog Of War In Ukraine
From high-resolution satellite images to TikTok videos, governments no longer control information from the front lines.

Climate Change Threatens Life As We Know It And The Only Way To Minimize The Damage Is To Act Now, Hundreds Of Scientists Warn
“Scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health,” concludes the report.

Gas Stoves Emit Pollutants. Here’s How They Impact Your Health.
People are moving away from gas stoves because of the impact on the environment, but they also aren’t risk-free when it comes to your health. Here’s what experts recommend.

How The Pandemic Is Changing Our Bodies
Whether it’s your eyes, skin, teeth, or something else, the pandemic is having an impact on bodies that has nothing to do with COVID.

Eric Lander Has Resigned As Biden's Science Adviser After Bullying Staff
Biologist Eric Lander, who had a seat on President Biden’s Cabinet, was billed as the most powerful scientist in US history. Now he has resigned, after an investigation found he bullied women in his office.

“I Have Nowhere To Go”: This Woman Lost Her New Jersey Apartment Due To Ida’s Flooding. Government Officials Just Evicted Her From Her Temporary Housing.
Lataiyyah Washington is one of more than 600 people who lost their subsidized housing in Elizabeth, New Jersey, due to the storm.

Microwaves Or Ultrasound Might Explain Open "Havana Syndrome" Cases, US Intelligence Report Says
“We will stay at it, with continued rigor, for however long it takes," said a joint intelligence agency statement about the remaining, unsolved, Havana Syndrome cases.

If You Think You Have COVID But Your Rapid Test Is Negative, Here’s Why
Can you test negative for COVID but still have it? This is why it seems to take so long for a rapid test to turn positive.

You Can Get Free N95 Masks. Here Are 11 Things To Know About Where To Find Them And How To Use Them.
The government is shipping free N95 masks to a store near you. Here’s where to get them, when to use them, and why they work better than other masks.

Republicans Are Changing State Medical Board Rules So It’s Easier For Doctors To Prescribe Hydroxychloroquine And Ivermectin
Republicans in state legislatures across the country are pushing, and in some cases passing, bills that limit medical boards’ authority over COVID treatments.

People Of Color Don’t Get Monoclonal Antibodies As Often As Their White Counterparts, According To A New Analysis
When it comes to treatment with monoclonal antibodies, a CDC report finds that some people with COVID are less likely to get them than others.

What Happens After Omicron? Four Key Questions About Where The Pandemic Goes Next.
“I think in many ways, we are just as flabbergasted as the rest of society about how Omicron has seemingly come from nowhere,” one scientist said.

A Volcanic Eruption In Tonga Has Triggered A Tsunami Advisory For The Western US
The massive blast caused atmospheric shock waves seen by orbiting weather satellites.

The Biden Administration Is Purchasing 500 Million More Rapid Tests. Here’s How You Can Get One.
The announcement is part of a plan to expand access to rapid testing, but most tests won’t be available for at least two weeks.

Congrats: If You’re Reading This, You Just Survived One Of The Hottest Years Ever
“Temperatures will keep rising as long as we keep increasing greenhouse gases,” one climate scientist said.

Omicron May Be “Milder,” But It’s Making More People Sick Than Ever Before
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” one doctor said.

“People Aren’t Going To Realize It Until They Call 911 And No One Comes”: How Omicron Could Push Hospitals Over The Edge
The cruel irony is that what appears to be the mildest widespread variant of the coronavirus is the one that risks pushing the US hospital system to the brink.

The Federal Government Is Still Undercounting Extreme Weather And Climate Deaths
NOAA announced that at least 688 people died from extreme weather in 2021, but BuzzFeed News has shown that the true toll is much higher.

We Asked Experts To Tell Us The Most Important Things To Know About Kids And COVID Because Honestly, It’s Confusing
Here’s what to know right now about protecting children from COVID-19, how dangerous it is for them, and the real risk of long COVID in kids.

The CDC Is Warning That Child Hospitalization Rates Are Breaking Pandemic Records
“Pediatric hospitalizations are at the highest rate compared to any prior point in the pandemic,” the CDC’s director warned.

Texas Is Still Not Recognizing The Full Death Toll Of Last Year’s Devastating Winter Storm
The state now says that 246 people were killed in last February’s winter storm. An updated analysis by BuzzFeed News puts the number at more than 750.

Jail Time For An “Imaginary Crime”: It’s Almost Impossible To Overdose Just By Touching Fentanyl, But People Are Being Locked Up For It Anyway
“People should not be in jail for imaginary crimes,” one expert said.

The CDC Might Recommend Asymptomatic People Test Negative For COVID-19 Before Breaking Isolation
Anthony Fauci says the CDC is aware of recent pushback to its changes to isolation guidelines and may soon alter them.

“This Is Climate Change Barging Through The Front Door”: Water Scarcity Is Forcing Changes In How The Colorado River Is Shared
Huge decisions will be made in the next few years about who gets water from the shrinking Colorado River. Basin tribes are fighting to get their share.