Sara Novak is a science writer based on Sullivan’s Island, S.C. Her work has appeared in Discover, Sierra Magazine, Popular Science, New Scientist, among other publications. Follow Novak on X @sarafnovak
Tylenol orders in pregnant people plummeted after Trump falsely linked the medicine to autism
An analysis found that, following Trump’s claim that acetaminophen was linked to autism, orders for the drug for pregnant patients in emergency rooms dropped, while the number of children prescribed an unproven autism treatment increased
A foraging teenager was mauled by a bear 27,000 years ago, skeleton shows
The remains of a teenage boy who lived around 27,000 years ago suggest he was attacked by a cave bear—some of the first direct evidence of a predator attacking an ancient human
These Hummingbirds Joust Like Medieval Knights—Even to the Death
The sharp, elongated bills of green hermit hummingbirds aren’t just fine-tuned for feeding; they also allow males to joust like knights over mates
Annual COVID vaccines protect people against severe disease, even with prior immunity
A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination
Early Experiments Show Fast-Acting Antidote Targets Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A study in mice and on human blood uses a new protein to snag carbon monoxide before it latches onto blood cells
Could a Blood Test One Day Predict Postpartum Depression?
Too few people get diagnosed and treated for postpartum depression. But a blood test could change that
How to Tactfully Ask Your Child’s Friend’s Parents if They Have Guns at Home
A gun safety check of where your child is going for a playdate or sleepover may save lives
Animals Evolved Color Vision before Bright Colors Emerged
Animals were able to see colors long before species developed the riot of colors that enlivens our world today
Too Much Teeth Whitening Can Cause Damage. Here’s What to Know
Using teeth-whitening treatments to achieve a brighter smile may be appealing, but experts say overdoing it could cause lasting damage
How GPS Tracking of Teens 24/7 Impacts Parent-Child Relationships
Phone apps can tell whether your kid is playing hooky. But remotely surveilling your child might not be great for navigating the trials of the teen years
When Dogs Smell Your Stress, They Act Sad
Dogs can smell when people are stressed, and it seems to make them feel downhearted
How Do Whole-Body Deodorants Work, and Are They Safe?
A number of whole-body deodorants are coming to market. But are they safe and effective?
Americans Are Lonelier Than Europeans in Middle Age
The lack of a safety net in the U.S. is a big factor that explains why Americans feel lonelier than Danes or Swedes
Why We Believe the Myth of High Crime Rates
The crime issue, a focus of the 2024 presidential election, is sometimes rooted in the misplaced fears of people who live in some of the safest places
Ancient Egyptian Mummies Reveal What Diseases Plagued the Civilization
Ancient Egyptian mummies reveal what diseases afflicted people in the great civilization, as well as the protective role the Nile could play
How Humans Lost Their Tails
A newly discovered genetic mechanism helped eliminate the tails of human ancestors
Females Dominate Males in Many Primate Species
Most primate societies have long been assumed to be male-dominated, but a new study shows many have females in charge or feature power sharing
Training Bartenders, Barbers and Divorce Attorneys as Counselors Could Reduce Gun Suicides
Some of the tens of thousands of suicide deaths in the U.S. each year would not have happened if people in the community had been schooled to provide advice about gun safety
This Public Health Measure Bridges the National Divide over Firearms—Just Don’t Call It Gun Control
Some states have begun to buy into the need for off-site firearm storage to protect those at risk of suicide
Student Loan Debt Takes a Toll on a Vulnerable Population’s Mental Health
Many young adults, facing the largest student loan burden in history, report depression, anxiety and an overhanging sense of dread
This Therapy Helps Formerly Incarcerated People Return to Society
Recovery-oriented cognitive therapy helps people getting out of prison to reengage with society and build a new life
Draconian Laws Deter Pregnant Women from Treating Drug Abuse
In some states, punitive drug laws require physicians to report a pregnant person with a substance use disorder, leading to the removal of their child after birth
On U.S. Barrier Islands, African-Rooted Traditions Protect against a Relentlessly Rising Ocean
A way of life nurtured for hundreds of years in the U.S. Southeast guards coastlines from climate change
How the Gun Became Integral to the Self-Identity of Millions of Americans
The firearm as a totemlike symbol of personal identity emerged from the psychological insecurities of former enslavers after the Civil War