Natural DisastersAugust 11, 2023
How Wildfires Kill People
The deadly wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, has killed dozens of people so far. Here’s how fires threaten human health
Stories by Tanya Lewis
Tanya Lewis is senior desk editor for health and medicine at Scientific American. She writes and edits stories for the website and print magazine on topics ranging from COVID to organ transplants. She also appears on Scientific American’s podcast Science Quickly and writes Scientific American’s weekly Health & Medicine newsletter. She has held a number of positions over her nine years at Scientific American, including health editor, assistant news editor and associate editor at Scientific American Mind. Previously, she has written for outlets that include Insider, Wired, Science News and others. She has a degree in biomedical engineering from Brown University and one in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Follow her on Bluesky @tanyalewis.bsky.social
EpidemiologyAugust 7, 2023
Red meat allergy caused by tick bite is spreading—and nearly half of doctors don’t know about it
The bite of the lone star tick can cause an allergy to red meat, as well as to dairy and some medications
Drug UseAugust 2, 2023
Could Weight-Loss Drugs Curb Addiction? Your Health, Quickly, Episode 12
Drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic might help people tackle substance abuse as well as shed pounds.
Public HealthJuly 19, 2023
How Stress Messes With Your Gut
Inflammatory bowel disease flare-ups can be traced to mental stress
CancerJuly 13, 2023
Aspartame Declared ‘Possible’ Carcinogen. Here’s What That Really Means
United Nations groups say the artificial sweetener poses a possible risk of liver cancer—but there’s no evidence for harm under the current daily limit
Health CareJuly 7, 2023
Doctor AI Will See You Now
ChatGPT and other AI programs can offer medical advice. But how good are they?
AnimalsJune 29, 2023
Cat Noses Contain Twisted Labyrinths That Help Them Separate Smells
Scientists hypothesize that coiled channels inside a cat’s nose may function like a gas chromatograph
Public HealthJune 21, 2023
How to Cool Down Fast in Summer Heat
Your body has a secret cooling method, and scientists explain how to use it.
Mental HealthJune 12, 2023
MDMA Moves from Club Drug to Real Therapy
The party drug MDMA could soon be approved for treating people with severe PTSD.
Natural DisastersJune 9, 2023
Five Things You Need to Know about Wildfire Smoke Right Now
Where is it coming from? How long will it last? What's in the smoke? Whose health is at risk? How do you clean your own air?
Public HealthMay 26, 2023
The Pandemic Caused a Baby Boom in Red States and a Bust in Blue States
The COVID pandemic caused a U.S.-wide decline in fertility rates, but red states actually saw increases
Public HealthMay 24, 2023
The End of the COVID Emergency and What It Means for You
What you pay for tests, vaccines, and medicine will change
CancerMay 11, 2023
Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Small Initial Trial
An mRNA vaccine prevented tumor recurrence after surgery in eight of 16 patients, but the therapy still needs to be validated in larger trials
ReproductionMay 10, 2023
A 19th-Century Obscenity Law Is Being Used Again to Limit Abortion
Recent rulings on the abortion pill cite the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old law that’s still on the books
HistoryApril 28, 2023
This 19th-Century Obscenity Law Is Still Restricting People’s Reproductive Rights
The Comstock Act is part of a federal case over access to abortion pills. A historical science-fiction writer weighs in on the legacy of 19th-century prudishness
MedicineApril 26, 2023
The Bad Side of ‘Good’ Cholesterol
Very high HDL cholesterol levels almost double your risk of heart problems.
Health CareApril 21, 2023
Supreme Court Preserves Access to Abortion Pill, pending Appeal
The nation’s highest court paused a lower court’s decision to nullify approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, keeping the medication available while an appeal moves forward
EpidemiologyApril 12, 2023
What New Evidence from the Wuhan Market Tells Us about COVID’s Origins
Recently released data from samples of the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 at the market where many early cases of the disease occurred suggest animals were present but stop short of proving that they were infected and transmitted the virus to humans
NutritionApril 12, 2023
We Have Good News for Coffee Lovers
A careful new study reveals coffee is generally safe for your heart and may boost your daily step count.
Public HealthMarch 29, 2023
Long COVID’s Roots in the Brain: Your Health, Quickly, Episode 3
Post-COVID symptoms can linger for months or years, and more and more evidence points to problems with the nervous system.
EpidemiologyMarch 18, 2023
New Evidence Supports Animal Origin of COVID Virus through Raccoon Dogs
Genetic sequences show evidence of raccoon dogs and other animals at the Wuhan market sites where SARS-CoV-2 was found in early 2020, adding to evidence of a natural spillover event
VaccinesMarch 15, 2023
RSV Vaccines Are Coming At Last: Your Health, Quickly, Episode 2
A vaccine pioneer tells us that shots to protect against RSV—a dangerous virus for babies and older people—are finally nearing approval.
Public HealthMarch 1, 2023
The Pandemic’s Mental Toll, and Does Telehealth Work? Your Health, Quickly, Episode 1
Hosts Josh Fischman and Tanya Lewis explore the pandemic’s mental health toll on teens and young adults. They also delve into the effectiveness of telehealth, which has been booming since the start of the pandemic.
ReproductionFebruary 22, 2023
COVID Poses Severe Risks during Pregnancy, Especially in Unvaccinated People
Pregnant people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit or die than those who are uninfected, but vaccination significantly reduces the risk