Lauren J. Young

The U.S. just surpassed a grim measles milestone As the U.S. officially breaks 1,000 measles cases in 2026, experts say that the rate of infections is accelerating much faster this year than it did in years past

The U.S. has reported more than 1,000 measles cases in 2026—and we're just two months into the year. That's nearly half of all the cases reported in 2025. And public health experts say it's a sign that the U.S. has likely lost its measles elimination status. My reporting for @sciam.bsky.social:

FDA agrees to review Moderna mRNA flu vaccine in dramatic reversal After initially rejecting Moderna’s application for review, the FDA will now consider the company’s mRNA flu shot

FDA backtracks and agrees to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine after all. @clairehcameron.bsky.social explains on @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-...

FDA won’t consider a new mRNA vaccine for flu despite the technology’s life-saving promise The U.S.’s drug safety agency declined to review a next-gen flu vaccine that uses the same tech as the coronavirus shots

FDA is refusing to consider Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine. Yet, as @angierasmussen.bsky.social explains, if we had mRNA vax technology for flu, we might have been able to quickly update this season's shots to cover subclade K before it hit the US. @jackiefmogensen.bsky.social reports @sciam.bsky.social

What does it take to eat like an Olympian? There’s more to Winter Olympians’ diets than calories—but for some, there are also lots and lots of calories

It's the Winter Olympics, which always brings stories detailing what Olympians eat. But food lists and diets aren’t actually as important as this: Olympians simply need to eat enough.

What it takes to eat like an Olympian, now on @sciam.bsky.social!
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...

Why curling rocks come from just two spots on Earth The rocks used in the Olympic sport of curling come from one island in Scotland and one quarry in Wales. What makes them so special?

Had a blast speaking to curler and geologist Derek Leung about the geology of curling rocks. 🥌 🧪

The next wave of GLP-1 drugs are coming—and they’re stronger than Wegovy and Zepbound The upcoming drugs CagriSema and retatrutide target multiple gut hormones and could cause twice as much weight loss than current treatments. But experts wonder how much is too much

You've heard of semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), tirzepetide (Mounjaro/Zepbound).

But there are new drugs coming, ones that leave these in the dust, and leave clinicians and scientists asking: Can people lose too much too fast? www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

By me.

Twelve Tips to Tune Up Your Next Pitch - The Open Notebook Saugat Bolakhe Making your pitch stand out is a crucial skill for any freelancer or staff reporter. This may seem like an elusive talent, but with practice and careful attention to detail, you can lea...

For a TON International Students Slack Community pitch slam, @scigat.bsky.social hosted guests @rachelcourtland.com, @wwrfd.bsky.social, and @laurenjyoung.bsky.social. He condensed their best tips into this free resource, edited by @laurahelmuth.bsky.social, to help everyone pitch with success. 🧪

A ‘shadow CDC’ is scrambling to fill gaps in public health data Dozens of routinely updated CDC databases have gone quiet. Here’s what states and medical societies are doing to preserve U.S. public health

Under RFK, Jr., the CDC's authority has crumbled: it is no longer updating dozens of health databases, and has abandoned vaccine guidelines. But states and governors are trying to fill the void, @laurenjyoung.bsky.social writes @scifri.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/stat...

A ‘shadow CDC’ is scrambling to fill gaps in public health data Dozens of routinely updated CDC databases have gone quiet. Here’s what states and medical societies are doing to preserve U.S. public health

“We tend to assume that federal government data is solid. It’s reliable; it’s consistent...We weren’t seeing that here.” 🧪 🛟 www.scientificamerican.com/article/stat...

Snow? Ice? How to make sense of winter storm forecasts A major winter storm will bring frigid cold and to tens of millions this weekend, but why is it so hard to pin down who will get snow, ice or rain?

Trying to figure out what the heck is going on with the snow storm forecasts? @andreatweather.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social has you covered. www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...

NIH ends fetal tissue research The move is “clearly a political decision not a scientific one,” one expert said

NIH ends fetal tissue research

The move is “clearly a political decision not a scientific one,” one expert said

www.scientificamerican.com/article/nih-...

As the U.S. marks a year of measles outbreaks, is the disease back for good? The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that

It's been one year since West Texas first reported an alarming spread of measles in kids. The U.S. has since faced outbreaks that show no sign of stopping. On @sciam.bsky.social, a look back at how we got here—and where measles in the U.S. is likely headed: www.scientificamerican.com/article/as-t...

NASA’s Artemis II mission will be humankind’s long-awaited return to the moon NASA on Friday laid out the timeline for Artemis II, humanity’s first crewed mission to the moon in more than fifty years

Now on @sciam.bsky.social: Artemis II—humankind's first crewed voyage to the moon in more than a half-century—is at last almost ready to launch, and NASA revealed some new details about the mission in a press conference earlier today. Check it out!

www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...

Why CDC’s Vaccine Rollback Comes at the Worst Possible Time Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has slashed childhood vaccine recommendations in the middle of respiratory virus season

This flu season and last have been brutal, even for kids. Now try removing the universal recommendation for flu vaccines for children. 🧪 🛟

Medical schools must prepare tomorrow’s doctors for yesterday’s diseases Medical schools must now prepare tomorrow’s doctors for yesterday’s diseases.

That we're in a place, at a time, when someone has to write this headline, this article — it's almost unfathomable. Please do read @krutikakuppalli.bsky.social's take. www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/m...

Thank you! This was one of my favorites to write @scifri.bsky.social. I agree. The microscope photos are stunning.

U.S. Axes Number of Recommended Childhood Vaccines in Blow to Public Health The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing the recommended number of vaccines for children to those that protect against 11 diseases instead of the protections against 17 illnesse...

“Fewer children will be vaccinated, and children will be harmed because of this decision,” says @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social about today's vaccine schedule change.

Me, one (1) day after seeing the Met's Divine Egypt exhibition: hot damn they put Hathor on the diet pills

Update on the GLP1 beat: Novo Nordisk released more info on the treatment and price of its Wegovy pills, which rolled out to U.S. pharmacies today. Expert insight @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/wego...

Wegovy Weight-Loss Pills Are Now Available in the U.S.—Here’s What That Means The first GLP-1 pills for weight loss are hitting U.S. pharmacies. But how will they be prescribed?

Interesting discussion! More details were revealed today about pricing, which could change again under any price negotiation deals and/or future competition on the market, etc. The 25 mg pill is priced at $299 per month out of pocket (injections are $349) www.scientificamerican.com/article/wego...

Of course! It's a good Q.

Correct! This is the first to be approved specifically for weight loss. Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes has been around since 2019.

U.S. Approves Wegovy Weight-Loss Pill, a Move That Could Transform Health Care A pill version of the popular GLP-1 weight-loss drug Wegovy has been greenlit for use in the U.S. Here’s what that means for health care

Wegovy pills are officially coming to the U.S. Endocrinologists and clinicians I spoke to say FDA's approval of the first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss could be a game changer for access to these drugs in the U.S. New on @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/wego...

Will There Be a White Christmas This Year? It Depends on Where You Live Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? The odds of snow on the big day comes down to a mix of climate and weather, scientists explain

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? The odds of snow on the big day comes down to a mix of climate and weather, scientists explain

Trump Administration Moves to Severely Curtail Access to Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Health officials on Thursday announced a slew of measures that will restrict access to gender-affirming health care for young transgender people in the U.S.

Trump admin moves to severely restrict access to gender-affirming care in children. Legal challenges are likely. By @danvergano.bsky.social @laurenjyoung.bsky.social and me, with edits by @clairehcameron.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...

These Orcas Are on the Brink—And So Is the Science That Could Save Them Inside the desperate rush to save the southern resident killer whales

In my first(!) feature for @sciam.bsky.social, I went out with researchers who study endangered orcas. With federal funding cuts to science, it's not just the whales that need saving anymore...

But on the plus side: there's a rescue dog named Eba (🧵) who helps find orca poop!
shorturl.at/YIkJk

New Flu Variant May Be Triggering Spike in Severe Disease A novel influenza variant called subclade K appears to be driving an uptick in cases and hospitalizations throughout the U.S. and other countries

A new flu variant is officially in town. @tanyalewis.bsky.social has the latest update on the mutated H3N2 strain, called subclade K, which may be driving U.S. flu hospitalizations in children and older adults. @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

Health Experts Slam Possible FDA ‘Black Box’ Warning for COVID Vaccines The FDA is reportedly considering the addition of high-level warning labels to COVID vaccines, a move that some experts say may cause unfounded concerns over safety

Important story from @laurenjyoung.bsky.social, who was one of my amazing freelance editors at @sciam.bsky.social.

Health Experts Slam Possible FDA ‘Black Box’ Warning for COVID Vaccines
www.scientificamerican.com/article/heal...

Health Experts Slam Possible FDA ‘Black Box’ Warning for COVID Vaccines The FDA is reportedly considering the addition of high-level warning labels to COVID vaccines, a move that some experts say may cause unfounded concerns over safety

"The science is clear: the benefits continue to outweigh the risks by a wide margin,” @kkjetelina.bsky.social says of the black box warning FDA is reportedly considering adding to the COVID vaccines. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/heal...

A thing that serves me well: ALWAYS take very seriously anything @kkjetelina.bsky.social says; she's 1 of the most trusted epidemiologists

If FDA thinks risks>benefits, she says, "transparency about their data & reasoning is essential. Closed-door analyses won’t cut it. Americans deserves better.”