Health & Medicine / Vaccines

Can Stuffing Germs up Ferrets Unleash a Human Pandemic?

Don't believe the hype about the would-be killer flu. 05.18.2012

The World's Most Celebrated Virus Hunter: Ian Lipkin

The Columbia University researcher describes his quest for HIV in San Francisco and SARS in China, the immune cascades that may cause autism, and the infectious roots of psychiatric disease. 05.11.2012

There's a Shot for That

Medical researchers are working 
on new kinds of vaccines 
that could cure everything from 
diabetes to nicotine addiction.

 02.15.2012

Dawn of the BioHackers

Do-it-yourself biologists are 
hunting down genetic disorders and 
creating synthetic life-forms 
in garages, closets, and backyards 
around the world.
 10.05.2011

20 Things You Didn’t Know About... DNA

IDing crooks from the DNA in their fingerprints, the 8 percent of our genome that came from viruses, and the plant that laughs at our puny genetic endowment. 06.13.2011

Can Bill Gates Buy a Better World?

The billionaire's foundation has been criticized for being insider-ish and attention-grabbing, but the organization has recently had some big successes. 02.04.2011

The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010

Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010

It's Time for a New Global War on Childhood Disease

Dr. Tachi Yamada on his hopes for medicine and science over the next 30 years 09.14.2010

The Intellectual Property Fight That Could Kill Millions

The hothouse environment of Indonesia is ground zero for a potential bird flu pandemic. But a fight over ownership of flu genes is blocking the efforts to track deadly infections on the move. 01.28.2010

#1: Vaccine Phobia Becomes a Public-Health Threat

Autism research is progressing quickly, but without a solid diagnosis, some still blame vaccines. 01.25.2010

Why Does the Vaccine/Autism Controversy Live On?

Research has soundly disproved the alleged connection, yet fears about vaccines continue to be a major risk to public health. 05.06.2009

The Best New Science Books

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Area 51, modern life vs human nature, and more 02.20.2009

#14: All Flus Lead to Asia

The Far East is the incubator of every strain—and the key to treating the disease. 12.20.2008

#54: An “Elite” Immune System Can Prevent AIDS

A select few infected with HIV never become ill. 12.12.2008

10 Ways Genetically Engineered Microbes Could Help Humanity

Fighting cancer, producing renewable fuels, and making your clothing glow in the dark. 08.06.2008

How Much Do Chemicals Affect Our Health?

Philip Landrigan tracks how dangers like the WTC can cause problems like ADD. 04.25.2008

Whatever Happened To... Avian Flu?

“We are going to have another pandemic. It will occur.” 03.04.2008

Why Is the HPV Vaccine So Expensive?

Good for the cervix, rough on the pocketbook 06.11.2007

Marburg and Ebola Vaccine

Army scientists could rout bioterror attack. 05.01.2006

The Year in Science: Epidemiology

Problems with the new flu vaccine, and the American robin harbors the West Nile virus. 01.08.2006

Can Gold Stop Avian Flu?

Can Gold Stop Avian Flu? 10.24.2005

Science Takes On Supersize

Science Takes On Supersize 09.09.2005

Medicine

01.02.2004

Vital Signs

A child's disease rears up against adults as their vaccinations wear thin 11.08.2003

A Shot in the Woods

10.01.1999

Killer Pox in the Congo

The last documented case of smallpox occurred in 1977. Now a deadly kin of the virus is spreading out of the forest and into villages. by Wendy Orent 10.01.1999

Works in Progress

You'll get no kick from cocaine if you take this new vaccine 06.01.1999

Last Days of the Wonder Drugs

Years of overconfidence have made us vulnerable. Now, in the deadly arms race between people and bacteria, the bugs are winning. 11.01.1998

Microneedles

10.01.1998

Vegetable Vaccines

09.01.1998

Cavity Vaccine

08.01.1998

Malarial Dreams

Malaria kills 2.7 million people each year, most of them children. As a new generation of vaccines begin clinical trials, researchers wonder if they've finally got this killer beat. 03.01.1998

The Dream Vaccine

The world craves an effective, risk-free vaccine against recalcitrant foes like AIDS and malaria. Creating mock infections with tiny rings of bacterial DNA may be the answer. 09.01.1997

A Shot in the Dark

The world's first large-scale AIDS vaccine trial will soon begin in Thailand. 06.01.1996