This article appeared in Discover’s annual state of science issue as “All Eyes on COVID.” Support our science journalism by becoming a subscriber.
Nothing turns the public eye to science quite like a global health crisis. By the time the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March, people across the world were looking to experts for answers. Where did the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 come from? How can we stop the spread and save the lives of those infected? In many places, people listened — taking up 20-second handwashing, mask-wearing, 6-foot physical distancing and staying home whenever possible. Some of these communities “flattened the curve” of the virus’ spread so much that entire nations were flirting with normalcy by late summer. A resurgence hit numerous places in the fall, while many areas that resisted public health guidelines never saw a break in steady cases. Regardless of the politics and people around the world shaping the extent of COVID-19’s impact, we can confidently say: Science had a busy year.
