What Immunity to COVID-19 Really Means

Trouble viewing? View in your browser.
View all Scientific American publications.
             
April 10, 2020

Dear Reader,

At this early stage of understanding the new coronavirus, it's unclear where COVID-19 falls on the immunity spectrum. Recovered patients appear to have antibodies for at least two weeks, but long-term data are still lacking. The FDA recently granted an emergency use authorization of a blood test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Right now, researchers are scrambling to find out how long these antibodies last and if they protect against reinfection. Today's main story explains how antibody tests could provide a clearer picture of the pandemic—and eventually might be the key to getting our lives and economies back on track.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement
@sunyaaa

Public Health

What Immunity to COVID-19 Really Means

The presence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus could provide some protection, but scientists need more data

By Stacey McKenna

Public Health

Why Daily Death Tolls Are So Important in Understanding the Coronavirus Pandemic

COVID-19's lethality provides a grim opportunity to track its spread

By Nidhi Subbaraman,Nature magazine

Public Health

FEMA Report Warned of Pandemic Vulnerability Months before COVID-19

Posted in late July, the document foresaw many current impacts, including overwhelmed hospitals and disruptions in essential services

By Thomas Frank,E&E News

Engineering

Winged "PigeonBot" Flies with Real Feathers  

A flying robot reveals how birds stay aloft and could inspire next-generation drones

By Jim Daley

Evolution

Why We Have So Many Problems with Our Teeth

Our choppers are crowded, crooked and riddled with cavities. It hasn't always been this way

By Peter S. Ungar

Public Health

A New Web Tool Can Help You Figure Out if Those Symptoms Might Be COVID-19

It's not meant to diagnose, but it can flag signs and risk factors that indicate the possibility of serious disease

Behavior & Society

Whatever Helps You Feel Less Afraid, Tired and Lonely, Do That

Research on positive psychology may help prevent burnout

By Andrea Gawrylewski
FROM THE STORE

Ask the Experts: Chemistry

In this installment of the Ask the Experts series, Chemistry, our professors, scientists and researchers tackle reader questions about the substances that compose all matter, their properties and how they interact and change. Queries range from elementary questions, such as why some elements change color over a flame, to how chemistry works in everyday life to how certain substances affect the body and more.

Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Ignite Your Gas Furnace with Your Bare Finger

Originally published in March 1861

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It's a time for nonjudgment, leeway for extra emotions, extra naps and extra ice cream. Whatever helps you feel less afraid, tired and lonely, do that. And do it again."

Andrea Gawrylewski, Senior Editor of Special Collector's Editions, Scientific American

LATEST ISSUES

Questions?   Comments?

Send Us Your Feedback
Download the Scientific American App
Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play

To view this email as a web page, go here.

You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American.

To ensure delivery please add news@email.scientificamerican.com to your address book.

Unsubscribe     Manage Email Preferences     Privacy Policy     Contact Us

Comments

Popular Posts