A Visual Guide to the Coronavirus

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June 23, 2020

Dear Reader,

Police forces across the U.S. have used weapons categorized as "less lethal" to disperse crowds and subdue individuals at recent protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Tools such as rubber bullets and tear gas are sold as an alternative to the kind of force that immediately kills. But despite their label, these weapons are not harmless. One of the stories included in today's roundup is about how these devices can still cause serious injury and, in some cases, death. In space news, Pluto is now famously frigid but a new study finds that it may have started off as a hot world that formed rapidly and violently. The research suggests the dwarf planet had an underground ocean since early on in its life, potentially improving its chances of hosting life, according to scientists.

And, from the July issue, our lead story is about the structure and function of SARS-CoV-2. It's an interactive guide featuring a 3D model of the pathogen and visual explanations of how it sneaks inside human cells, makes copies of itself and bursts out to infiltrate many more cells, widening infection.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement
@sunyaaa

A Visual Guide to the Coronavirus

What scientists know about the inner workings of the pathogen that has infected the world

By Mark Fischetti | Graphics: Veronica Falconieri Hays | Consultant: Britt Glaunsinger

Policy & Ethics

What 'Less Lethal' Weapons Actually Do

Rubber bullets and tear gas are not as innocuous as they sound

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Public Health

Misinformation and Miscalculation in the Time of the Coronavirus

COVID-19 has turned many of us into homebodies with one eye always on the outbreak 

By Steve Mirsky

Space

Surprise! Pluto May Have Possessed a Subsurface Ocean at Birth

The dwarf planet could be a more habitable world than scientists had thought

By Charles Q. Choi,SPACE.com

Public Health

How 'Superspreading' Events Drive Most COVID-19 Spread

As few as 10 percent of infected people may drive a whopping 80 percent of cases, in specific types of situations

By Christie Aschwanden

Physics

Is Dark Matter Made of Axions?

New experimental results suggest these long-sought subatomic particles could explain the universe's missing mass

By Dan Falk

Automotive

Lyft Aims for an All-Electric Fleet by 2030--Is That Possible?

Financial incentives and support for more public charging stations will be necessary to boost electric vehicle use

By Maxine Joselow,E&E News

Biology

A Gene May Help Discern Language Tone Differences: Is It Shí or Shì?

Subtle variations in our DNA may have led to the modulation of pitch to convey word meaning

By Rachel Nuwer

Behavior & Society

The Double-Edged Sword of Technology for LGBTQ+ Teens

More time online during the pandemic can expose them to abuse—but virtual spaces can also offer a crucial lifeline

By Danielle Ramo
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FROM THE ARCHIVE

Virus Mutations Reveal How COVID-19 Really Spread

Globe-trotting humans were the culprits 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The pandemic has shown the dangers of misinformation, ignorance and confusion. Together we can elevate sense over nonsense, and perhaps the world will emerge from this crisis with a better understanding of pathogens, public health, the research process and the importance of making decisions based on the best evidence."

Laura Helmuth, Editor in Chief of Scientific American

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