What We Know So Far about How COVID Affects the Nervous System

October 22, 2020

What We Know So Far about How COVID Affects the Nervous System

View all Scientific American publications.

October 22, 2020

Dear Reader,

Many of the symptoms experienced by people infected with SARS-CoV-2 involve the nervous system. But the way it actually affects nerve cells still remains a bit of a mystery. Can immune system activation alone produce symptoms? Or does the novel coronavirus directly attack the nervous system? Read our lead story to learn more. Also featured in today's roundup, AI could soon help screen for Alzheimer's disease by analyzing writing. And lastly, scientists are learning more than ever before about how to protect astronauts from the perils of spaceflight.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement
@sunyaaa

Public Health

What We Know So Far about How COVID Affects the Nervous System

Neurological symptoms might arise from multiple causes. But does the virus even get into neurons?

By Stephani Sutherland

Space

Can a Moon Base be Safe for Astronauts?

Creating a sustainable human presence beyond low-Earth orbit requires a clear-eyed view of the risks—and rewards—inherent in spaceflight

By Rebecca Boyle

Computing

Social Media Restrictions Cannot Keep Up with Hidden Codes and Symbols

Much like spoken language, Internet memes take on shifting political meanings according to context

By Scott Hershberger

Neuroscience

AI Assesses Alzheimer's Risk by Analyzing Word Usage

New models used writing samples to predict the onset of the disease with 70 percent accuracy

By Jeremy Hsu

Climate

U.S. Cities' Actions Fall Short of Lofty Climate Goals

Only 45 of the 100 largest municipalities have set clear targets for reducing emissions, but most are falling behind on them

By Peter Behr,E&E News

Computing

A Sustainable Alternative to Blanket Lockdowns

Instead of shutting whole cities, we can use big data to take a more targeted approach

By Sun Sun Lim,Roland Bouffanais

Natural Disasters

Dinosaur Asteroid Hit Worst Case Place

The mass extinction asteroid happened to strike a place where the rock contained lots of organic matter, and sent soot into the stratosphere where it could block sunlight for years.

By Julia Rosen | 03:23

FROM THE STORE

The Science Behind the Debates

People say that they trust scientists, yet evidence often takes a back seat to emotions. In fact, for issues that cause the loudest public furor - like vaccine safety - there is almost no debate in the scientific community. In this eBook, we examine the science behind today's most contentious debates including gun control, GMOs and evolution, as well as strategies for understanding and coping with denialism.

*Editor's Note: This eBook was originally published as a Special Edition The eBook adaptation contains all of the articles, but some of the artwork has been removed to optimize viewing on tablet devices.