Mysteries of COVID Smell Loss Finally Yield Some Answers

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November 18, 2020

Dear Reader, Smell loss is so common in people with COVID-19 that some researchers have recommended its use as a diagnostic test because it may be a more reliable marker than fever. Our lead story looks into possible explanations for this mysterious symptom. Next, signs of the gas phosphine in Venus's atmosphere have faded—but they're still there, according to a new data analysis. Also, extreme weather and climate-linked disasters have killed 410,000 people since 2010. More frequent and severe catastrophes threaten to exacerbate humanitarian crises and lead to economic hardship, according to the World Disasters Report 2020.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement @sunyaaa

Public Health Mysteries of COVID Smell Loss Finally Yield Some Answers Explanations begin to arise at the molecular level for this vexing but commonplace symptom By Stephani Sutherland

Space Prospects for Life on Venus Fade--But Aren't Dead Yet Debate continues over controversial report of phosphine in the planet's atmosphere, as researchers re-analyze data and find a fainter signal By Alexandra Witze,Nature magazine

Natural Disasters More Frequent, Severe Climate-Fueled Disasters Exacerbate Humanitarian Crises People have little time to recover when extreme events happen back-to-back, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns By Nathanial Gronewold,E&E News

Medicine For Billion-Dollar COVID Vaccines, Basic Government-Funded Science Laid the Groundwork Much of the pioneering work on mRNA vaccines was done with government money, though drugmakers could walk away with big profits By Arthur Allen,Kaiser Health News

Climate Otters Show How Predators Can Blunt Climate Damage Understanding the full impacts of warming requires factoring in the complexity of ecosystems By Nancy Averett

Neuroscience What Does a Guilty Brain Look Like? Behavioral biomarkers and the new science of neuroprediction By Lindsay Gray

FROM THE STORE Scientific American Volume 323, Issue 6

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FROM THE ARCHIVE From Headaches to 'COVID Toes,' Coronavirus Symptoms Are a Bizarre Mix Blood clots and inflammation may underlie many of these complications By Diana Kwon | May 2020

QUOTE OF THE DAY "The majority of patients lose smell like a light switch going off and recover it rapidly." Sandeep Robert Datta, neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School

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