Lauren J. Young
@laurenjyoung.bsky.social
Health Editor at Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social. Professional library book detective by night 📚 she/her laurenjyoung.com
Pinned
Lauren J. Young
@laurenjyoung.bsky.social
· Jul 15
There Is a Beach That Contains Clues of How a Bird Flu Pandemic Could Take Off
The first hints that a new strain of avian illness is emerging could be found on this beach on Delaware Bay, where migrating birds flock. Here’s what virus detectives who return there every year know ...
www.scientificamerican.com
For 40 years, virus detectives have flocked to NJ beaches to track avian influenza. Their clues? Bird poop 💩 I followed that team to explain H5N1's history in a special Science Quickly podcast series. Featured today in @sciam.bsky.social's bird flu issue: www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
"The science is clear: the benefits continue to outweigh the risks by a wide margin,” @kkjetelina.bsky.social says of the black box warning FDA is reportedly considering adding to the COVID vaccines. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/heal...
Health Experts Slam Possible FDA ‘Black Box’ Warning for COVID Vaccines
The FDA is reportedly considering the addition of high-level warning labels to COVID vaccines, a move that some experts say may cause unfounded concerns over safety
www.scientificamerican.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM
"The science is clear: the benefits continue to outweigh the risks by a wide margin,” @kkjetelina.bsky.social says of the black box warning FDA is reportedly considering adding to the COVID vaccines. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/heal...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
A thing that serves me well: ALWAYS take very seriously anything @kkjetelina.bsky.social says; she's 1 of the most trusted epidemiologists
If FDA thinks risks>benefits, she says, "transparency about their data & reasoning is essential. Closed-door analyses won’t cut it. Americans deserves better.”
If FDA thinks risks>benefits, she says, "transparency about their data & reasoning is essential. Closed-door analyses won’t cut it. Americans deserves better.”
"The science is clear: the benefits continue to outweigh the risks by a wide margin,” @kkjetelina.bsky.social says of the black box warning FDA is reportedly considering adding to the COVID vaccines. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/heal...
Health Experts Slam Possible FDA ‘Black Box’ Warning for COVID Vaccines
The FDA is reportedly considering the addition of high-level warning labels to COVID vaccines, a move that some experts say may cause unfounded concerns over safety
www.scientificamerican.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A thing that serves me well: ALWAYS take very seriously anything @kkjetelina.bsky.social says; she's 1 of the most trusted epidemiologists
If FDA thinks risks>benefits, she says, "transparency about their data & reasoning is essential. Closed-door analyses won’t cut it. Americans deserves better.”
If FDA thinks risks>benefits, she says, "transparency about their data & reasoning is essential. Closed-door analyses won’t cut it. Americans deserves better.”
Some good news: U.S. sunscreens might finally be able to use a key UV filter ingredient found in many popular brands made in Japan, South Korea and European countries. The last time the FDA approved a new sunscreen ingredient was 1999. @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-...
U.S. Sunscreens Aren’t Great. The FDA Could Soon Change That
The U.S. is considering allowing bemotrizinol, a highly effective UV filter used throughout Europe and Asia, in its sunscreen products for the first time
www.scientificamerican.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Some good news: U.S. sunscreens might finally be able to use a key UV filter ingredient found in many popular brands made in Japan, South Korea and European countries. The last time the FDA approved a new sunscreen ingredient was 1999. @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
Reporting on vaccine side effects is challenging, but important. A new study offers clues to how mRNA COVID vaccines can, in rare cases, cause a form of heart inflammation called myocarditis (a condition COVID itself can cause). By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...
Scientists Explain How mRNA COVID Vaccines May Rarely Cause Myocarditis
A new study identifies a mechanism for how COVID vaccines may, in infrequent cases, drive heart inflammation, a condition that can be caused by the disease itself
www.scientificamerican.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reporting on vaccine side effects is challenging, but important. A new study offers clues to how mRNA COVID vaccines can, in rare cases, cause a form of heart inflammation called myocarditis (a condition COVID itself can cause). By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
1. #Flu activity is picking up in the US. A 🧵
5 jurisdictions reported high levels of flu activity to #CDC in the week ending 11/29, the week including Thanksgiving. It's conceivable that numbers could jump in the next few weeks, both because of holiday travel & reporting delays due to the holidays
5 jurisdictions reported high levels of flu activity to #CDC in the week ending 11/29, the week including Thanksgiving. It's conceivable that numbers could jump in the next few weeks, both because of holiday travel & reporting delays due to the holidays
December 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
“In my career, I have seen children with hepatitis B. I’ve seen children die of liver failure, which is a horrible death. I would never wish this on anybody,” say Yvonne Maldonado, Stanford pediatrician. These risks have now increased under the new ACIP vaccine vote today. More @sciam.bsky.social:
CDC Vaccine Panel Scraps Guidance for Universal Hepatitis B Shots at Birth
New guidance from the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel would do away with a decades-old universal birth dose recommendation for hepatitis B that helped cut infections by 99 percent in the U.S.
www.scientificamerican.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:53 PM
“In my career, I have seen children with hepatitis B. I’ve seen children die of liver failure, which is a horrible death. I would never wish this on anybody,” say Yvonne Maldonado, Stanford pediatrician. These risks have now increased under the new ACIP vaccine vote today. More @sciam.bsky.social:
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
An CDC advisory panel voted today to end universal Hepatitis B vaccination at birth. If adopted by CDC, this would reverse a longstanding policy that has been widely effective at lowering hep B cases and deaths in children, @laurenjyoung.bsky.social reports www.scientificamerican.com/article/cdc-...
CDC Vaccine Panel Scraps Guidance for Universal Hepatitis B Shots at Birth
New guidance from the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel would do away with a decades-old universal birth dose recommendation for hepatitis B that helped cut infections by 99 percent in the U.S.
www.scientificamerican.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
An CDC advisory panel voted today to end universal Hepatitis B vaccination at birth. If adopted by CDC, this would reverse a longstanding policy that has been widely effective at lowering hep B cases and deaths in children, @laurenjyoung.bsky.social reports www.scientificamerican.com/article/cdc-...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
It's the most wonderful time of the year, best-of book list time! At @sciam.bsky.social we do a fun spin, highlighting a ton of books individual staffers read this year and loved, and it's always a pleasure to contribute. Check out this year's list (with lots of entries from yours truly): 📚💙
The Scientific American Staff’s Favorite Books of 2025
Here are the 67 books Scientific American staffers couldn’t put down this year, from fantasy epics to gripping nonfiction
www.scientificamerican.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:41 PM
It's the most wonderful time of the year, best-of book list time! At @sciam.bsky.social we do a fun spin, highlighting a ton of books individual staffers read this year and loved, and it's always a pleasure to contribute. Check out this year's list (with lots of entries from yours truly): 📚💙
A big vote on the hepatitis B birth vaccine dose is pushed to tomorrow after CDC advisers seemed confused and caught off guard by new recommendations.
"There have been multiple arguments between ACIP members. It’s frankly embarrassing," says @angierasmussen.bsky.social. Read @sciam.bsky.social 💉
"There have been multiple arguments between ACIP members. It’s frankly embarrassing," says @angierasmussen.bsky.social. Read @sciam.bsky.social 💉
CDC Vaccine Panel in Disarray over Hepatitis B Vote
Members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices seemed confused about a proposed recommendation for the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine
www.scientificamerican.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A big vote on the hepatitis B birth vaccine dose is pushed to tomorrow after CDC advisers seemed confused and caught off guard by new recommendations.
"There have been multiple arguments between ACIP members. It’s frankly embarrassing," says @angierasmussen.bsky.social. Read @sciam.bsky.social 💉
"There have been multiple arguments between ACIP members. It’s frankly embarrassing," says @angierasmussen.bsky.social. Read @sciam.bsky.social 💉
"Influenza is no joke."
Here's what we know so far about this coming flu season. It's not too late to vaccinate 💉 @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
Here's what we know so far about this coming flu season. It's not too late to vaccinate 💉 @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
A New Flu Variant May Make Cold Season Brutal This Year
U.S. flu rates remain low, but experts are keeping an eye on a new strain that’s been linked to unexpectedly early and severe seasons in several other countries
www.scientificamerican.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
"Influenza is no joke."
Here's what we know so far about this coming flu season. It's not too late to vaccinate 💉 @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
Here's what we know so far about this coming flu season. It's not too late to vaccinate 💉 @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
I, for one, welcome our new trash panda overlords.
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
City Raccoons Are Evolving to Look More Like Pets
City-dwelling raccoons seem to be evolving a shorter snout—a telltale feature of our pets and other domesticated animals
www.scientificamerican.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I, for one, welcome our new trash panda overlords.
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
Today the FDA removed the "black box" warning labels from hormone therapy for menopause. Here's what that means, and why the risks—and benefits—of HRT might be overstated. By me and @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-...
FDA Strips Health Risk Warnings from Menopause Hormone Therapy
In a reversal, the Food and Drug Administration has removed black box warnings on hormone replacement therapies for menopause
www.scientificamerican.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Today the FDA removed the "black box" warning labels from hormone therapy for menopause. Here's what that means, and why the risks—and benefits—of HRT might be overstated. By me and @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
🚨 BREAKING: Canada has lost its measles-free status after a year of continuous transmission — meaning the Americas region is no longer measles-free.
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
The Americas Are No Longer Officially Measles-Free
Canada lost its official measles elimination status after a year of continuous transmission
www.scientificamerican.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Canada has lost its measles-free status after a year of continuous transmission — meaning the Americas region is no longer measles-free.
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
Clinicians are noticing a steady climb in diagnoses of ARFID, a type of eating disorder that presents as a food avoidance so persistent and pervasive it can cause severe malnutrition in kids and adults. More @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
ARFID Is More Than Picky Eating—And the Condition Is on the Rise
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, can cause malnutrition and weight loss in children and adults even when body image is not a factor
www.scientificamerican.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Clinicians are noticing a steady climb in diagnoses of ARFID, a type of eating disorder that presents as a food avoidance so persistent and pervasive it can cause severe malnutrition in kids and adults. More @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
With all the fuss over tylenol, we're missing a bigger issue: we don't know enough about medication safety in pregnancy because so few drug studies include pregnant people. And that harms both women and their fetuses. My latest @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
There's a Dangerous Gap in Drug Research in Pregnancy
Less than 1 percent of clinical trials include pregnant or breastfeeding people. Experts say that needs to change
www.scientificamerican.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
With all the fuss over tylenol, we're missing a bigger issue: we don't know enough about medication safety in pregnancy because so few drug studies include pregnant people. And that harms both women and their fetuses. My latest @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
Here's how to keep yourself safe from salmonella in eggs (by @mfischetti.bsky.social) www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
October 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Here's how to keep yourself safe from salmonella in eggs (by @mfischetti.bsky.social) www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
I spoke with 2025 Nobel winner Shimon Sakaguchi about chasing regulatory T cells since the 1980s. His advice to early-career scientists: "Nowadays you are expected to do something very, very soon and have a result. But it always takes time to arrive at something important." @sciam.bsky.social
Shimon Sakaguchi Hunted for an Immune Cell Others Dismissed. It Earned Him a Nobel Prize
Nobel laureate Shimon Sakaguchi reflects on the role of regulatory T cells in peripheral immune tolerance and how the cells could transform treatment for cancer, autoimmune disease and organ transplan...
www.scientificamerican.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I spoke with 2025 Nobel winner Shimon Sakaguchi about chasing regulatory T cells since the 1980s. His advice to early-career scientists: "Nowadays you are expected to do something very, very soon and have a result. But it always takes time to arrive at something important." @sciam.bsky.social
On today's Science Quickly, I interviewed a former White House doctor about the president's care, aging and more: "It is a fact of science, it's not a political attack, that humans past the age of 60... start to have cognitive decline."
"We have a gerontocracy."
Listen on @sciam.bsky.social 🎧
"We have a gerontocracy."
Listen on @sciam.bsky.social 🎧
Transforming Presidential Health Care: Insights from a Former White House Doctor
A former White House physician reveals the medical realities of caring for the president of the U.S.
www.scientificamerican.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
On today's Science Quickly, I interviewed a former White House doctor about the president's care, aging and more: "It is a fact of science, it's not a political attack, that humans past the age of 60... start to have cognitive decline."
"We have a gerontocracy."
Listen on @sciam.bsky.social 🎧
"We have a gerontocracy."
Listen on @sciam.bsky.social 🎧
Updated COVID vaccines are still the best tools we have to reduce severe disease and death from the virus. @sarafnovak.bsky.social explains the latest research for @sciam.bsky.social. www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...
Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows
A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination
www.scientificamerican.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Updated COVID vaccines are still the best tools we have to reduce severe disease and death from the virus. @sarafnovak.bsky.social explains the latest research for @sciam.bsky.social. www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
Six of the nine Nobel Prize winners this year work in the U.S.
Three of the six were born outside the U.S., which is the pattern most years. No country has benefited more from welcoming immigrants from around the world.
www.nobelprize.org
Three of the six were born outside the U.S., which is the pattern most years. No country has benefited more from welcoming immigrants from around the world.
www.nobelprize.org
The official website of the Nobel Prize - NobelPrize.org
The Nobel Prize rewards science, humanism and peace efforts. This is one of the central concepts in the will of Alfred Nobel, and it also permeates the outreach activities that have been developed for...
www.nobelprize.org
October 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Six of the nine Nobel Prize winners this year work in the U.S.
Three of the six were born outside the U.S., which is the pattern most years. No country has benefited more from welcoming immigrants from around the world.
www.nobelprize.org
Three of the six were born outside the U.S., which is the pattern most years. No country has benefited more from welcoming immigrants from around the world.
www.nobelprize.org
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
welp, you get what you ask for. joking with coworkers that it's going to be mofs, and i'm really a med chem type so will i be able to do this and lol here it is. the Nobel Prize for chemistry for 2025 goes to the development of metal-organic frameworks.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
2025 Chemistry Nobel Goes to Molecular Sponges That Purify Water, Store Energy, and Clean Up the Environment
Three scientists, including one from the U.S., share the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing “metal-organic frameworks,” versatile molecular cages that can trap contaminants, store energy and...
www.scientificamerican.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
welp, you get what you ask for. joking with coworkers that it's going to be mofs, and i'm really a med chem type so will i be able to do this and lol here it is. the Nobel Prize for chemistry for 2025 goes to the development of metal-organic frameworks.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: This year’s physics Nobel goes to 3 researchers who demonstrated quantum tunneling on a superconducting chip. By bringing this microscopic effect into the macroscale world, they laid important foundations for quantum computing.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
This Year’s Nobel Prize in Physics Is Awarded to Three Scientists for Work in Quantum Mechanics
John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work showing how bizarre microscopic quantum effects can infiltrate our large-scale, everyday world
www.scientificamerican.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: This year’s physics Nobel goes to 3 researchers who demonstrated quantum tunneling on a superconducting chip. By bringing this microscopic effect into the macroscale world, they laid important foundations for quantum computing.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
It's Nobel week! Here's @laurenjyoung.bsky.social with a great explainer on the science of today's winners, who developed our understanding of how the immune system avoids attacking the body: 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
This Year’s Medicine Nobel Goes to Discovery of Why the Body Doesn’t Attack Itself
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune disease...
www.scientificamerican.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:50 PM
It's Nobel week! Here's @laurenjyoung.bsky.social with a great explainer on the science of today's winners, who developed our understanding of how the immune system avoids attacking the body: 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Lauren J. Young
This year's #medicineNobel was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell & Shimon Sakaguchi for discovering why the body doesn't attack itself—key for organ transplants and autoimmune disease therapies. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
This Year’s Medicine Nobel Goes to Discovery of Why the Body Doesn’t Attack Itself
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune disease...
www.scientificamerican.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:56 AM
This year's #medicineNobel was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell & Shimon Sakaguchi for discovering why the body doesn't attack itself—key for organ transplants and autoimmune disease therapies. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to some neat fundamental research on the immune system: peripheral immune tolerance. It's what keeps the body's defense mechanism in check—and could be key to new therapies for autoimmune disorders. @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...
This Year’s Medicine Nobel Goes to Discovery of Why the Body Doesn’t Attack Itself
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune disease...
www.scientificamerican.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to some neat fundamental research on the immune system: peripheral immune tolerance. It's what keeps the body's defense mechanism in check—and could be key to new therapies for autoimmune disorders. @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...