What most people don’t know is that many common orthopaedic surgeries are not better for reducing pain than non-surgical alternatives that are both cheaper and safer, such as exercise programs.
Covid-19 Illustrates the Limits of Nudging
For years, the U.S. and U.K. governments embraced the concept of nudges to change social behavior. Then came Covid-19.
Hospital fights donors’ families in court for share in estates
The high-profile children’s hospital uses donor money to engage in long and costly legal battles over wills. Here’s how St. Jude has created one of the most lucrative charitable bequest programs in the country.
BA.2 subvariant causing nearly 1 in 4 new COVID cases tested in UW virology lab
A subvariant of omicron responsible for a wave of new COVID-19 cases in parts of Europe and Asia is also gradually spreading in the United States, including in Washington state.
What is the new COVID-19 variant BA.2, and will it cause another wave of infections in the US?
BA.2 is the latest subvariant of omicron, the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. While the origin of BA.2 is still unclear, it has quickly become the dominant strain in many countries, including India, Denmark and South Africa. It is continuing to spread in Europe, Asia and many parts of the world.
How does the immune system mobilize in response to a COVID-19 infection or a vaccine? 5 essential reads
We sought out scholars who could take our readers on deep dives into immunology and virology to help demystify these sometimes confusing, conflicting and taxing science-based questions. Here are five stories from The Conversation’s archives that highlight critical insights that we as editors and readers have gained thanks to COVID-19, and that will no doubt continue to be an important part of our pandemic lexicon.
COVID-19 and the brain
Even mild cases of COVID-19 can leave a mark on the brain, such as reductions in gray matter – a neuroscientist explains emerging research.
UW scientists create ‘roadmap’ tracing the course of embryo cell development
This “roadmap” of mouse embryogenesis will help researchers understand the molecular programs that control how different specialized cell types emerge from less differentiated cells as an embryo grows and develops.
What King County’s mask mandate rollback means for you
Starting Saturday, March 12, King County will stop requiring masks in many indoor public spaces. Individuals will now be able to make their own choices as to whether they want to continue wearing masks, and businesses may decide whether they want to require employees and customers to wear masks. In practice, what does this mean for you?
Wood-burning Stoves Raise New Health Concerns
In the United States, 11.5 million homes, or about 30 million people, were estimated to use wood as their primary or secondary heat source. Growing scientific evidence shows that woodsmoke affects human health and contributes to air pollution.
No, you cannot ‘devaccinate’ yourself with snake venom kits, bleach or cupping
If you encounter claims like this online, you need to ask yourself four questions, to figure out whether these claims really are too good to be true.
States Likely to Resist CDC Proposal Easing Opioid Access
For the eased guidelines to have their intended effect, states would need to amend or repeal existing statutes that limit opioid prescriptions to three to seven days and set ceilings on the daily dose doctors can prescribe.
Powdered infant formula recall expands following reports of bacterial infections
Recalled formulas may be linked to several Cronobacter illnesses, two nationwide infant deaths
King County marks two years of COVID outbreak, looks ahead to next phase of pandemic response
King County has gone from the epicenter of the outbreak, to now one of the nation’s highest vaccinated communities with the some of the lowest cases and death rates two years later.
King County’s local indoor mask mandate to end after March 11
Lifting the indoor mask mandate does not mean COVID is over. The use of high quality, well-fitting masks still make sense in certain settings. It is very reasonable to continue to mask if you are at increased risk, are in contact with someone at high risk, out of consideration for people who may be at higher risk in public settings, or if you want to reduce your own risk for any reason.