Laura Sanders

With little proof, Trump links Tylenol to autism and touts a treatment The FDA plans to add a warning to Tylenol’s label and OK use of a drug for autism. Researchers say there’s little data to support either move.

My latest on the recent autism news.

www.sciencenews.org/article/trum...

Vaccine policy in the U.S. is entering uncharted territory A key advisory group vows to base decisions on evidence, boost confidence in vaccines and protect health. Experts fear the opposite is happening.

Careful, fair and fact-packed reporting from the stellar @thsaey.bsky.social on worrisome changes to vaccine policy.

www.sciencenews.org/article/vacc...

A ‘talking’ ape’s death signals the end of an era Kanzi showed apes have the capacity for language, but in recent years scientists have questioned the ethics of ape experiments.

A beautiful story about Kanzi the bonobo. www.sciencenews.org/article/talk...

Humans have shockingly few ways to treat fungal infections It's not quite as bad as The Last of Us. But progress has been achingly slow in developing new antifungal vaccines and drugs.

If you're watching season 2 of The Last of Us, you'll want to read @thsaey.bsky.social's story for all your fungus-related questions, including a big one about Ellie's brain.

www.sciencenews.org/article/fung...

Do cold-water plunges really speed post-workout muscle recovery? A new study is among the first to look at whether cold or hot soaks help women’s muscles rebound from extreme exercise.

You could argue that I overdid it with the cold puns in this story, and you wouldn't be wrong.

Here is my latest on whether cold plunges (and hot plunges too) speed muscle recovery in women. www.sciencenews.org/article/cold...

$1.8 billion in NIH grant cuts hit minority health research the hardest News of NIH funding cuts have trickled out in recent months. A new study tallies what’s been terminated.

Important story on NIH grants being terminated by my colleague @sujatagupta.bsky.social

www.sciencenews.org/article/nih-...

Playing this Minecraft game hints at how we learn in real life A tailor-made version of Minecraft let researchers look at the success of learning individually or taking cues from others while foraging for fruit.

Sometimes in my reporting, I get to learn new combinations of words, like "zombified piglin chicken jockeys."

Here's a story about how Minecraft holds clues to how people learn from others, or choose to go it alone.

www.sciencenews.org/article/mine...

Looking for former FDA employees for a story I’m working on about food safety. If that’s you, I’d love to talk. You can send me a DM here, find me on signal, or email me at mrosen@sciencenews.org. 🙏

Genetics are overwhelmingly the main driver of autism--not a toxin. There are still lots of questions about autism, but as one scientist told me, "we've come a long way, too."

Autism rates are increasing, without a doubt. Experts told us that the reason is very likely better detection. More kids are being screened, tested and helped than ever before.

Autism rates rose again. Experts explain why Autism rates are higher than ever before, probably because of more expansive and sensitive diagnoses. Those numbers highlight the need for more support for people with autism.

Autism is in the news, and there are a lot of questionable claims floating around right now. What's true? My fabulous colleague @thsaey.bsky.social and I have you covered.

www.sciencenews.org/article/auti...