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Erin Garcia de Jesús is a staff writer at Science News. She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Washington, where she studied virus/host co-evolution. After deciding science as a whole was too fascinating to spend a career studying one topic, she went on to earn a master’s in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her writing has appeared in Nature News, Science, Eos, Smithsonian Voices and more, and she was the winter 2019 science writing intern at Science News.
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All Stories by Erin Garcia de Jesús
- Life
A glowing zebrafish wins the 2020 Nikon Small World photography contest
The annual competition features snapshots that use microscopy to reveal some of Earth’s smallest hidden marvels.
- Science & Society
‘Great Adaptations’ unravels mysteries of amazing animal abilities
Kenneth Catania has resorted to some unusual experiments to understand the lives of star-nosed moles, electric eels and other remarkable animals.
- Health & Medicine
How will Trump’s COVID-19 treatments work together?
Remdesivir, dexamethasone and monoclonal antibodies have individually shown success in clinical trials, but combining them is untested.
- Animals
This snake rips a hole in living toads’ stomachs to feast on their organs
A particularly gruesome way to kill may help small-banded kukri snakes avoid toxins secreted from the neck and backs of some toads.
- Health & Medicine
Defects in early immune responses underlie some severe COVID-19 cases
Scientists are finding that strong early immune responses to the coronavirus are crucial to protect some people from developing life-threatening symptoms.
- Animals
A beaked whale’s nearly four-hour-long dive sets a new record
The animals may rely on large stores of oxygen, a slow metabolism and the ability to tolerate lactic acid to go for hours without surfacing for air.
- Health & Medicine
Early immune responses may be why younger people get less sick from COVID-19
Age-related differences in coronavirus immune defenses hint that a boost in early immune responses from drugs or a vaccine could help protect people.
- Health & Medicine
Antibodies made in the lab show some promise for treating COVID-19
Preliminary results from two companies hint that the proteins can help COVID-19 patients from needing hospitalization or ventilation.
- Health & Medicine
A sobering breakdown of severe COVID-19 cases shows young adults can’t dismiss it
Of about 3,200 people ages 18 to 34 hospitalized with COVID-19, nearly a quarter entered intensive care, and 10 percent were placed on ventilators.
- Health & Medicine
50 years ago, scientists were trying to develop a low-emission car
Electric cars have surged in popularity, but the vehicles still contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Health & Medicine
How four summer camps in Maine prevented COVID-19 outbreaks
More than 1,000 kids and staff members from all over the country attended the camps, but only three people ended up testing positive for the virus.
- Health & Medicine
A man in Hong Kong is the first confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection
During a 33-year-old man’s first round with the virus, he had symptoms, but not the second time — a hint his immune system protected him from disease.