Meghan Rosen headhsot

Meghan Rosen

Staff Writer, Biological Sciences

Meghan Rosen is a staff writer who reports on the life sciences for Science News. She earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology with an emphasis in biotechnology from the University of California, Davis, and later graduated from the science communication program at UC Santa Cruz. Prior to joining Science News in 2022, she was a media relations manager at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her work has appeared in Wired, Science, and The Washington Post, among other outlets. Once for McSweeney’s, she wrote about her kids’ habit of handing her trash, a story that still makes her (and them) laugh.

All Stories by Meghan Rosen

  1. Health & Medicine

    This week in Zika: An anniversary, how the virus kills brain cells and more

    New weapons in the fight against Zika, how the virus shrinks minibrains, a quick paper-based test for Zika, and more in this week’s Zika Watch.

  2. Life

    Some Crohn’s genes make cells deaf to messages from good gut bacteria

    Genes linked to Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, might make people’s immune cells miss out on helpful messages sent by friendly gut bacteria.

  3. Science & Society

    Gun research faces roadblocks and a dearth of data

    Gun violence research is stifled by funding shortfalls and limitations on data access.

  4. Health & Medicine

    This week in Zika: Haiti hit early, possible monkey hosts, and more

    A new test for Zika, how Haiti fits into the outbreak timeline, a look at monkeys that can carry the virus, and more in this week’s Zika Watch.

  5. Neuroscience

    Words’ meanings mapped in the brain

    Language isn’t just confined to one region of the brain: The meaning of words spark activity all over the cerebral cortex.

  6. Paleontology

    Beetle saved in amber had helicopter wings

    For the first time, scientists report the fossilized remains of two tiny Jacobson’s Beetles, preserved in amber for at least 37 million years.

  7. Paleontology

    Baby titanosaur was parents’ Mini-Me

    Babies of one species of titanosaur resembled mini-versions of full-grown adults, and probably acted like them, too.

  8. Paleontology

    Clearer picture emerging of dinosaurs’ last days

    Dinosaurs’ final days may have included both a giant asteroid and gradual species die outs. Two new studies paint an increasingly intricate picture of dinosaur’s demise.

  9. Health & Medicine

    This week in Zika: Assessing risk, mosquito range, a transmission first and more

    Several new reports document Zika infection in U.S. pregnant women, a case of male sexual transmission, the range of Zika-carrying mosquitoes and more.

  10. Health & Medicine

    Zika’s role as a cause of severe birth defects confirmed

    A new analysis from the Centers for Disease control and Prevention confirms that Zika virus infection causes microcephaly and other severe birth defects.

  11. Health & Medicine

    This week in Zika: New mouse model, virus vs. placenta, nerve insulation loss

    In three new papers, scientists present a tool for studying Zika, strike down a theory of infection and offer a broad look at what the virus does to the brain.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Global obesity rates continue to climb

    Despite public health campaigns, the worldwide prevalence of obesity is on the rise, an analysis of BMI data suggest.