College of Science

How to talk to others about healthy habits like face masks and distancing

Be civil. Keep your cool. Let others know what you’re comfortable with, and set expectations. These are keys to navigating interpersonal relationships in the COVID-19 era, says William Sharp, associate teaching professor of psychology.

by Brilee Weaver and Peter Ramjug August 6, 2020

How a freeloading worm might help us live healthier, longer lives

Caenorhabditis elegans, a transparent, microscopic worm, has evolved a way to take advantage of protection provided by nearby bacteria. This response could provide clues as to how humans coordinate our own cellular defense systems.

by Laura Castañón August 4, 2020

Scientists still don’t have all the answers about the coronavirus–and that’s a sign of progress

As researchers study SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 at breakneck speeds, one key aspect to keep in mind is that the research is happening while everyone watches. “The public is getting front-row seats to the scientific method, probably in a way they never imagined they would’ve experienced,” says Samuel Scarpino, who runs the Emergent Epidemics Lab at Northeastern.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa July 27, 2020

They’re planning to build a new space station… at the bottom of the ocean

The underwater research center is the brainchild of Fabian Cousteau, a renowned aquanaut and grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Northeastern is helping to make it a reality.

by Laura Castañón July 22, 2020

The CDC is no longer in control of COVID-19 hospitalization data. Here’s what that means.

Under a new federal mandate, healthcare professionals will bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when they report data on COVID-19 patients. “What this means is that a process that should be as largely apolitical as possible is being politicized as so many other things around this pandemic have been,” says Samuel Scarpino, who directs the Emergent Epidemics Lab at Northeastern.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa July 21, 2020

Northeastern will provide more than $350M in financial aid. Millions more will support COVID-19 efforts.

The record investment is part of the university’s ongoing commitment to make a Northeastern education available to talented students from all circumstances and backgrounds.

by Peter Ramjug July 17, 2020

Disease surveillance leaves out the communities that need it most

As the current COVID-19 crisis has made abundantly clear, public health agencies need reliable, up-to-date information to effectively address evolving health problems at local, state, and federal levels. But, according to a recent study, systems to track disease outbreaks are leaving out people living in impoverished neighborhoods.

by Laura Castañón July 9, 2020

‘We find ourselves asking scientists to do more than simply study the virus’

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, epidemiological models continue to provide vital information for lawmakers, public health officials, and people trying to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This has put the scientists who make the models in the spotlight.

by Laura Castañón July 6, 2020

Why is China containing COVID-19 better than the US?

“The reduction of contacts among the population is what has really abated the epidemic in China,” says Alessandro Vespignani, who directs Northeastern’s Network Science Institute. “‘Social distancing’ works.”

by Laura Castañón and Eunice Esomonu June 26, 2020

Our drinking water was always full of microbes. Are the wrong ones thriving in the pandemic?

It’s been months, and life has changed dramatically across the planet. Zooming in where only a microscope can see, Northeastern researchers are trying to determine how the lifestyle changes caused by COVID-19 might be helping harmful bacteria grow in our drinking water.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 25, 2020