Why do people get fevers when we get sick?
It’s a common misconception that pathogens[1], such as SARS-CoV-2 or the flu, cause fevers. But as biology[2] professors[3], we know it’s not that simple. Pathogens cause fevers only indirectly.
When your immune system detects harmful microbes, your body raises its internal temperature to create a...
President Donald Trump announced a plan[1] to build a missile defense system, called the Golden Dome, on May 20, 2025. The system is intended to protect the United States from ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles[2], and missiles launched from space.
Trump is calling for the current budget to allocate US$25 billion to launch the...
Science funding[1] is a hot topic these days and people have questions about how grants work. Who decides whether a researcher will receive funds? What’s the decision-making process? How is the money spent once a grant proposal has been approved?
As a veteran academic researcher[2], department chairperson and associate dean for research, I...
Andy Weir’s bestselling story “The Martian[1]” predicts that by 2035 NASA will have landed humans on Mars three times, perfected return-to-Earth flight systems and collaborated with the China National Space Administration. We are now 10 years past the Hollywood adaptation’s 2015 release[2] and 10 years shy of its fictional timeline. At...