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Lauren J. Young

@laurenjyoung.bsky.social

680 followers 210 following 36 posts

Health Editor at Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social. Professional library book detective by night 📚 she/her laurenjyoung.com

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Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · Jul 15

For 40 years, virus detectives have flocked to NJ beaches to track avian influenza. Their clues? Bird poop 💩 I followed that team to explain H5N1's history in a special Science Quickly podcast series. Featured today in @sciam.bsky.social's bird flu issue: www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis...

There Is a Beach That Contains Clues of How a Bird Flu Pandemic Could Take Off

The first hints that a new strain of avian illness is emerging could be found on this beach on Delaware Bay, where migrating birds flock. Here’s what virus detectives who return there every year know ...

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Lee Billings @leebillings.bsky.social · 22h

Now on @sciam.bsky.social: This year’s physics Nobel goes to 3 researchers who demonstrated quantum tunneling on a superconducting chip. By bringing this microscopic effect into the macroscale world, they laid important foundations for quantum computing.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...

This Year’s Nobel Prize in Physics Is Awarded to Three Scientists for Work in Quantum Mechanics

John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work showing how bizarre microscopic quantum effects can infiltrate our large-scale, everyday world

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Meghan Bartels @meghanbartels.bsky.social · 1d

It's Nobel week! Here's @laurenjyoung.bsky.social with a great explainer on the science of today's winners, who developed our understanding of how the immune system avoids attacking the body: 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...

This Year’s Medicine Nobel Goes to Discovery of Why the Body Doesn’t Attack Itself

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune disease...

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you! We will fix that.

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Tanya Lewis @tanyalewis.bsky.social · 2d

This year's #medicineNobel was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell & Shimon Sakaguchi for discovering why the body doesn't attack itself—key for organ transplants and autoimmune disease therapies. By @laurenjyoung.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...

This Year’s Medicine Nobel Goes to Discovery of Why the Body Doesn’t Attack Itself

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune disease...

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to some neat fundamental research on the immune system: peripheral immune tolerance. It's what keeps the body's defense mechanism in check—and could be key to new therapies for autoimmune disorders. @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/2025...

This Year’s Medicine Nobel Goes to Discovery of Why the Body Doesn’t Attack Itself

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune disease...

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 6d

“I think chimpanzees have helped people understand that we are part of and not separated from the animal kingdom, and that has opened the way to having respect for the other amazing beings with whom we share the planet.” —Jane Goodall, @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/jane...

Jane Goodall, Trailblazing Primatologist and Chimpanzee Conservationist, Has Died

The anthropologist was famous for her pioneering research with chimpanzees and her influence on conservation

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 6d

Jane Goodall is an inspiration to so many in science, myself included. I once combed through @scifri.bsky.social's archives listening to her interviews. I'll never forget her on-air imitation of a chimp pant-hoot. A true legend 💙🐒 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t8_... www.sciencefriday.com/articles/arc...

Reflecting On The Wild With Jane Goodall, Winner Of The 2021 Templeton Prize

A look back on the groundbreaking chimpanzee research and humanitarian career of Jane Goodall.

www.sciencefriday.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 6d

"You see CDC being torn apart, 2,000 people who are no longer there, years of experience, centers that are being demolished." @drdemetre.bsky.social discusses the dire state of US public health w/ @feltman.bsky.social on @sciam.bsky.social Science Quickly: www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis...

Demetre Daskalakis Saw the CDC Change from the Inside—And He’s Sounding the Alarm

The former director of a CDC center reveals how political ideology is undermining science, threatening vaccine policy and endangering public health across the U.S.

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Andrea Thompson @andreatweather.bsky.social · 8d

Well not only is TS Imelda going to move away from the U.S. (phew), it's doing so because of what is essentially a "flavor" of the Fujiwhara effect that has Imelda making a sharp right turn to follow in Hurricane Humberto's wake. 🧪

(I love hurricanes.)

www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...

A Hurricane Is Saving the U.S. from a Tropical Storm

In a version of the Fujiwhara effect, Hurricane Humberto is pulling Tropical Storm Imelda eastward and away from the U.S.

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Tanya Lewis @tanyalewis.bsky.social · 12d

The FDA is conducting "its own review of the evidence" on the safety & effectiveness of abortion drug mifepristone, according to news reports. Yet a wealth of evidence has shown the drug is safe and effective. SCOTUS rejected a case on this last year: www.scientificamerican.com/article/abor...

Abortion Pill Access Is Still Under Threat After SCOTUS Ruling, Legal Experts Warn

“It would be foolish to declare victory” for abortion rights, one expert says of the recent Supreme Court challenge to medication abortion access

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 13d

10000% agree!

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Tara Haelle @tarahaelle.bsky.social · 13d

Check out the incredible #RSV package from @sciam.bsky.social. Articles from me, @lizszabo.bsky.social @markkreidler.bsky.social, Suzette Brewer & editing frm @emilybazar.bsky.social. All editorially independent reporting. www.scientificamerican.com/report/innov... (we didn't know who sponsors were)

Innovations In: RSV

The prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has seen incredible advancement in the past few years. In this editorially independent package, Scientific American explores breakthroughs in immuni...

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 13d

WHAT?! This is actually amazing and a VERY BIG deal for the cephalopod world! (lookin' at you my old @scifri.bsky.social colleagues and 🦑 nerds) www.sciencefriday.com/videos/giant...

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Josh Fischman @jfischman.bsky.social · 15d

www.scientificamerican.com/article/tyle... and--to understand WHY the autism-Tylenol connection is so flimsy: www.scientificamerican.com/article/does... 🧪 #MedSky

Tylenol Is Popular and Safe, Yet Nobody Knows How It Works

The common pain reliever is safe when used as directed, research shows. But scientists remain puzzled by one aspect: how it reduces pain and fever

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Allison Parshall @parshallison.bsky.social · 15d

Does taking Tylenol during pregnancy increase risk of autism? The evidence is thin—and entirely correlational. Here's what to know. @sciam.bsky.social 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/does...

Does Tylenol Use during Pregnancy Cause Autism? What the Research Shows

Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. plan to tie Tylenol use during pregnancy and folate deficiencies to rising autism rates—but the evidence is thin

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 18d

AMA statement on ACIP meeting

“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP) new process and recommendations leave parents confused about how best to protect their kids and unable to choose the combined MMRV vaccine for children under 4 years old."

“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP) new process and recommendations leave parents confused about how best to protect their kids and unable to choose the combined MMRV vaccine for children under 4 years old. The AMA is concerned that this change not only reduces parental choice, but also reflects ACIP’s reliance on selective data in forming its guidance.

“We call on the Administration to ensure ACIP functions as a trusted, evidence-based body so that families can have confidence in its recommendations when making important vaccination decisions.”

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Bri 💝 @breezybrik.bsky.social · 18d

TikTok and Instagram readers FTW! Annotating your books is cool and Science™️ agrees! Also, shout out to Copy Dept. for letting me sneak a #GirlmoreGirls reference in here 😉📚

www.scientificamerican.com/article/go-a...

The TikTok Trend of Writing in Margins Is Based on Real Neuroscience

Annotating the margins of books is an important part of deep reading and has a long legacy of merit in both science and literature

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 18d

CDC's vaccine advisors recommend that people decide with their doctor on whether or not they should get the COVID vaccine.

If your mind is melted from what that and all the vaccine news means, we've got the votes explained @sciam.bsky.social.

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 19d

A lot is riding on this week's tense CDC ACIP vaccine recommendation meetings.

Day 1: MMRV and hep B vax
Day 2: COVID vax

@meghanbartels.bsky.social and @andreatamayo.bsky.social breakdown what to look out for @sciam.bsky.social. 🧪 Follow updates here: www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...

How a Contentious CDC Vaccine Meeting Will Affect Public Health

Three vaccines are on the agenda for this week’s meeting of ACIP, the CDC’s key advisory panel on immunization: the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine and ...

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 19d

A lot is riding on this week's tense CDC ACIP vaccine recommendation meetings.

Day 1: MMRV and hep B vax
Day 2: COVID vax

@meghanbartels.bsky.social and @andreatamayo.bsky.social breakdown what to look out for @sciam.bsky.social. 🧪 Follow updates here: www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...

How a Contentious CDC Vaccine Meeting Will Affect Public Health

Three vaccines are on the agenda for this week’s meeting of ACIP, the CDC’s key advisory panel on immunization: the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine and ...

www.scientificamerican.com

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 20d

Confused by patchwork COVID vaccine guidelines across states? @sciam.bsky.social has a map with the latest info from the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. We'll keep tracking updates. 📊 @unamandita.bsky.social ✏️ @jaimieseaton.bsky.social. www.scientificamerican.com/article/covi...

What State-by-State Rules Mean for Your COVID Shot

With federal vaccine guidance under fire, states are forging their own immunization paths

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 20d

U.S. Vaccine Guidance Is in Chaos, Fired CDC Director Tells Senators

“The administration has totally lost its credibility,” one public health expert says, of the hearing. “People will die. People will suffer.”

www.scientificamerican.com/article/vacc...

U.S. Vaccine Guidance Is in Chaos, Fired CDC Director Tells Senators

Former CDC chief Susan Monarez testified that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., had demanded she rubber-stamp recommendations from his remade vaccine panel

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Allison Parshall @parshallison.bsky.social · 25d

Take my weekly science quiz for @sciam.bsky.social ! This week: psychedelics and sexual parasites www.scientificamerican.com/game/science... 🧪

Multiple choice question reading "What is the hallucinogenic compound found in 'magic mushrooms'?" Answer options are psilocybin, mescaline, dimethyltryptamine, and omeprazole.

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 25d

Measles can lay dormant for years and come back as a rare but deadly brain disorder. The recent death in a child is a reminder that widespread MMR vaccination is important in protecting people who cannot be vaccinated. @andreatweather.bsky.social explains: www.scientificamerican.com/article/meas...

Measles in the Brain Can Kill Years after Infection, Child’s Death Shows

A child in Los Angeles County has died from a rare but always fatal brain disorder that develops years after a measles infection. Experts underscore the need for vaccination to protect the most vulner...

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Andrea Thompson @andreatweather.bsky.social · 25d

Did a rare stint on the health desk and wrote about a complication of measles that can lead to a fatal brain disorder years after the infection, underscoring why widespread vaccination is so important. The child that died was too young to be vaccinated when the contracted measles. 🧪

Measles in the Brain Can Kill Years after Infection, Child’s Death Shows

A child in Los Angeles County has died from a rare but always fatal brain disorder that develops years after a measles infection. Experts underscore the need for vaccination to protect the most vulner...

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Lauren J. Young

Meghan Bartels @meghanbartels.bsky.social · 28d

Today is the peak of Atlantic hurricane season. And yet, there's not even a hint of a hurricane anywhere in sight. What gives? Some cool weather stuff here: 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/atla...

At the Peak of Hurricane Season, the Atlantic Is Quiet. Here’s Why

Hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin is historically at its peak on September 10—but not this year

www.scientificamerican.com