Subscribe now

Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency, says WHO

5 May 2023

The World Health Organization has declared an end to covid-19’s designation as a public health emergency of international concern, saying the pandemic is on a "downward trend"


Wastewater samples at BioBot's lab

Inside the lab that looks for viruses in wastewater from US homes

26 March 2023

A facility in Massachusetts has been analysing thousands of wastewater samples from across the US every week, looking for viruses and signs of disease. It could soon become permanent


Security personnel keep watch outside Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in??Wuhan, Hubei province, China February 3, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter - RC2TKL9J8J25

US agency says covid-19 may have leaked from lab – here's what to know

28 February 2023

The US Department of Energy says that covid-19 most likely originated from an unintentional laboratory leak in China, according to a classified document. However, it has not released evidence supporting the claim


A dead pelican, possibly infected with bird flu, in Lima, Peru, in December 2022

How prepared is the world for a pandemic of bird flu in people?

14 February 2023

Bird flu is infecting wild birds and poultry around the world. If it were to crossover into humans, some antiviral drugs are available but it would take time to develop a vaccine


Keven Esvelt

Pandemic terrorism risk is being overlooked, warns leading geneticist

14 November 2022

Kevin Esvelt, who created the first artificial gene drive capable of wiping out an entire species, says the threat of a deliberately released virus causing a pandemic is being overlooked


A Moderna covid-19 vaccine is prepared

Covid-19 news: Moderna’s omicron booster has promising immune response

9 June 2022

A regular round-up of the latest coronavirus news, plus insight, features and interviews from New Scientist about the covid-19 pandemic


Commuters at St Pancras International train station in London, England, in May

Covid-19 news archive: May 2022

6 June 2022

This is an archive of the New Scientist daily covid-19 news update: May 2022. Updates from: April 2022, March 2022, February 2022,  January 2022, November/December 2021, September/ October 2021, July to September 2021, June/ July 2021, May 2021, March...


The Pfizer medicine Paxlovid can protect against severe covid-19 in vulnerable people

Covid-19 rebound seen in some people after taking Pfizer drug Paxlovid

18 May 2022

Pfizer’s Paxlovid can prevent severe covid-19 in vulnerable people when taken as a five-day course at home, but the medicine may not eradicate the virus in everyone


People queue for a PCR covid-19 test in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 30 November 2021

Covid-19 news archive: April 2022

8 May 2022

This is an archive of the New Scientist daily covid-19 news update: April 2022. Updates from: March 2022, February 2022,  January 2022, November/December 2021, September/ October 2021, July to September 2021, June/ July 2021, May 2021, March 2021, February...


A person at a covid-19 test centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK, on 21 December

Covid-19 news archive: March 2022

13 April 2022

This is an archive of the New Scientist daily covid-19 news update, March 2022, Updates from: February 2022,  January 2022, November/December 2021, September/ October 2021, July to September 2021, June/ July 2021, May 2021, March 2021, February 2021, January...


Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop