Tara C. Smith

Contributing Columnist

Latest Articles

How Many Microbes Does It Take to Make You Sick?

September 27, 2023

Exposure to a virus isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. The concept of “infectious dose” suggests ways to keep ourselves safer from harm.

Can Our Brains Be Taken Over?

February 23, 2023

Several real-life pathogens can change a host’s behavior against their will. Here’s what we know about these zombie-like infections.

What We Know About Monkeypox

September 29, 2022

Even though we’ve learned a lot about this relative of smallpox, some mysteries remain due to a lack of political will.

What Happens When We Give Animals Our Diseases?

April 27, 2022

While it’s understandable to focus on the diseases affecting humans, it’s important to study how our illnesses may affect animals.

Will We Ever Get Rid of COVID-19?

November 30, 2021

No matter how much we’d like to eradicate SARS-CoV-2, it may be better to settle for other forms of control.

How ‘Long COVID’ Keeps Us Sick

July 1, 2021

Other diseases with long-term symptoms can help us understand how COVID can affect us long after the virus itself is gone.

How to Understand COVID-19 Variants and Their Effects on Vaccines

February 25, 2021

Researchers are tracking the different strains of SARS-CoV-2 and studying how they spread through our population and our bodies.

What Other Coronaviruses Tell Us About SARS-CoV-2

April 29, 2020

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase, our extensive knowledge of other coronaviruses informs our understanding.

The Animal Origins of Coronavirus and Flu

February 25, 2020

Zoonotic diseases like influenza and many coronaviruses start out in animals, but their biological machinery often enables them to jump to humans.

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