Originally published October 9, 2024. Updated October 15, 2026. Pharmacies and doctors start booking flu vaccine appointments in late August, long before the number of flu cases are on the rise. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated in September or October. But most years, flu cases don’t peak for a couple months. So what’s the data…
Category: Infectious Diseases
Meet Helicobacter pylori, the stomach bacteria that’s also considered a carcinogen
I’m so excited to introduce you to my favorite bacteria – and the subject from my PhD research – Helicobacter pylori. After spending the early 2010s growing this somewhat finicky bacterium and studying how it builds the flagellum (a tail-like structure it uses to move around). In fact, the picture above is a transmission electron…
Shorter, milder colds? Iota-carrageenan cuts length and severity of upper respiratory infection symptoms
A few weeks ago, I ended up getting a cold that lasted forever. I’m talking about weeks of coughing, nasal congestion, and multiple boxes of tissues. At the same time, someone in my writers’ group shared that an iota carrageenan nasal spray helped her get over her cold quickly. She pointed me to a paper…
Five Things I Learned From Reading Everything is Tuberculosis
One of the things I love about reading science non-fiction books is that it’s never “just about the science.” Rather, it’s about how science has shaped the world and how what was happening in the world shaped research, treatments, and the way we as a society think about disease and health.
Climate change as a driver of fungal infections
Every year, I set a small reading goal and track my progress in one of those reading apps. I started using Storygraph last year and set a goal of 12 books. Small for some, but I met last year’s goal with no problem. 🙂





