Viruses keep jumping out of nature and into humans and getting us very sick in the process. So why do zoonotic spillovers like SARS-CoV-2 happen, and why are they becoming more frequent? We asked an expert.

I’m vaccinated. I’m boosted. And I still got infected with the omicron variant of COVID-19. Here’s what I learned, and what it means for the possible end of this pandemic.

Since the start of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the term “herd immunity” has been all over the news. But what does it really mean? One thing most people don’t realize about vaccines is that they aren’t just to protect the person...

As more and more are infected with COVID-19, there's a growing group of people who have what's called Long COVID, meaning they still have symptoms for weeks or months after getting sick. While we still don't know for sure the cause of...

You might know that chickenpox and shingles are both caused by the same virus, varicella zoster. Here's why the symptoms, and even the vaccines, are different the second time around.

HPV isn't the only virus that causes cancer, but it's one of the best at it. Here's what we've learned about this supervillain of a pathogen, and how to stop it.

After decades of improvement, the number of malaria deaths is on the rise again. So scientists are experimenting with a new kind of mosquito control, and it's not an insecticide.

Some experts feared we were in for a "twindemic" during the 2020-2021 flu season. That didn't happen, which might mean that there will be more people susceptible to getting sick this year.

Right now, experts say a vaccine for COVID-19 is a year or more away. But as far away as it sounds, it’s only within the realm of possibility because scientists are speeding up the vaccine development process in surprising ways.

We’ve made a lot of progress recently in curing two deadly diseases that have been difficult to treat!

Viruses are really tiny, so you might think nothing could survive on a virus-based diet. But, according to a growing body of research, the right kind of microorganism can!

Luckily, we live in a time where we don't have to worry about smallpox anymore. It's a horrible disease, but through smart vaccination techniques, we took it from killing millions worldwide, to being eradicated from the planet!

Forget your Hans Grubers, Lord Voldemorts, and Hannibal Lecters. It’s time to meet some real supervillains. They’re called retroviruses, and they actually change their host cell’s DNA.

The cold medicine you picked up at the store involves some cool chemistry to treat your symptoms. *Correction: This episode was written by Alison Caldwell.

Some of science's most interesting discoveries happened totally on accident! From insects to infections, and polymers to pacemakers, we've accidentally discovered some pretty cool stuff. Watch this new episode of SciShow, hosted by...

Your body usually does a great job defending you from all kinds of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. However, there are some pathogens out there that can hide from your immune system and stay dormant in your body, waiting for their...

The FDA recently approved two mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, but it was a challenge to make this type of vaccine work. And it took decades of research to get us to the point where scientists could make those vaccines as quickly as they did.

The HIV & AIDS epidemic claimed countless lives in the 80s and 90s— and while it's still a devastating diagnosis, medical technology has made significant advancements in treating HIV. In the second video of our two-part series on HIV and...

Wheezy Waiter announces the SciShow nominees for "Worst Science in a Film," & Hank talks about the bird flu and shares two sounds that had never been heard by human ears until very recently.

Contracting a virus is generally a bad thing, but among certain parasitic wasps, passing a virus to their offspring is actually key to their survival.

The silverleaf whitefly – a very prolific pest – is the only insect that we know of with a functional stolen plant gene.

You might be wondering what we know about Sputnik V, the world’s first vaccine for widespread use against COVID-19. Well, so is everyone. Many experts are skeptical as to whether the vaccine actually works, because it’s been tested in a...

Can having Herpes actually have benefits? While herpes viruses cause harmful or annoying afflictions like chickenpox and cold sores, there’s also evidence it can help your immune system fight unrelated attackers. Join Olivia Gordon for a...

Even though we are still in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists are trying to figure out the ways in which this disease may stick with people in the long term - from lasting lung damage to potentially triggering...