Technology

Scientists have created new viruses using AI. Here’s how they did it

Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.

FDA approves Moderna's mRNA seasonal flu vaccine

The vaccine, mFLUSIVA, is expected to be available for people 50 and older for the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season.

Feds issue warning to local water systems over increased cyberattacks, following Minnesota incident

The federal government issued a warning Thursday about potential cyber threats to water systems after 30 water plants in Minnesota were hit with cyberattacks that multiple U.S. officials tell ABC News may have been linked to Iran.

Six Years After the First COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines, Billions of Doses Clarify Their Protection and Rare Risks

Learn how mRNA vaccines work, why serious risks remain rare, and how the technology could be used beyond COVID-19.

WHO adds first diagnostic test for Ebola Bundibugyo virus to its Emergency Use Listing

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) has added the first molecular diagnostic test for Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) to its Emergency Use Listing (EUL). The test detects the virus by identifying its genetic material in blood samples, helping confirm infection rapidly and accurately.

WHO, Africa CDC launch Continental Incident Management Support Team to strengthen coordination for Ebola outbreak response

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), together with the Ministry of Health of Uganda and partners, have officially launched a centralized coordination platform to support the response to the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with spillover to Uganda.

Study suggests 2025-26 COVID vaccine cuts emergency, urgent care visits by half

The study, published today in JAMA Network Open, found that adults who received the updated vaccine were about 50% less likely to require emergency department/urgent care (ED/UC) treatment for COVID and 55% less likely to be hospitalized than those who did not receive the vaccine.

Ebola testing stalled in three Congo labs due to shortages, says WHO

Three laboratories in Democratic Republic of Congo ‌have run out of supplies to test for Ebola, the World Health Organization said, as the outbreak of the dangerous Bundibugyo species of the virus continues to grow.

'Texas is resilient' | USDA secretary and Gov. Greg Abbott announce response plan to combat New World screwworm

Federal officials presented their response plan after two cases of the New World screwworm were confirmed in Zavala County, prompting a disaster declaration.

Long Covid Burden Continues to Grow, Doubling Current Surveillance Estimates, Multi-Hospital Study Shows

A Mass General Brigham study suggests more than 10 million cases are going undetected by current surveillance systems. Long COVID may affect roughly 1 in 6 patients based on an AI analysis of electronic health records of nearly 460,000 patients across 58 U.S. hospitals.

U.S. doctor with Ebola released from German hospital after recovering from deadly virus

Dr. Peter Stafford was working with a missionary group in the Congo when he came down with the virus last month. The U.S. citizen who contracted Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was treated at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin was discharged from medical care today following the lifting of quarantine.

Texas grid flags risks as data centers, crypto sites fail voltage tests

Several large data centers and crypto facilities planning to connect to the Texas power grid ahead of peak summer demand have failed key reliability tests, raising the risk of power outages just as electricity use hits its seasonal high, according to the state grid operator.

Harris County and City of Houston unveil dashboard to monitor Ebola ahead of World Cup

As Houston prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of people for World Cup games, the city and county are taking precautions and have launched a dashboard to monitor travelers coming in from Ebola-affected countries.

UN issues AI warning after new data reveals major impact on the planet and its resources

AI data centres are energy-hungry and resource-intensive, requiring huge amounts of electricity generation, cooling systems, land and water supplies

CEPI fast-tracks three Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidates

CEPI funding will advance vaccine candidates towards clinical trials as quickly as possible.

Erin Brockovich Launches Map to Track Controversial AI Data Centers, Which Reportedly Cost $25B in Environmental Damages Last Year

Erin Brockovich has launched a map to track AI data centers across the country that are impacting residents' electricity, water and even their health.

Map Shows US Cities That Could Go Underwater if Sea Levels Rise 3 Meters

One of the world's largest glaciers, located in Antarctica, is on the verge of collapse, amplifying concerns about sea level rise.

Complete sequence of Orthohantavirus andesense virus: Swiss resident 2026

On 5 May 2026, the Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Viral Infections (Geneva University Hospitals) confirmed a case of Andes strain in a Swiss resident who had travelled on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

Why are so many scientific articles wrong about the disease I study?

Incorrect answers by AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT may be helping to fuel a proliferation of misinformation in junk science publications. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, speaks at a World Economic Forum conference in 2024. Credit: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Public Health Alerts: Detection of a single measles infection using untargeted ultra-deep metagenomic sequencing of wastewater in Cook County, Illinois

The authors conclude, “The detection of measles RNA through ultra‐deep MGS of municipal wastewater appeared to capture a single case within the population of more than 1 million people and wastewater flow exceeding 300 million gallons per day.”

Report: Cellular modules from Chinese companies in smart home devices are national security risk

A new report is warning that Chinese-produced cellular modules, tiny components that are inside smart home devices, present a significant national security risk for the United States.

LIVE Updates - Iran War

Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of vast data centers

They found surface temperatures increased by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit after a data center started operations. In extreme cases, nearby temperatures reached up to 16.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Detailed Harris County cancer prevalence maps released

Houston, Texas - Harris County Public Health has released comprehensive cancer prevalence data, including interactive maps accessible online. Brain cancer occurrence is abnormally high in much of Harris County. Environmental advocates praised county leaders for the new level of transparency.

FBI warns Iran aspired to attack California with drones in retaliation for war: Alert

The former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, said he is concerned about the possibility of drone warfare coming from both the Pacific and Mexico.