Sharon Begley
STAT
Boston, MA, United States
Contact Sharon
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Sharon:
A growing share of lung cancer is turning up in never-smokers
Scientists disagree whether the number of lung cancer patients who never smoked is increasing, but the proportion who never did clearly is. → Read More
CRISPR cures progeria in mice, raising hope for one-time therapy
If the results are confirmed in human trials, “this has the feel of something that could be a true genetic cure with a single injection.” → Read More
It's time for STAT's 2020 Nobel Prize predictions
Focusing on science’s greatest hits to forecast the Nobel winners is too simplistic. The smart money looks for other criteria. → Read More
Crows possess higher intelligence long thought primarily human
A second study looked in unprecedented detail at the brains of pigeons and barn owls, finding hints to the basis of their intelligence. → Read More
Trump said Covid-19 testing 'creates more cases.' We did the math
In 25 of the 33 states that saw reported Covid-19 cases increase between May and July, the count rose because there was actually more disease. → Read More
We're the accidental Sweden, raising fears Covid-19 will get worse
Sweden's light-handed restrictions produced results similar to those in countries with stricter policies because Swedes voluntarily self-isolated. → Read More
New journal will vet Covid-19 preprints
MIT Press is launching a journal that will review Covid-19 preprints, in an effort to quickly call out misinformation and highlight credible research. → Read More
CRISPR base editing slashes cholesterol levels in monkeys
When CRISPR “base editing” knocked out two cholesterol-associated genes in monkeys, the animals’ blood levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides plunged. → Read More
Racial bias skews algorithms widely used to guide patient care
Decision aids that U.S. physicians use to guide a broad range of patient care are racially biased, researchers reported Wednesday. → Read More
To grasp who's dying of Covid-19, look to social factors like race
The MIT researchers’ key finding is that the underlying reasons for the link between race and death rate are not the usual suspects. → Read More
Coronavirus hijacks cells in unique ways that suggest how to treat it
A deep dive into how the new coronavirus infects cells has found that it orchestrates a hostile takeover of their genes unlike any other known viruses do. → Read More
How Much Self-Knowledge is Too Much?
Sharon Begley explores the science of self-insight and the research on how much you should know about yourself before it becomes detrimental to your health. → Read More
Doctors treat Parkinson’s with a novel brain cell transplant
In a secret experiment, researchers replaced the dysfunctional brain cells of a Parkinson’s patient with the progeny of an extraordinary type of stem cell. → Read More
Study using human brain tissue shows herpes link to Alzheimer's
Human brain tissue infected with herpes simplex virus became riddled with amyloid plaque–like formations — the hallmark of Alzheimer’s. → Read More
Covid-19's future: small outbreaks, monster wave, or ongoing crisis
Three scenarios for the future of Covid-19 differ on details, but all foresee a world that looks and feels nothing like the world of just three months ago. → Read More
How high will it go? No easy answers as U.S. Covid-19 death toll tops 60,000
With U.S. deaths from Covid-19 passing 61,000 this week, the question is as difficult as ever: Are the projected death tolls large numbers or small numbers? → Read More
States have a long way to go on testing, review shows
More than half of US states, including Massachusetts, will have to significantly step up their COVID-19 testing to even consider starting to relax stay-at-home orders after May 1. → Read More
Many states short of Covid-19 testing levels needed for reopening
The analysis shows the U.S. is at risk of fumbling the next challenge: testing enough people to determine which cities and states can safely reopen. → Read More
Analysis urges less reliance on ventilators for coronavirus patients
The analysis is consistent with new NIH treatment guidelines issued Tuesday, which advocate a phased approach to breathing support for Covid-19 patients. → Read More
Influential Covid-19 model uses flawed methods and shouldn't guide U.S. policies, critics say
The IHME projections were used by the Trump administration in developing national guidelines to mitigate the outbreak. Now, they are reportedly influencing White House thinking on how and when to "re-open" the country, STAT News reports. → Read More