illustration of Sharon DeWitte climbing inside a giant skull

Secrets from the grave

March 18, 2024

By studying human skeletal remains, bioarchaeologist Sharon DeWitte is opening a new window into past pandemics and giving voice to the voiceless.

a hospital ward during the flu epidemic of 1918

1918 flu pandemic myth debunked by skeletal remains

Oct. 9, 2023

A study of century-old bones from an Ohio museum reveals that, contrary to popular belief, the deadly influenza pandemic, like COVID, hit the frail the hardest.

Students in classroom

Can air purifiers help keep kids in school? New study seeks to find out

Sept. 27, 2023

CU Boulder researchers, funded with $2.2 million from the Centers for Disease Control, are studying whether installing simple air purifiers in Colorado classrooms can keep students from missing school.

Marina Nieto-Caballero assesses the infectious potential of airborne murine coronavirus using computer aided microscopy

Tend to get sick when the air is dry? New research helps explain why

Feb. 23, 2023

CU Boulder researchers have found that airborne coronavirus remains infectious for twice as long in drier air—in part because saliva serves as a protective barrier around the virus, especially at low humidity levels.

UV light

Ultraviolet light can annihilate COVID-19 aerosols, but there’s a tradeoff with air quality

Dec. 15, 2022

A new CIRES-led study finds germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection can be used to fight COVID-19 in high-risk environments. However, the technique produces harmful secondary chemicals in indoor air, with a significant but not overwhelming impact. There are multiple strategies that can be used to minimize the air quality impact, which are now under investigation.

People gathering for a holiday

Got the sniffles? Here’s how to make the right decision about holiday gatherings

Nov. 15, 2022

A new international study conducted at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shows when people simply take a moment to reflect on the consequences of their behavior, they’re more likely to make choices that benefit public health.

Corrie Detweiler in her lab

How COVID spawned a surge in superbugs—and what we can do about it

Aug. 12, 2022

"Don’t pressure your doctor for an antibiotic unless there's evidence that you need one," says Corrie Detweiler in this Q&A on the threats of antibiotic-resistance pathogens.

Sara Sawyer

Virus hunter: Preventing the next pandemic

July 27, 2022

Dozens of viruses, including the one that causes COVID-19, have jumped from animals to humans, often with deadly consequences. Sara Sawyer wants to know which one is next.

Dan Larremore

CU Boulder mathematician earns nation’s highest early-career award for COVID research

April 20, 2022

Dan Larremore has won the Alan T. Waterman Award for his instrumental research on COVID-19 vaccine distribution and rapid testing. The prestigious award is the National Science Foundation’s highest honor for early-career scientists.

Person hiking at sunrise in Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado

Exposure to great outdoors reduced risk of depression, anxiety during pandemic

March 1, 2022

A new study of 1,200 Denver residents found those who spent more time in green spaces the first year of the pandemic reported less anxiety and depression. It also found that more than one-third spent more time in parks and on trails than they did pre-pandemic.

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