GPB Passport icon GPB Passport icon Passport
GPB donate icon GPB donate icon Donate
Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News Articles: Series: Joe's Big Idea

The AstraZeneca/Oxford partnership is one of the vaccine development efforts that is furthest along. The company recently began a Phase 3 trial in the United States that aims to enroll 30,000 volunteers.

COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Paused Due To Illness In Volunteer

AstraZeneca, which is working with the University of Oxford, hasn't said what the illness is. It will try to determine whether the illness is related to the vaccine, or just a chance event.

|
By:
  • Joe Palca
Romanesco broccoli, as seen by a 3.2 billion pixel camera. Scientists chose to take a picture of the broccoli because of its fractal shape.

California Scientists Build A Camera To Take Pictures Of Huge Swath Of Sky

Scientists and engineers in California are building a unique 3.2 billion pixel camera for a telescope under construction in Chile. The camera has taken its first test pictures — of broccoli.

|
By:
  • Joe Palca
A scientist at work on a COVID-19 vaccine candidate at Bogazici University in Istanbul in August.

How Can You Tell If A COVID-19 Vaccine Is Working?

Several COVID-19 vaccine candidates are being tested now. But why does it take 30,000 volunteers to know if one is safe and effective? And what does it mean to say a vaccine candidate is working?

|
By:
  • Joe Palca
Several influenza vaccines have been made in the form of a nasal spray, instead of an injection. The sprays confer two kinds of immunity to the recipient but can be difficult technologically to make.

What A Nasal Spray Vaccine Against COVID-19 Might Do Even Better Than A Shot

A vaccine against the coronavirus needs to keep people from getting very sick and dying. But preventing the spread of the disease is also important, and vaccines delivered by nasal spray may do that.

|
By:
  • Joe Palca