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When I receive an email pitch with a subject line that reads “The most important virus you’ve never heard of,” I’m inclined to open it, ask questions and then commission the story – promptly.
That’s how today’s article on human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, came about. And our team of science and health editors, including those of us who are parents, hadn’t heard of it, despite the fact that we’ve become well-versed in virology over the past few years.
Many people in the health care field haven’t heard of it, either, writes John V. Williams, a pediatrician, virologist and infectious disease specialist from the University of Pittsburgh. The virus wasn’t identified until 2001, which makes it a relative newcomer in the field of medicine – and most people who go to the doctor with symptoms won’t even be tested for it, Williams explains.
But HMPV is the scourge behind many of the respiratory infections that are filling hospital beds and ICUs this spring. While most cases are mild, the virus can cause severe illness, especially in children and older adults.
Also today:
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Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, peaks in North America from February to May, just on the heels of flu season.
martin-dm/E+ via Getty Images
John V. Williams, University of Pittsburgh
Similar to the patterns seen with COVID-19, flu and RSV, HMPV is making a comeback after years of being repressed by people wearing masks and social distancing.
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Science + Technology
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Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Air University
China has invested massively in its space capabilities in recent years and is now a major competitor with the US. But according to a space policy expert, the US still dominates space by most measures.
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Ramana Vinjamuri, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Robots are already carrying out tasks in clinics, classrooms and warehouses. Designing robots that are more receptive to human needs could help make them more useful in many contexts.
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Robert Olson, Rochester Institute of Technology
Legislation meant to improve cybersecurity could be difficult to implement and might create incentives for riskier digital behavior.
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Ethics + Religion
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Yasmin Moll, University of Michigan
Arab American Heritage Month is becoming more well-known, but the simple words ‘Arab American’ encompass a wide array of religious and ethnic groups.
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Education
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Shirli Kopelman, University of Michigan
Students learn the art of dealmaking can involve much more than money.
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Environment + Energy
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Lilian (Lily) Dove, California Institute of Technology
Working with underwater robots, scientists show how deep sea mountains and fast currents between Antarctica and South America play a crucial role in stabilizing the climate.
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Politics + Society
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John Dinan, Wake Forest University
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, most abortion policy has been settled by states. Now, citizen-crafted constitutional amendments may be the abortion battleground of the future.
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