National Geographic | Your Weekly Checkup

National Geographic

YOUR WEEKLY CHECKUP

This week: The scary microbe behind the baby formula recall; scientists know shockingly little about human milk; the long wait for a COVID-19 vaccine for little kids is almost over; the story of a woman who gave her body to science—and became immortal; the science behind why you like what you like.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY, SCIENCE SOURCE

The microbe behind the baby formula recall can be benign—or deadly

Cronobacter sakazakii is less well-known than other food-borne pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella, and is relatively rare. But it has evolved traits to help it thrive under conditions most of its brethren would find impossible to survive, posing a threat to our food safety. "It scares me more than E. coli does."

A WILY BACTERIUM

RELATED: Superbugs were already on the rise. The pandemic likely made things worse. +

PHOTOGRAPH BY JENNIFER MCCLURE

Many women struggle to breastfeed. Scientists are finally starting to ask why.

We know more about cow's milk than human milk. But new research about the makeup of breast milk and the factors influencing its production could change the lives of millions.

HOW BREASTFEEDING GOES WRONG

RELATED: What was in prehistoric baby bottles? Now we know. +

VIC SPITZER, JOHN MAGBY, AND RACHEL KLAUS, TOUCH OF LIFE TECHNOLOGIES

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ FROM THE ARCHIVES‌ ‌ ‌

This woman will live forever

Susan Potter donated her body to science. It was frozen, sawed into four blocks, sliced 27,000 times, and photographed after each cut. The result: a virtual cadaver that will speak to medical students from the grave. National Geographic documented her journey for 16 years.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

RELATED: How to donate your body to science +

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID PLUNKERT

Why we like what we like: A scientist's surprising findings

Our behaviors and preferences are profoundly influenced by our genetic makeup, by factors in our environment that affect our genes, and by other genes forced into our systems by the innumerable microbes that dwell inside us.

ARE WE JUST MEAT ROBOTS?

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

NG STAFF

FDA authorizes COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5

These shots are likely to be rolled out as early as next week. Meanwhile, the United States reported nearly 105,000 new COVID-19 cases every day, as Omicron’s BA.2.12.1 subvariant continues to dominate.

TRACK COVID IN THE U.S.

COVID is making flu and other common viruses act in unfamiliar ways (Washington Post)

Omicron poses about half the risk of long COVID as Delta, new research finds (NPR)

A negative COVID test has never been so meaningless (The Atlantic)

The kids who have never known life without COVID-19 (Vox)

MORE HEALTH NEWS

PHOTOGRAPH BY CARL DE KEYZER, MAGNUM PHOTOS

How time rules your body—and your social life

We have clocks in our bodies down to the cellular level.

'WHY TIME FLIES'

New clues are revealing why exercise can keep the brain healthy

Trial of new Alzheimer's drug reports disappointing results (New York Times)

CDC study seeks to provide clues to seeming surge of hepatitis cases in kids (STAT News)

EPA warns that even tiny amounts of chemicals found in drinking water pose risks (NPR)

FDA greenlights first treatment for alopecia (NBC News)

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters, covering History, Environment, Science, Animals, Travel, Photography, and Family.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

We'd like to hear from you! Tell us what you think of our emails by sharing your feedback in this short survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: [email protected]. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.

© 2022 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.