Posts by Lauren Hale, PhD MA

Do CPAP machines work? August 22, 2023

Hey, NYC Rats! Who’s in charge now? April 28, 2023

What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? March 10, 2023

Celebrating International Women’s Day! March 8, 2023

Which animals are getting COVID-19? What are the implications for humans? January 27, 2023

Does turkey make me sleepy? November 25, 2022

What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? November 5, 2022

Do weighted blankets help me sleep better? October 24, 2022

Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs? September 8, 2022

Let’s talk about school start times. August 5, 2022

What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8? July 5, 2022

What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases? June 25, 2022

Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart? May 4, 2022

What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? April 1, 2022

March 8th is International Women’s Day! March 8, 2022

March 1st is Baby Sleep Day! March 1, 2022

I’m vaccinated. Why is a contact tracer calling me? February 11, 2022

My family stares at screens all day! What are the effects on our eyes? What can we do about it? December 22, 2021

Are pets getting sick from COVID? November 13, 2021

If I have been potentially exposed to COVID-19, should I sleep in a different room from my spouse? October 28, 2021

Can sleep boost my immune function? October 1, 2021

How do I make an air purifier? September 10, 2021

Pandemic Dating August 27, 2021

Excess Mortality in the U.S. in 2020 July 9, 2021

What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs? July 2, 2021

What’s the link between COVID-19 and air pollution? June 18, 2021

If masks work, why can I still smell farts when I’m wearing one? June 8, 2021

What are COVID nails? May 28, 2021

Are there really COVID-sniffing bees? May 12, 2021

What’s up with otters getting COVID-19? May 7, 2021

Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine? April 29, 2021

Are public restrooms best avoided during the pandemic? April 23, 2021

How many US children have lost a parent to COVID-19? April 13, 2021

What the heck is a fomite? March 26, 2021

Have the various pandemic policies and behaviors affected urban rodent populations? March 16, 2021

Has there been a COVID-19 baby boom? March 12, 2021

Baby Sleep Day March 1, 2021

Any advice on pandemic dating? February 19, 2021

What effects does too much screen time have on our eyes? February 5, 2021

Home poop tests anyone? January 30, 2021

COVID-19 in Jails and Prisons January 21, 2021

Melatonin and COVID-19 January 9, 2021

With all this holiday travel, why don’t airports have COVID-sniffing dogs? December 26, 2020

Why are COVID-19 numbers lower on the weekends? December 19, 2020

How is COVID-19 affecting international slum communities? November 29, 2020

I heard that mouthwash kills the coronavirus! How often should I gargle? November 21, 2020

Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit? November 7, 2020

My husband is working at a place where everyone wears masks. I am higher risk & retired… Should he be sleeping in a separate room from me? October 31, 2020

It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day. How are Native Americans doing during COVID-19? October 12, 2020

How can I boost my immune system? October 10, 2020

What’s the update with COVID-19-sniffing dogs? October 3, 2020

Are you concerned about your kids spending too much time on screens? September 27, 2020

I wear glasses. How can I prevent them from fogging up when I wear my mask? September 20, 2020

Other than social distancing, wearing masks, staying outside, and washing hands, what else can we do to stay safe? September 5, 2020

What’s the benefit of testing sewage for evidence of the coronavirus? August 29, 2020

What happened to Buddy? Can animals get the novel coronavirus and die? Can pets transmit it to their owners? August 1, 2020

Dang it’s hot. Is it unsafe to spend time in places with air conditioning? July 19, 2020

Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people? July 11, 2020

COVID-19 cases are spiking in my area. Should I postpone my kid’s well visit? July 4, 2020

Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks? June 27, 2020

Can dogs smell COVID-19 infections? June 20, 2020

Now that “homeschooling” is wrapping up, when can we safely start camp this summer? June 13, 2020

What’s Happening with School Reopening in Israel? June 12, 2020

What are the long-term effects of COVID-19? June 6, 2020

How is COVID-19 related to the current protests, riots, and violence in American cities? May 31, 2020

Can I get COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces? May 28, 2020

What’s happening with our food supply? May 24, 2020

What is the effect of COVID-19 on people who live in slums? May 20, 2020

I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people. May 17, 2020

How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies? May 13, 2020

Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths? May 9, 2020

How do you make a vaccine and what progress have we made in developing a vaccine for Covid-19? April 29, 2020

All I have is a homemade mask. What can I do to increase its effectiveness? April 26, 2020

What are COVID toes? April 22, 2020

Dear Pandemic, I’m having trouble sleeping. Help! April 19, 2020

What is proning? April 15, 2020

What is a toilet plume? And what does it mean for me? April 11, 2020

Are racial and ethnic minorities at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19? April 8, 2020

Are the official numbers reported on the dashboards too high or too low? April 5, 2020