Author: Tina Hesman Saey / Source: Science News A lack of certain mysterious genetic molecules may spin the immune system out of control and lead to lupus. People with lupus have lower than normal levels of circular RNAs, triggering an immune reaction meant to fight viruses, biochemist Lingling

Author: Trisha Leigh Zeigenhorn / Source: did you know? I’m not the kind of mom who really cares whether her kids get dirty (most of the time), but even I struggle some days when their clothes are spotted before we even make it out of the house. If you’re the opposite type of parent, read on –

Author: Cassandra Willyard / Source: Science News An Elegant Defense Matt Richtel William Morrow, $28.99 We like to think of the immune system as our own personal military, ready to attack foreign invaders. Slice your finger, and immune cells rush in to destroy rogue pathogens. But it’s

Author: Amber Dance / Source: Science News Frances Mercer runs a fight club. In one corner, the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, which causes a widespread sexually transmitted infection that many people have never heard of. In the other corner are neutrophils, the immune system cells best

Author: Richard Harris / Source: NPR.org Sometimes rare diseases can let scientists pioneer bold new ideas. That’s been the case with a condition that strikes fewer than 100 babies a year in the United States. These infants are born without a functioning immune system. The disease is called