Aimee Cunningham

Aimee Cunningham

Biomedical Writer

Biomedical writer Aimee Cunningham is on her second tour at Science News. From 2005 to 2007, she covered chemistry, environmental science, biology and materials science for Science News.  Between stints Aimee was a freelance writer for outlets such as NPR and Scientific American Mind. She has a degree in English from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University. She received the 2019 Award for Excellence in Science and Medical Journalism from the Endocrine Society for the article "Hormone replacement makes sense for some menopausal women."

All Stories by Aimee Cunningham

  1. Health & Medicine

    Vaccines, fluoride, raw milk: How RFK Jr.’s views may shape public health

    If confirmed as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kennedy could influence U.S. policy on vaccines, drugs and food safety.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Youth tobacco use has gone down, but the work isn’t over

    In 2024, tobacco use among middle and high school students reached a record low, but new vapes and other products with nicotine keep coming.

  3. Health & Medicine

    The virus behind an outbreak in Brazil can spread from mother to fetus

    Transmission of Oropouche virus to the womb has been confirmed in two stillbirths and one birth with congenital anomalies that occurred in Brazil.

  4. Health & Medicine

    Drop in vaping drives tobacco product use by U.S. youth to a record low

    The fewest number of U.S. middle and high school students are currently using tobacco products since the National Youth Tobacco Survey began in 1999.

  5. Health & Medicine

    Once-weekly insulin might mean fewer shots for some with diabetes

    Recent clinical trials of weekly insulin highlight how this formulation may be useful in managing diabetes, but the drug has limitations.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Blood pressure may read falsely high if the arm isn’t positioned properly

    A clinical trial found blood pressure readings were higher with the arm on the lap or along the side, compared with supported at heart height.

  7. Animals

    ‘Night Magic’ invites you to celebrate the living wonders of the dark

    In the book ‘Night Magic,’ Leigh Ann Henion writes of encounters with salamanders, bats, glowworms and other life-forms nurtured by darkness.

  8. Health & Medicine

    The first face transplant to include an eye shows no rejection a year later

    A man who received a partial face transplant that included an eye can’t see out of the eye, but there is blood flow to it.

  9. Health & Medicine

    A new drug shows promise for hot flashes due to menopause

    Two clinical trials found that the nonhormonal drug elinzanetant eased hot flashes and improved sleep, two common menopause symptoms.

  10. Health & Medicine

    People with food and other allergies have a new way to treat severe reactions

    A new epinephrine nasal spray gives people a needle-free way to treat severe allergic reactions to food, insect venom and drugs.

  11. Health & Medicine

    HIV prevention may only require two injections per year

    There were no new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women taking a new PrEP formulation, a twice-yearly shot of the drug lenacapavir.

  12. Health & Medicine

    The odds of developing long COVID dropped as the coronavirus evolved

    As different coronavirus variants took center stage during the pandemic, the chances of developing long COVID fell, especially for vaccinated people.