A COVID-19 Study Retracted Over Misinformation, a Whale Feeding Frenzy in Greenland, and How Daily Vitamin D Benefits the Brain
Discover the top stories from Aug. 15 to Aug. 21, 2026, including a recent retraction of a COVID-19 study and how Greenland has turned into a feeding ground for thousands of whales.
Jack Knudson is an Associate Editor for Discover Magazine who writes articles on space, ancient humans, animals, and sustainability, and manages the Planet Earth column for print.
Jenny Lehmann is an Associate Editor at Discover Magazine who writes articles on microbiology, psychology, neurology, and zoology, and oversees the Piece of Mind column of the print issue.
Missed some of our top stories from the week? Check out our round-up below, covering the biggest science news and stories that matter.
This week's stories, from Aug. 15 to Aug. 21, 2026, include a COVID-19 study that was retracted due to misinformation, an update on when you can stop taking antibiotics, a record of life from 3.5 billion years ago found inside a rock, the impact of foodborne parasites across the globe, whale feeding frenzies in East Greenland, and how vitamin D may improve cognitive performance.
1. COVID-19 Excess Mortality Study Retracted Over Misinformation in Its Discussion
(Image Credit: Maliutin Dmitriy/Shutterstock)
For readers trying to make sense of COVID-19 vaccine safety, a study reporting more than 3 million excess deaths across 47 countries from 2020 through 2022 would be hard to ignore. The article first appeared in BMJ Public Health in June of 2024, and according to BMJ’s later expression of concern, some reports soon presented it as evidence that vaccines had contributed to those deaths.
Two months later, BMJ Public Health retracted it, saying the paper had not clearly explained the limited nature of its analysis.
2. Finishing Your Course of Antibiotics May No Longer Be the Standard for Some Infections
Should you always finish a course of antibiotics? The question was put to almost 1,500 Americans, the majority of whom agreed in the affirmative — despite recent scientific evidence suggesting this may not always be the case, according to researchers.
3. A 3.5-Billion-Year-Old Rock in India May Preserve Carbon Left Behind by Some of Earth’s Earliest Microbes
A striped rock from eastern India contains carbon that may have been left by microbes when Earth was roughly 1 billion years old. Dark, carbon-rich bands alternate with pale silica, preserving a layered record of the environment in which the rock formed.
4. Overlooked Foodborne Parasites Caused an Estimated 171 Million Illnesses Worldwide in a Single Year
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted just how rampant foodborne parasites are, estimating that around 171 million illnesses worldwide were attributable to foodborne transmission of invasive parasites in 2021 alone. Although the impact of these diseases has slightly declined in many parts of the world, many are on the rise and don’t get nearly the same kind of attention that cyclosporiasis has been getting.
5. Whales Once Rare Along East Greenland Now Gather by the Thousands in Feeding Frenzies
Humpback whale seen near Greenland (Image Credit: Fernando Ugarte)
Fin whales, humpbacks, and common minke whales, species once rarely seen in coastal East Greenland, have been arriving by the thousands and feeding alongside one another. A new study links the change to warmer water, retreating summer ice, and capelin that have shifted their feeding grounds into the Greenland Sea.
6. Taking Vitamin D Daily Was Associated With Better Cognitive Performance in Those at Risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia
A new study has found an association between high doses of vitamin D and cognitive function in adults at increased risk of dementia. Researchers found that taking 5,000 IU or more of vitamin D daily was linked to better cognitive performance among people with sleep disturbance and mild cognitive impairment.
Anastasia Scott is an Assistant Editor at Discover Magazine. Her work focuses on bringing clarity and creativity to scientific ideas. View Full Profile
Rosie McCall is a London-based freelance writer who frequently contributes to Discover Magazine, specializing in science, health, and the environment.View Full Profile
Jack Knudson is an Associate Editor for Discover Magazine who writes articles on space, ancient humans, animals, and sustainability, and manages the Planet Earth column for print.View Full Profile
Jenny Lehmann is an Associate Editor at Discover Magazine who writes articles on microbiology, psychology, neurology, and zoology, and oversees the Piece of Mind column of the print issue.View Full Profile
Explore All Options
