Monisha Ravisetti

Reporter, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences

Monisha Ravisetti, based in New York, covers Life Sciences and Physical Sciences for The Academic Times. Prior to that, Monisha worked at Weill Cornell Medical College, Mount Sinai West and NYU Langone conducting clinical and basic science research. She graduated with a degree focused in philosophy, physics and chemistry from New York University, and her work investigates the intersection between science and the human condition.

'Long-COVID' effects may be linked to brainstem damage

By Monisha Ravisetti

Many COVID-19 survivors experience symptoms even months after they recover, and while the medical reasoning for this phenomenon continues to elude scientists, a Malaysian neurobiology researcher has proposed a novel hypothesis: The virus could be causing chronic brainstem dysfunction.

Trump health policies led to hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths each year

By Monisha Ravisetti

In a 49-page study, nearly three dozen experts assembled by The Lancet concluded that U.S. health policies under the Trump administration resulted in an avoidable 461,000 deaths per year — plus an unnecessary four in 10 COVID-19-related deaths — blaming decades of policy failures that were significantly enhanced by the 45th president.

Sawfish populations halved as nations fail to enforce conservation laws

By Monisha Ravisetti

Sawfish have lost 59% of their historical distribution and are heading toward complete extinction due to overfishing, a new study says, posing a threat to ocean biodiversity and indicating that policies worldwide to protect the world's largest ray are not being enforced.

Millions of adults have a peanut allergy. Only half have an EpiPen.

By Monisha Ravisetti

Approximately 4.6 million U.S. adults have a peanut allergy, a new study shows, but only about half have an epinephrine prescription, suggesting diagnosed adults should be more actively educated on how to manage the condition beyond merely removing peanuts from their diet.

Dementia significantly increases risk of COVID-19 infection, mortality

By Monisha Ravisetti

People with dementia are at a significantly higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing more severe outcomes of the disease, including death, regardless of other factors, according to a study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia on Tuesday.

3D simulations add evidence to incomplete planet-formation theory

By Monisha Ravisetti

An Iowa State University astrophysicist led the first successful 3D simulations that demonstrate the formation of planetesimals through dust particle build-up catalyzed by pressure bumps, possibly confirming a long-standing theory of how larger planets, including those in our solar system, came to be.

Racially segregated US counties have more COVID-19 deaths

By Monisha Ravisetti

New research founded on unbiased machine learning algorithms has statistically confirmed widely reported data suggesting that racially segregated counties in the United States have disproportionately high levels of COVID-19 infections and mortalities, reinforcing that such areas may be in greater need of vaccines and other resources.

Genes shared by humans, zebrafish found to drive limb formation

By Monisha Ravisetti

Researchers from Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital have discovered that certain gene mutations in zebrafish lead to the formation of limb-like structures in the fish’s pectoral fins, a major development that suggests the same genes likely play a role in human skeletal formation.

New freeze-dried vaccines could expand access

By Monisha Ravisetti

Researchers from Northwestern and Cornell Universities have produced a platform that can be freeze-dried to create inexpensive, portable, expedited conjugate vaccines, aiming to circumvent a years-long, multimillion-dollar manufacturing process that often results in inequitable distribution.

Sea levels will rise faster than expected, scientists find

By Monisha Ravisetti

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have created a mathematical model disputing commonly expected rates of sea level rise, arguing that most projections underestimate the speed at which the levels are increasing.