Lizette Ortega

Washington, D.C.

Education: Wellesley College, BA Physics; Harvard University, MS Applied Physics

Lizette Ortega is a reporter for the Health & Science desk. She is part of the 2024 AAAS Mass Media Fellowship cohort and received her bachelor's in Physics from Wellesley College and master's in Applied Physics from Harvard University. While at Harvard, she co-led and wrote for the Harvard Quantum Initiative Blog.
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Latest from Lizette Ortega

Animations of coiled hair for Black film characters improve with new algorithms

New algorithms allow for more realistic coily hair animation, enhancing the representation of Black characters in film.

November 30, 2024
The researchers' new algorithm can digitally generate a variety of Black hair textures and looks.

Walking pneumonia cases are rising among kids. Here’s what to know.

Walking pneumonia cases are on the rise in the U.S., with the CDC reporting an unusual uptick in cases among young children.

October 31, 2024
Walking pneumonia can initially present similar symptoms to the common cold, including a runny nose, congestion, fever and headaches.

These breast cancer survivors are taking back October. Here’s how.

Reclaim October is one of many groups calling out “pinkwashing” and moving away from traditional cancer campaigns that often platform products instead of people.

October 30, 2024
Trish Michelle with guests at the Reclaim October fundraiser in Newburgh, New York, on Friday. (Photos by Xyza Cruz Bacani for The Washington Post)

Survey of trans youths reports high satisfaction with gender-affirming care

Trans youth survey by Princeton indicates those who received puberty blockers, hormones or other gender-affirming medical care largely did not regret receiving treatment.

October 21, 2024
A protester writes a message while demonstrating outside a Moms for Liberty convention in Philadelphia in 2023. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)

Style over stigma: Fashion designer revamps assistive medical devices

Designer Destiny Pinto turns medical devices, such as ostomy bags and hearing aids, into fashion accessories.

October 17, 2024

The complete list of Nobel Prize winners in 2024

The 2024 Nobel Prize recipients have been announced. See the complete list of laureates and their winning work.

October 14, 2024

Death rates for working-age and young Black people rose during pandemic

The study reveals how mortality rates among young Black people and working-age people rose during the pandemic, highlighting disparities and structural racism.

October 11, 2024
A worker wearing a mask delivers a purchase to a customer at the curbside pickup area.

Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to three scientists for work on proteins

The prize was awarded Wednesday for research that cracked the code of proteins.

October 9, 2024
The winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry are announced Wednesday in Stockholm.

John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton awarded Nobel Prize in physics

One laureate recognized for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning warns of “possible bad consequences” of artificial intelligence.

October 8, 2024
The winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton, are announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine awarded for discovery of microRNA

The prize was awarded for the discovery of microRNA and “its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.” MicroRNA plays an important role in gene regulation and how organisms develop and function.

October 7, 2024
A picture of scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun appears as Nobel Assembly member Olle Kaempe, far right, speaks to the media Monday in Stockholm.