Have you ever wondered why a simple cold can leave some people bedridden while others barely notice it? The answer might just be in your nose. Dr. Ellen Foxman’s journey into this mystery began with a heart-wrenching moment: watching her young son struggle to breathe during an asthma attack triggered by a common cold. As a parent, it was terrifying; as a scientist, it was a call to action. But here’s where it gets controversial: why does the same virus—rhinovirus, the culprit behind most colds—affect people so differently? And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about the virus itself, but how our bodies respond to it.
Foxman, an associate professor at Yale School of Medicine, knew that rhinovirus infections often trigger asthma attacks. But what fascinated her was the stark contrast in reactions: some people experience life-threatening symptoms, while others barely sneeze. *“It’s a virus that can cause no symptoms in
