Marc Silver : NPR

Marc Silver Marc Silver edits NPR's global health blog.

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Marc Silver

Friday November 18, 2022

Flying toilets! Sobering stats! Poo Guru's debut! Yes, it's time for World Toilet Day

A sign from Valencia, Spain, is a reminder of how important it is to have access to a safe toilet. Kristina Ketelsen hide caption

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Kristina Ketelsen

Flying toilets! Sobering stats! Poo Guru's debut! Yes, it's time for World Toilet Day

November 18, 2022 • November 19 is World Toilet Day, created by the U.N. in 2013. At issue: Billions of people do not have access to a safe toilet. But how do you get the world to pay attention to this forgotten problem?

Monday November 14, 2022

We asked, you answered: What precious object is part of your family history?

Red knitted caps were a grandmother's way of saying, "I love you." Jean Marshall hide caption

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Jean Marshall

We asked, you answered: What precious object is part of your family history?

November 14, 2022 • Readers responded with moving stories of past journeys and crises — and keepsakes that remind them of their roots and tie them to their family. Here's a sampling of replies.

Monday October 17, 2022

High up in the mountains, goats and sheep faced off over salt. Guess who won

A female mountain goat in an alpine meadow in Montana's Glacier National Park. When goats competed with sheep for salt in the park, the goats won almost unanimously. Forest P. Hayes hide caption

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Forest P. Hayes

Goats and Soda

High up in the mountains, goats and sheep faced off over salt. Guess who won

October 17, 2022 • It was the unstoppable force versus the immovable object as goats and sheep locked horns over salt licks newly exposed in a warming climate in Montana. A new study reports on this cage match.

Friday July 22, 2022

Coronavirus FAQ: I got it on a family vacay! Can my relatives stay (relatively) safe?

Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: I got it on a family vacay! Can my relatives stay (relatively) safe?

July 22, 2022 • It's a common dilemma in this summer of surging travel and surging COVID. If one member of a vacation party comes down with the virus, what steps can be taken to reduce the risk to others?

Friday July 15, 2022

We asked, you answered: NPR readers share how they handled COVID on vacation

Malaka Gharib/NPR

Goats and Soda

We asked, you answered: NPR readers share how they handled COVID on vacation

July 15, 2022 • Nearly 5,000 NPR readers told us how they dealt with COVID on a trip. Did they respect the CDC guidance to wait 10 days before flying? Or did they travel anyway? What lessons do they have to share?

Friday July 8, 2022

Coronavirus FAQ: I took a trip and caught COVID. What should I do? When can I go home?

Malaka Gharib/NPR

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: I took a trip and caught COVID. What should I do? When can I go home?

July 8, 2022 • As summer travel surges, so does COVID. Experts share advice on how to prepare ahead of time in case you are infected on a vacation or visit — and what to do if you get that dreaded positive test.

Monday April 25, 2022

She's a former president, a Nobel laureate — and still on a mission at age 83

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says her advice to women in politics is to "stay the course" and be ready for criticism. Shuran Huang/For NPR hide caption

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Shuran Huang/For NPR

Goats and Soda

She's a former president, a Nobel laureate — and still on a mission at age 83

April 25, 2022 • Ellen Johnson Sirleaf gives advice to women in politics, tells how she found out about her Nobel — and details her efforts to gain allies in the fight against the oft forgotten disease of malaria.

Friday April 1, 2022

Coronavirus FAQ: Our mini-zine has advice on when & how to dial down COVID precautions

Print and fold a zine version of this comic here. Here are directions on how to fold it. Malaka Gharib/ NPR hide caption

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Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: Our mini-zine has advice on when & how to dial down COVID precautions

April 1, 2022 • Cases are surging in some regions but dropping in many places. If you're in the latter situation, is it OK to go back to living as you did pre-pandemic? Print our handy zine with advice from experts.

Friday January 28, 2022

Coronavirus FAQs: Are pets a threat? My immunocompromised pal had COVID. Can I visit?

A Hong Kong hamster that evaded the cull. Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQs: Are pets a threat? My immunocompromised pal had COVID. Can I visit?

January 28, 2022 • Hong Kong's hamster cull has people wondering if they can catch SARS-CoV-2 from a pet. And here's a human dilemma: Is it risky to visit an immunocompromised individual who recently had COVID?

Saturday January 22, 2022

The Coronavirus Crisis

Should we be wearing masks outside again?

January 22, 2022 • Given how contagious the omicron variant is, we wondered whether we should all still be wearing masks outdoors. We talk to some experts for advice.

Should we be wearing masks outside again?

Listen · 3:38 3:38

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Friday January 7, 2022

Global wishes for 2022: a gift box for everyone, greater girl power, vertical gardens

Dola Sun for NPR

Goats and Soda

Global wishes for 2022: a gift box for everyone, greater girl power, vertical gardens

January 7, 2022 • We asked global thinkers like Malala, doctors dealing with the pandemic, educators and more — if you were in charge of the world, what would you like to see happen this year.

Saturday November 6, 2021

Health

Advice for cold, flu and COVID-19: Wear a mask and wash your hands

November 6, 2021 • Flus and colds could be more prevalent this year because they didn't spread as much last year due to pandemic restrictions. We answer questions about the flu vaccine and how to stay protected.

Advice for cold, flu and COVID-19: Wear a mask and wash your hands

Listen · 3:48 3:48

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Thursday October 14, 2021

'Sex Education's' Eric Effiong is inspiration to Nigeria's gays, says activist

The character Eric Effiong (portrayed by actor Ncuti Gatwa) is an openly gay British teen in the Netflix series Sex Education. In a storyline in the new season, Eric travels to his mother's homeland of Nigeria — where sex between men and sex between women are against the law — for a family wedding. Sam Taylor/Netflix hide caption

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Sam Taylor/Netflix

Goats and Soda

'Sex Education's' Eric Effiong is inspiration to Nigeria's gays, says activist

October 14, 2021 • We asked Bisi Alimi, who came out on TV in Nigeria and is an advocate for LGBTQ rights in his homeland, to weigh in on the plotline of the popular Netflix series.

Sunday October 10, 2021

Health

Is it still too risky to hug? We answer that question and more

October 10, 2021 • At the start of the pandemic, greeting someone with a hug, handshake or a peck on the cheek was considered high risk for the spread of the virus. But now, post vaccine, what are the rules?

Is it still too risky to hug? We answer that question and more

Listen · 3:54 3:54

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Friday October 8, 2021

Coronavirus FAQ: Should I humor my friend's request for a pointless COVID precaution?

A friend's invitation to fly in for a visit at their vacation cabin came with a request for a COVID-19 precaution that seemed ... not very helpful. Michael Fox/EyeEm/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Fox/EyeEm/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: Should I humor my friend's request for a pointless COVID precaution?

October 8, 2021 • Fly in and stay with us at our cabin, they said. And get a COVID test right after your flight to see if you picked up an infection while traveling. But that's too soon for a meaningful test result.