Marc Silver : NPR

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

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Marc Silver

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Global Rules Of Greeting Vary, But Biden And Travolta Get No Support

Vice President Joe Biden was criticized for coming up from behind and getting too close to Stephanie Carter at her husband's swearing-in ceremony as secretary of defense. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Goats and Soda

Global Rules Of Greeting Vary, But Biden And Travolta Get No Support

February 25, 2015 • The vice president and the actor are getting panned for the way they greeted women in the past week. That made us wonder: What's the greeting etiquette in parts of the world we cover in our blog?

Thursday February 19, 2015

India's Kerala Has It All: Beauty, Bananas, Long Life, Girl Power

Wilbur Sargunaraj tours the backwaters of Kerala, India. Wilbur Sargunaraj hide caption

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Wilbur Sargunaraj

Goats and Soda

India's Kerala Has It All: Beauty, Bananas, Long Life, Girl Power

February 19, 2015 • President Obama praised the Indian state last month for good reason. It's got beaches, backwaters and the country's longest life expectancy and highest literacy rate. Plus, girls outnumber boys!

Sunday February 15, 2015

He's Half-Kenyan And Half-German. And He Believes 'We're All The Same'

David Hermlin is a singer, dancer, musician and songwriter — oh, and a global activist, too. Sample lyric: "I will fight for my dream, and I will never give up." Courtesy of David Hermlin hide caption

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Courtesy of David Hermlin

Goats and Soda

He's Half-Kenyan And Half-German. And He Believes 'We're All The Same'

February 15, 2015 • David Hermlin, 14, is a realist and idealist. He knows it'll take many years to get rid of poverty and disease. But by speaking out and writing songs with a message, he hopes to make a difference.

Friday February 13, 2015

Your Brain May Want That Bottle Of Soda Because It's Easy To Pick Up

You want that soda bottle. But it may not be because you crave soda. It might just be that you love the idea of wrapping your fingers around its enticing shape. Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption

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Ariel Zambelich/NPR

Goats and Soda

Your Brain May Want That Bottle Of Soda Because It's Easy To Pick Up

February 13, 2015 • Coca-Cola has launched a small, easy-to-hold bottle in Kenya. And the size and shape could make people crave it. That's the belief of psychologist Sian Beilock, author of How the Body Knows Its Mind.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kayla Mueller's Death Underscores Risks For Aid Workers Abroad

Random violence in Syria makes it a dangerous place for aid workers. This month, members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent transported Syrians from a rebel area to a part of Aleppo controlled by the Assad regime. Baraa Al-Halabi/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Baraa Al-Halabi/AFP/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Kayla Mueller's Death Underscores Risks For Aid Workers Abroad

February 11, 2015 • Humanitarian groups say the world is more dangerous than it was 15 years ago. How can they keep their staff safe in places of turmoil?

Thursday February 5, 2015

That Screaming Goat In Sprint's Super Bowl Ad? It's Actually A Sheep

If this farm animal, featured in the Sprint Super Bowl ad, could talk, it would say: "Baaaaaad news for all the people who think I'm a goat. I'm really a sheep!" via Youtube hide caption

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via Youtube

Goats and Soda

That Screaming Goat In Sprint's Super Bowl Ad? It's Actually A Sheep

February 5, 2015 • Two Super Bowl ads appeared to feature a screaming goat. In fact, one of them was a sheep. A goat and sheep guru explains why it's hard to tell the difference — and what makes 'em scream.

Saturday January 31, 2015

Just Your Typical Teenagers Helping To Fight World Poverty

They're members of the global-minded teens club: (left to right) Toluwanimi Sola-Adeyemi of Lagos, Chloe McGill of Seattle and Emine Arcasoy of Chapel Hill. Courtesy of Tolu Sola-Adeyemi, Chloe McGill and Emine Arcasoy. hide caption

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Courtesy of Tolu Sola-Adeyemi, Chloe McGill and Emine Arcasoy.

Goats and Soda

Just Your Typical Teenagers Helping To Fight World Poverty

January 31, 2015 • Their goal is to make the world a better place 15 years from now. And the U.S. State Department listened to their ideas. But that doesn't mean they are oblivious to Justin Bieber and Gossip Girl.

Wednesday January 21, 2015

Feeling Gloomy? Maybe Things On Earth Aren't As Bad As You Think

Michael Elliott poses with a group of children during a trip to Segou, Mali. One reason for his optimistic outlook is the dramatic drop in deaths of children under age 5. Courtesy of ONE hide caption

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Courtesy of ONE

Goats and Soda

Feeling Gloomy? Maybe Things On Earth Aren't As Bad As You Think

January 21, 2015 • That's the view of Michael Elliott, head of Bono's anti-poverty group One and a delegate to Davos, where leaders and activists are gathering this week to hash out solutions to the world's ills.

Monday January 12, 2015

The World's Oldest First-Grader Is Honored By A Google Doodle

Kimani Maruge became a first-grader at age 84. The Google doodle shows him in his school uniform. Courtesy of Google hide caption

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Courtesy of Google

Goats and Soda

The World's Oldest First-Grader Is Honored By A Google Doodle

January 12, 2015 • At age 84, Kimani Maruge put on a school uniform for the first time and went to school. Today's doodle pays tribute to his inspirational story.

Sunday January 4, 2015

If You Shouldn't Call It The Third World, What Should You Call It?

The question of what to call "the developing world" is a developing debate. Jing Wei for NPR hide caption

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Jing Wei for NPR

Goats and Soda

If You Shouldn't Call It The Third World, What Should You Call It?

January 4, 2015 • There are many ways to refer to the parts of our planet where people lack decent health care, education and services like electricity and clean water. And just about every label has its problems.

Thursday December 25, 2014

Will The Taliban Attack Make Parents Afraid To Send Kids To School?

These Pakistani children go to a makeshift school in a clay house, located in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Islamabad. Muhammed Muheisen/AP hide caption

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Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Goats and Soda

Will The Taliban Attack Make Parents Afraid To Send Kids To School?

December 25, 2014 • As horrifying as it was, the massacre will not cause parents to pull their kids out, says Madiha Afzal, a professor of public policy who grew up in Lahore.

Tuesday December 23, 2014

Wilbur Sargunaraj visits a small house with a thatched roof, a medium-sized house and a "gigantic mansion" in his father's village. Produced by Wilbur Sargunaraj for NPR, John W. Poole and Ben de la Cruz/NPR. hide caption

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Produced by Wilbur Sargunaraj for NPR, John W. Poole and Ben de la Cruz/NPR.

Goats and Soda

In The Village: Wilbur Goes Home

December 23, 2014 • Knock knock. Who's there? It's YouTube star Wilbur Sargunaraj, wondering if he might come in for a tour? Check out his video of a variety of homes in an Indian village, from simple to "gigantic."

Sunday December 21, 2014

Is This A Goat Or A Sheep? It's Harder Than You Think

The photographer thought it was a goat. The photo editor thought it was a goat. Sure looked like a goat to the author of this post. It turns out to be a sheep, in Dakar, Senegal. Claire Harbage for NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage for NPR

Goats and Soda

Is This A Goat Or A Sheep? It's Harder Than You Think

December 21, 2014 • True confession: Our editors mistook a sheep for a goat. Now we've learned a lot about how cool sheep really are. Maybe our blog should be ... "Sheep and Soda?"

Thursday December 18, 2014

Death Comes In Many Different Ways. And Some Are A Bit Surprising

A vigil is held against violence in Cali, Colombia. The country has seen some 1,090 homicides this year. Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Death Comes In Many Different Ways. And Some Are A Bit Surprising

December 18, 2014 • A new report looks at the top causes of death in 188 countries. Infectious diseases are less of a threat than in 1990 — but please, look both ways before you cross the street.

Sunday December 14, 2014

Goats and Soda

How Can You Tell If Your Goat Is Happy? Now We Know!

December 14, 2014 • Farmers raise millions of goats. But little has been known about how to tell if a goat is doing OK — until now. A new study reveals the signs of a happy ruminant.