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Michaeleen Doucleff Michaeleen Doucleff is a correspondent for NPR's Science Desk.
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Surprising Nuggets From The WHO Report: Our Science Correspondent Digs In

When COVID-19 first broke out in Wuhan, scientists tracked a large number of the cases to the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan. Above: The Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team departs the market on Jan. 11, 2020, after it had been shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Surprising Nuggets From The WHO Report: Our Science Correspondent Digs In

There is a lot of information packed into the 300-page report on the origins of the pandemic released this week. Here are three key points that haven't received a great deal of media attention.

Family

Encouraging Collaboration Early On Can Lead To More Helpful Children Later

In many cultures around the world, parents don't need chore charts or allowances for kids to pitch in around the house. A new study shows how parents in these cultures teach children to be helpful.

Encouraging Collaboration Early On Can Lead To More Helpful Children Later

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Global Health

The Origins Of COVID-19? WHO Report Points To A Bat After All

The World Health Organization says it will release its report investigating the origins of COVID-19. It concludes that the virus likely came from a bat and a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely.

The Origins Of COVID-19? WHO Report Points To A Bat After All

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WHO Report: Wildlife Farms, Not Market, Likely Source Of Coronavirus Pandemic

World Health Organization investigative team member Peter Daszak (shown here during a trip to China in February) tells NPR that the group's report calls for additional research on farms that breed exotic animals in southern China. Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

WHO Report: Wildlife Farms, Not Market, Likely Source Of Coronavirus Pandemic

The report states that the coronavirus most likely did not originate at the wet market in Wuhan and that a lab leak was "an extremely unlikely pathway."

Next Pandemic: Scientists Fear Another Coronavirus Could Jump From Animals To Humans

A researcher with Franceville International Medical Research Centre collects bats in a net on November 25, 2020 inside a cave in Gabon. Scientists are looking for potential sources for a possible next coronavirus pandemic. Steeve Jordan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Steeve Jordan/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Next Pandemic: Scientists Fear Another Coronavirus Could Jump From Animals To Humans

Researchers worry another coronavirus will spill over from a bat or some other creature. They're hunting for sources — and finding evidence that a new pandemic could be around the corner.

Next Pandemic: Scientists Fear Another Coronavirus Could Jump From Animals To Humans

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Science

Understanding Where Coronaviruses Come From And How They Enter Humans

All it took was one coronavirus to turn the world upside down. But how many more are out there, lurking in animals? And what's the chance they could jump into people and trigger another outbreak?

Understanding Where Coronaviruses Come From And How They Enter Humans

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Are We Raising Unhelpful, Bossy Kids? Here's The Fix

The author's daughter, Rosy, at age 2 as she does dishes — voluntarily. Getting her involved in chores did lead to the kitchen being flooded and dishes being broken. But she is still eager to help. Michaeleen Doucleff/NPR hide caption

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Michaeleen Doucleff/NPR

Goats and Soda

Are We Raising Unhelpful, Bossy Kids? Here's The Fix

In some cultures, kids roll their eyes when asked to do chores. In others, they'll pitch in without even being asked. Researchers have identified two key practices to raise helpful children.

Are We Raising Unhelpful, Bossy Kids? Here's The Fix

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Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus?

A health officer in a protective suit collects a sample from a package of imported frozen food for a coronavirus rapid test at a wholesale market in China. Wu Zheng/VCG via Getty Images hide caption

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Wu Zheng/VCG via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus?

At a news conference this week, the World Health Organization made a surprising statement: The coronavirus could possibly be transmitted on frozen packages of food.

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus?

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Health

Can COVID-19 Be Transmitted Through Frozen Food Shipments?

The World Health Organization says scientists need to find out whether the coronavirus can be transmitted through frozen meat shipments — a theory the Chinese government has promoted heavily.

Can COVID-19 Be Transmitted Through Frozen Food Shipments?

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Health

World Health Organization Finishes Investigation Into Origins Of COVID-19

The World Health Organization has wrapped up its investigation in China into the origins of COVID-19. The team said it's highly unlikely the virus leaked from a lab and more research is necessary.

World Health Organization Finishes Investigation Into Origins Of COVID-19

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Extraordinary Patient Offers Surprising Clues To Origins Of Coronavirus Variants

An illustration of the variant found in the United Kingdom. To infect a cell, the virus's spike protein (red) has to bind to a receptor on the cell's surface (blue). Mutations help the virus bind more tightly. Science Source hide caption

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Science Source

Goats and Soda

Extraordinary Patient Offers Surprising Clues To Origins Of Coronavirus Variants

Scientists are looking at a possible link between the mutations in the U.K. and South Africa — and those in a patient in Boston who had living, growing virus in his body for five months.

Extraordinary Patient Offers Surprising Clues To Origins Of Coronavirus Variants

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Why Scientists Are Very Worried About The Variant From Brazil

Indigenous health care workers treat patients last week at a campaign hospital set up in the Parque das Tribos neighborhood of Manaus, Brazil. Oxygen shortages at hospitals in Brazil's Amazon prompted authorities to airlift patients to other states. Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Why Scientists Are Very Worried About The Variant From Brazil

They don't yet understand why the coronavirus variant called P.1 has spread so explosively there. Its set of mutations seem especially dangerous. And this week P.1 was confirmed in the U.S.

Health

Moderna Is Working On Booster Shot To Protect Against COVID-19 Variant

Moderna is developing a booster shot for its COVID-19 vaccine to ensure that it works against a variant from South Africa. The variant contains mutations that help the virus evade the immune system.

Moderna Is Working On Booster Shot To Protect Against COVID-19 Variant

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Reinfections More Likely With New Coronavirus Variants, Evidence Suggests

Workers check oxygen tanks at a hospital in Manaus, Brazil. Severe oxygen shortages as a second coronavirus wave is surging have prompted local authorities to airlift patients to other parts of Brazil. Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Reinfections More Likely With New Coronavirus Variants, Evidence Suggests

The variant in Brazil is causing a surge in Manaus, a city where the virus previously infected huge numbers in the spring of 2020. Researchers are trying to determine why.

Reinfections More Likely With New Coronavirus Variants, Evidence Suggests

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