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Rebecca Davis

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A kid in Guatemala had a dream. Today she's a disease detective

Neudy Rojop decided to work in public health when she was a young girl observing how frequently her young family members and neighbors got sick with unknown illnesses. Luis Echeverria for NPR hide caption

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Luis Echeverria for NPR

Goats and Soda

A kid in Guatemala had a dream. Today she's a disease detective

Neudy Rojop made a girlhood pledge. When family members fell ill, she says she decided to become a nurse "so I could change my community for good."

A kid in Guatemala had a dream. Today she's a disease detective

Listen · 8:00
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Wednesday

For these virus-hunting scientists, the 'real gold' is what's in a mosquito's abdomen

Wielding the "insectazooka," Cecilia González prepares to collect mosquitoes from a house in the village of Los Encuentros, Guatemala. Luis Echeverria for NPR hide caption

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Luis Echeverria for NPR

Goats and Soda

For these virus-hunting scientists, the 'real gold' is what's in a mosquito's abdomen

In Guatemala's mosquito-plagued lowlands, researchers use a novel tool — they call it an "insectazooka" — to suck up mosquitoes. Then they peer at the blood meal, searching for unknown pathogens.

For these virus-hunting scientists, the 'real gold' is what's in a mosquito's abdomen

Listen · 7:49
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Tuesday

The Nipah virus has a kill rate of 70%. Bats carry it. But how does it jump to humans?

A field researcher holds a male bat that was trapped in an overhead net as part of an effort to find out how the animals pass Nipah virus to humans. The animal will be tested for the virus, examined and ultimately released. Fatima Tuj Johora for NPR hide caption

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Fatima Tuj Johora for NPR

Goats and Soda

The Nipah virus has a kill rate of 70%. Bats carry it. But how does it jump to humans?

Nipah virus, which can rapidly infect and kill members of a community, is carried by bats. Exactly how does it cross over into humans? Researchers in Bangladesh are trying to find out.

The Nipah virus has a kill rate of 70%. Bats carry it. But how does it jump to humans?

Listen · 11:20
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Tuesday

Africa

Conflict in Tigray has led to a collapse of its public health system

Conflict in Tigray has led to a collapse of its public health system. Physicians are having to reuse gloves, use expired medications and deny patients care because of lack of resources and power.

Conflict in Tigray has led to a collapse of its public health system

Listen · 6:57
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Monday

22 tips for 2022: To cut back on plastic, you need to audit how much you use
Meredith Rizzo/NPR

22 tips for 2022

22 tips for 2022: To cut back on plastic, you need to audit how much you use

The first step in cutting back on plastic is understanding what you're using and how much of it. Do an audit of the plastics in your home to get a sense of how much plastic you use.

22 tips for 2022: To cut back on plastic, you need to audit how much you use

Listen · 24:29
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Tuesday

The plastic problem isn't your fault, but you can be part of the solution
Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

The plastic problem isn't your fault, but you can be part of the solution

It's not your fault that single-use plastic is everywhere. But with a little planning, you can curb your use of disposables and maybe even save some money in the long run. And after you've reduced and reused, we'll teach you how to recycle — properly!

The plastic problem isn't your fault, but you can be part of the solution

Listen · 24:28
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Tuesday

The Surprising History of Handwashing

Until the 19th century, scientists did not understand the role of hand-washing in disease prevention. Thomas Lohnes/DDP/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Thomas Lohnes/DDP/AFP via Getty Images

Short Wave

The Surprising History of Handwashing

Washing your hands. It's one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to protect yourself from the coronavirus, the flu, and other respiratory illnesses. But there was a time when that wasn't so obvious. Dana Tulodziecki, a professor at Purdue University, tells the story of Ignaz Semmelweis, the scientist who's credited with discovering the importance of handwashing. We'll hear how he figured it out and why there's more to the story. (Encore episode)

The Surprising History of Handwashing

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Tuesday

How A 100-Year-Old Treatment Could Help Save Us From Superbugs

Computer generated illustration of the moment a bacteriophage lands onto the surface of a bacterium. NANOCLUSTERING/SCIENCE PHOTO LIB/Getty Images/Science Photo Libra hide caption

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NANOCLUSTERING/SCIENCE PHOTO LIB/Getty Images/Science Photo Libra

Short Wave

How A 100-Year-Old Treatment Could Help Save Us From Superbugs

In 2015, Steffanie Strathdee's husband nearly died from a superbug, an antibiotic resistant bacteria he contracted in Egypt. Desperate to save him, she reached out to the scientific community for help. What she got back? A 100-year-old treatment that's considered experimental in the U.S. Strathdee, an infectious disease epidemiologist, tells us how it works, its drawbacks, and its potential role in our fight against superbugs. (Encore episode.)

How A 100-Year-Old Treatment Could Help Save Us From Superbugs

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Thursday

Getting A Coronavirus Test To Make Visiting Family Safe? Not So Fast

Going to stay with family means exposing more than one household. Can testing in advance keep everyone safe? Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images hide caption

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Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Getting A Coronavirus Test To Make Visiting Family Safe? Not So Fast

If you want to socialize with family or friends — say share a vacation cabin — can testing in advance keep everyone safe? We asked experts how diagnostic tests work and how to interpret the results.

Friday

Asia

What It's Like To Be Quarantined On A Cruise Ship For Coronavirus

Passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship are under coronavirus quarantine. They're confined to their cabins and passengers are getting restless — and anxious about rising cases of illness.

What It's Like To Be Quarantined On A Cruise Ship For Coronavirus

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Thursday

Can A 100-Year-Old Treatment Help Save Us From Superbugs?

Computer generated illustration of the moment a bacteriophage lands onto the surface of a bacterium. NANOCLUSTERING/SCIENCE PHOTO LIB/Getty Images/Science Photo Libra hide caption

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NANOCLUSTERING/SCIENCE PHOTO LIB/Getty Images/Science Photo Libra

Short Wave

Can A 100-Year-Old Treatment Help Save Us From Superbugs?

In 2015, Steffanie Strathdee's husband nearly died from a superbug, an antibiotic resistant bacteria he contracted in Egypt. Desperate to save him, she reached out to the scientific community for help. What she got back? A 100-year-old treatment that's considered experimental in the U.S. Strathdee, an infectious disease epidemiologist, tells us how it works, its limitations, and its potential role in our fight against superbugs. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

Can A 100-Year-Old Treatment Help Save Us From Superbugs?

Listen · 12:01
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