Marc Silver

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?

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.

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.

Let's take time off from pondering the pandemic to enjoy some toilet humor courtesy of signage sent in by our audience — and also to think about how lucky we are if we have a safe toilet.

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.

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.

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.

In the vaccine era, people are wondering if it's (relatively) safe to resume hugs, exchange handshakes, kiss on the cheek or air-kiss.

Women in a Kenyan village had a radical idea to stop the practice of trading sex for fish to sell: What if they owned their own boats? They had great success. Then came a series of terrible setbacks.

Thousands of NPR readers shared what they'd say if someone asked them why they are wearing a mask. Here's a selection of their responses.