Coronavirus FAQ: Are we in a surge? How do you cope if your whole family catches it? Are we in a surge? How would we know? Is winter now "COVID season?" And what do you do if your whole family got the coronavirus over the holidays? We tackle readers' coronavirus questions. Max Barnhart
Again! Again! Here's why toddlers love to do things on repeat Reading the same books, playing the same games, asking the same questions. Kids' fascination with repetition can be exhausting for parents, but researchers say it's key to brain development. Rhitu Chatterjee
Another layer of misery: Women in Gaza struggle to find menstrual pads, running water Hundreds of thousands of women are struggling without access to pads, running water or bathrooms in Gaza. Aya Batrawy
New blood tests can help diagnose Alzheimer's — but some aren't as accurate as others Now that there are drugs to treat Alzheimer's, blood tests to detect it will likely become an attractive, low-cost option to decide who can get treatment. Some tests are more accurate than others. Jon Hamilton
Doctor details struggles and horrors of working in a Gaza hospital NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Dr. Seema Jilani, who spent two weeks working with the International Rescue Committee in the emergency room of the al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza. Courtney Dorning
Researchers find a massive number of plastic particles in bottled water Researchers found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical liter of bottled water. Most of them were nanoplastics — particles less than 1 micrometer in size. James Doubek
The pope wants surrogacy banned. Here's why one advocate says that's misguided The pontiff called surrogacy "deplorable." But one U.S. surrogate said the practice helps those who are unable to have children start a family. Joe Hernandez
Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage, as number of donors hits 20-year low The number of people donating blood has dropped 40% over the last two decades, according to the Red Cross. Severe winter weather and illnesses could make an already bad situation even worse, it says. Diba Mohtasham
A discovery in the muscles of long COVID patients may explain exercise troubles Long COVID patients can experience severe energy crashes after physical exertion. New research provides clear evidence that there's a biological basis for the symptoms. Will Stone
His wife was dying. Here's how a nurse became a 'beacon of light' When Roger Lynn's wife was in the cancer ward, a nurse went out of her way to make her last days more comfortable. Autumn Barnes
