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YOUR WEEKLY CHECKUP

This week: COVID-19 has created an orphanhood crisis; how microbes affect every stage of your life; how to have a "healthy" gut; cancer in a pre-industrial world; why some doctors don't believe women; the biology of the maternal instinct.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MUHAMMAD FADLI

COVID-19's hidden, heartbreaking toll: millions of orphaned children

The WHO estimates nearly 15 million people have died of causes related to COVID-19—almost three times the official death toll. Behind that statistic is an orphanhood crisis unprecedented in modern history: An estimated 10.4 million children have lost a parent or caregiver, putting them at higher risk for poverty and every major cause of death.

IS HELP ON THE WAY?

DEATH TOLL: Nearly 1 million people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. +

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN OEGGERLI

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ FROM THE ARCHIVES‌ ‌ ‌

How your body's microbes affect the way you look, act, think, and feel

More than 90 percent of a body's microorganisms—a typical young adult male has about 38 trillion—lie in the digestive tract, but other regions are crawling with life too, including every inch of your skin. And these microbes may have an outsize role in determining everything from your personality to whether you get acne.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

EVOLUTION: Gut microbes can evolve from foe to friend—fast +

THE SCIENCE PICTURE CO., ALAMY

How to maintain a healthy microbiome

The gut microbiome may play a key role in whether we're fat or thin, cheerful or depressed, healthy or chronically ill. Here's what it does—and how to take care of it.

GENERAL RULES TO FOLLOW

ART VIA WERNER FORMAN ARCHIVE, BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

Were we really less likely to get cancer in a pre-industrial world?

Life back then wasn't exactly carcinogen free: People regularly consumed alcohol, were exposed to indoor pollutants spewed out by wood and coal fires, and faced the risk of cellular mutations as they aged. But the threat of cancer markedly increased when tobacco and pollution caused by industrial activities were introduced into everyday life.

WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS

ILLUSTRATION BY BIANCA BAGNARELLI

Women's health concerns are dismissed more—and studied less

When women—and especially women of color—raise concerns about their health and demand they be investigated, they are much likelier than men to be brushed aside, not believed, even mocked into silence by health-care professionals.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

POST-ROE: Abortion pills stand to become the next battleground (NY Times) +

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

NG STAFF

Daily death toll rises; U.S. limits use of Johnson & Johnson

Omicron's more contagious subvariants continue to drive up new COVID-19 cases in the United States.

TRACK COVID IN THE U.S.

Here's what we know about the BA.2 Omicron subvariant driving a new COVID-19 wave

Virus mutations aren't slowing down. New Omicron subvariant proves it. (Washington Post)

Mysterious wave of COVID toes still has scientists stumped

Even mild COVID-19 can cause your brain to shrink (subscriber exclusive)

MORE ON YOUR HEALTH

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Do only mothers have a 'maternal' instinct? Here's what the science says.

Neuroendocrinological transformations have been detected in the bodies of people who have physically given birth and those who have adopted a child—and even in grandfathers preparing to meet a grandchild for the first time.

THE BIOLOGY OF MOTHERHOOD

PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN VAN PAASSEN, SUNNYBROOK HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE

New method delivers life-saving drugs to the brain—using sound waves

An emerging technique harnessing ultrasound may revolutionize treatment of fatal or hard-to-cure conditions, from cancer to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Fruits and vegetables are less nutritious than they used to be (subscriber exclusive)

Q&A: What we know about the unusual hepatitis outbreak in children (Washington Post)

Nearly half of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide, survey finds (NPR)

Scientists say they have nailed down the ideal amount of sleep in middle and old age (CNN)

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