Cracking Moderna's vaccine recipe

Pakistan reacts to 'Squid Game'; Zika's legacy [View this email online]( [NPR]( Goats and Soda editor's note Malaka Gharib/NPR For the first time in nearly two years, I sang karaoke -- my favorite thing to do in the whole entire world – with friends. After the pandemic began, it just seemed too risky. Experts say that when we sing, we put more potentially contagious droplets in the air than when we speak. So that’s been a bummer for karaoke lovers across the globe. Our FAQ last week, “[Is it OK to sing into a karaoke mic again]( gave me some guidelines for reducing the risks. So I decided to give it a go. [Read the FAQ here]( I felt more comfortable singing at home than at a bar. I invited a few vaccinated friends and cracked the windows open -- fresh air disperses pathogens. We busted out the wireless karaoke mic. We pulled up our favorite songs on YouTube. We sang our hearts out. And it was AMAZING! It felt so liberating to do something I haven’t been able to do in a long time. It almost brought a tear to my eye. I guess this is what it feels like to slowly return to the things we loved doing before the pandemic: a little scared ... and excited! [Find out what the experts said about singing karaoke in a pandemic](. If you want to know what I sang, it’s “[Aint It Fun]( by Paramore (here’s an NPR story on it with the music video). It’s such a catchy song, and I absolutely crushed it. Malaka Gharib Deputy editor, Goats and Soda --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- in the news Tommy Trenchard for NPR [Moderna won't share its vaccine recipe. WHO has hired an African startup to crack it]( It's the first step in an audacious plan to solve vaccine inequity by setting up the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines across low-resource countries. [Taliban will allow a national polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, says WHO]( Since 2018, the militant group has blocked such efforts, leaving millions of children unprotected. The World Health Organization reports that the Taliban is now reversing that stance. remembering zika Ueslie Marcilino/Undark Magazine [To study Zika, they offered their kids. Then, they say, they were forgotten]( Years after agreeing to take part in research, families of children with congenital Zika syndrome are feeling abandoned. culture Noh Juhan/Netflix [What 'Squid Game' gets right and wrong about Pakistani migrant workers]( One of the characters in the global Netflix hit is Ali Abdul, a Pakistani migrant working (and exploited) in South Korea. Pakistanis are weighing in on the character — and the casting. [A refugee at 4, he felt like a lost star. Now his voice shines in a graphic memoir]( When Stars Are Scattered is the story of Omar Mohamed's years at a refugee camp in Kenya. He cared for his brother and found the courage to dream big. The book was a National Book Awards finalist. coronavirus faq Jennifer Swanson/NPR [Why do so many folks say to drink lots of water before your vaccine?]( A commonly heard recommendation is to guzzle a tall glass of H2O before the injection. But is there any evidence it'll reduce side effects or improve vaccine effectiveness? Also: painkiller protocols! links we like - [A new "antimachismo" hotline in Colombia]( takes calls from men struggling with jealousy, control and fear, reports The New York Times. - From NPR World: [Hindu priestesses fight the patriarchy]( one Indian wedding at a time. - Rest of World shares a handy guide on [what emojis mean in different countries](. - The art blog Colossal shares [stunning images of paintings, photos and other artwork from a new book on African artists](. - The New Yorker profiles [a seed bank in Syria that safeguards plants]( that can thrive in a changing climate. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]