A guide to donating to earthquake relief

Could a fungus trigger a pandemic? [View this email online]( [NPR]( Goats and Soda editor's note Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images I'm writing this note on Friday, Feb. 10. The death toll in Turkey and Syria after the earthquake is now more than 20,000, and people around the world want to help the survivors. A great number of charities, large and small, are promising to help. NPR interviewed three experts for advice on how to do due diligence before deciding where to donate -- and what to look for in a charity's plan. One important observation: "First and foremost, prioritize giving to established organizations and non-profits that have a presence in the area prior to the disaster so they are ready to act," advises Amanda Morgan, Save the Children project officer for humanitarian private fundraising. [Click here to read the story.]( Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda hidden viruses Luis Echeverria for NPR [Ready, aim, suck up mosquitoes: An 'insectazooka' aims to find the next killer virus]( In Guatemala's mosquito-plagued lowlands, researchers use a novel tool to suck up mosquitoes, then analyze the pathogens in their latest blood meal. The goal is to find previously unknown viruses that could trigger the next pandemic. [What's a spillover? A spillback? Here are definitions for the vocab of a pandemic]( Since the pandemic was declared in 2020, many less-than-familiar terms have become part of daily conversation. Here's a glossary, from antibodies to zoonosis. [Hendra virus rarely spills from bats to horses to us. Climate change makes it a bigger threat]( It's not often that this pathogen jumps to humans. When it does, the result is brutal. New research points to a surprising way to stop spillovers. ['The Last Of Us' made us wonder: Could a deadly fungus really cause a pandemic?]( In the hit HBO show, the world has been devastated by a pandemic caused by a deadly fungus. Is that even possible? Could the next pandemic come from fungi? Turns out it's a very real question. oscar nominee Javed Dar/Xinhua via Getty Images [The story of two brothers in India who save birds gets an Oscar nom, an HBO premiere]( Nominated for an Oscar and debuting on HBO this week, All That Breathes explores the mission of two Muslim brothers: saving raptors injured mainly by smog and kite strings. we asked you answered Wishes drawn by 1st graders at the Friends School of Atlanta [We asked for wishes, you answered: Send leaders into space, free electricity, dignity]( Send leaders into space for perspective, tap solar power to offer electricity for all, make "dignity" a priority — those are some of the wishes readers have for 2023. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- links we like - In the aftermath of this week's earthquake, NPR has covered [dramatic rescues]( but also the grim reality that "with over 20,000 dead, hopes fade for finding Turkey and Syria quake survivors." - In a story for NPR's "Picture Show," photojournalist Ricci Shyrock focuses on "the people safeguarding the sacred forests and lagoons of West Africa." - "Venezuela's slow economic recovery leaves poorest behind,"[Dr. Peter Hotez]( the BBC. - In a show opening at New York's New Museum on March 2, the sculptures of [artist Wangechi Mutu]( reflect a life spit between her homeland of Kenya and New York. Reflecting on her divided life, She told The New York Times: “It’s the difference between a plant with one root and one with a network of roots." --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( 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]