Will Stone

It's possible it could happen in a pig. These are some of the things we're watching as bird flu stretches into the next year.

Yeah, really glad to be here. Thank you so much.

Yeah, really glad to be here. Thank you so much.

Yeah, really glad to be here. Thank you so much.

The authors conclude that microplastics are suspected to harm reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health, with a possible link to colon and lung cancer. While scientists know these plastic particles are accumulating inside of us, proving a direct link to health conditions remains challenging.

The authors conclude that microplastics are suspected to harm reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health, with a possible link to colon and lung cancer. While scientists know these plastic particles are accumulating inside of us, proving a direct link to health conditions remains challenging.

The review did include several studies that showed associations with concentrations of microplastics and birth weight, also chronic sinusitis. Tracy Woodruff, a UCSF researcher, says much of the data in their review came from animal studies, which can be hard to extrapolate from, but... I just want to say in the field of environmental health, when we have concerning signals, we should be concerned.

The review did include several studies that showed associations with concentrations of microplastics and birth weight, also chronic sinusitis. Tracy Woodruff, a UCSF researcher, says much of the data in their review came from animal studies, which can be hard to extrapolate from, but... I just want to say in the field of environmental health, when we have concerning signals, we should be concerned.

It's already known that some chemicals in plastic can be hazardous to human health. Will Stone, NPR News.

It's already known that some chemicals in plastic can be hazardous to human health. Will Stone, NPR News.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President-elect Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok in January. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, the high court is set to hear oral arguments over TikTok's future in two weeks.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President-elect Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok in January. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, the high court is set to hear oral arguments over TikTok's future in two weeks.

Investigators are learning more about the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan this week, killing at least 38 people. And Pierce Brian Mann reports Russian weapons may have hit the plane.

Investigators are learning more about the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan this week, killing at least 38 people. And Pierce Brian Mann reports Russian weapons may have hit the plane.

New details are emerging about a Louisiana resident who was recently hospitalized with bird flu. A report from the CDC indicates the virus gained some mutations after the person was infected. MPR's Will Stone has more.

New details are emerging about a Louisiana resident who was recently hospitalized with bird flu. A report from the CDC indicates the virus gained some mutations after the person was infected. MPR's Will Stone has more.

This is the first instance of a person falling severely ill from bird flu in the U.S. during the current outbreak. The patient was infected after being exposed to backyard flocks. The CDC's analysis showed the virus acquired mutations affecting a protein on its surface. This is what allows the virus to latch onto receptors and infect a cell.

This is the first instance of a person falling severely ill from bird flu in the U.S. during the current outbreak. The patient was infected after being exposed to backyard flocks. The CDC's analysis showed the virus acquired mutations affecting a protein on its surface. This is what allows the virus to latch onto receptors and infect a cell.

Changes in this protein are seen as a key step if the virus were to evolve to better infect humans. The CDC says it appears the mutations emerged while the person was sick, and there's no evidence they went on to infect anyone else. The finding underscores the need to track bird flu and contain outbreaks, given its potential to mutate. Will Stone, NPR News.

Changes in this protein are seen as a key step if the virus were to evolve to better infect humans. The CDC says it appears the mutations emerged while the person was sick, and there's no evidence they went on to infect anyone else. The finding underscores the need to track bird flu and contain outbreaks, given its potential to mutate. Will Stone, NPR News.