Deaths tend to increase as hospitals fill. And hospitals are overflowing due to COVID Some hospitals report less strain as omicron seems to cause less severe illness. But they're still overcrowded with patients. Research shows death rates rise significantly when hospitals are full. Will Stone
In classrooms or online, parents grapple with omicron school 'chaos' Omicron is upending schools all across the country. Parents and families are navigating last-minute virtual learning, changing risk assessments and their own positive COVID tests. Ailsa Chang
Conditions that are causing burnout among nurses were a problem before the pandemic In hospitals, it's standard for nurses to work a 12-hour shift. But research shows that may not be such a good idea for patients — or nurses. Stacey Vanek Smith
As omicron spreads, here's the best and most accurate way to use rapid antigen tests Testing has become more important than ever as people try to get their lives back to normal. But what's the best way to get tested, which tests are best, and are rapid antigen tests even accurate? Maria Godoy
Global wishes for 2022: a gift box for everyone, greater girl power, vertical gardens We asked global thinkers like Malala, doctors dealing with the pandemic, educators and more — if you were in charge of the world, what would you like to see happen this year. Malaka Gharib
FDA shortens the wait time between Moderna vaccine and booster to 5 months Now, both the Pfizer and the Moderna booster shots can be given five months after the second dose of vaccine — down from six months. Deepa Shivaram
Nabiha Saklayen: Could lasers make stem cell therapy available to everyone? Stem cells have long been heralded as a potential tool to treat illnesses. Nabiha Saklayen explains how it's still early, but scientists are getting closer to turning this vision into a reality. Manoush Zomorodi
Jennifer Doudna: What does CRISPR mean for the future of human evolution? In 2011, biochemist Jennifer Doudna helped discover the genetic editing tool CRISPR. Today CRISPR is actively deployed in clinical trials with the potential to cure disease—and alter human evolution. Manoush Zomorodi
Employers added only 199,000 jobs in December even before omicron started to surge U.S. employers added 199,000 jobs in December as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9%, marking a second consecutive month of disappointing numbers. Scott Horsley
What it really takes to keep schools open during the omicron surge Schools are just starting to get regular access to testing; teachers are still paying out of pocket for masks and air purifiers; and qualified substitutes and bus drivers can be hard to find. Anya Kamenetz
