Jefferson Ncube, an illegal diamond miner from Zimbabwe, works on his latest tunnel at an abandoned De Beers mine near Kleinzee, South Africa. Ncube is a univeristy graduate, but has been unable to find employment. Tommy Trenchard for NPR hide caption
Residents mourn for the victims of a recent deadly fire at a residential building in Urumqi city at a road sign of the Middle Urumqi Road in Shanghai, China, on Saturday. Chinatopix via AP hide caption
After winning a prize in Quebec, Michael Kaloki went on to sculpt ice at other competitions, such as the Helsinki Zoo International Ice Carving Festival. Michael Kaloki hide caption
American Medical Association President Dr. Jack Resneck recently recounted how doctors around the country are facing difficulties practicing medicine in states that ban abortion. Nicole Xu for NPR hide caption
From left: 1) Colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a human cell infected with H3N2 flu virus (gold filamentous particles). 2) Scanning electron micrograph of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) virions (colorized blue) that are shedding from the surface of human lung epithelial cells. 3) Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus particles (gold). Science Source/ NIAID hide caption
A resident carries her groceries at a supermarket in Beijing, on Friday. Residents of China's capital were emptying supermarket shelves and overwhelming delivery apps as the city government ordered accelerated construction of COVID-19 quarantine centers and field hospitals. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption
Various signs are posted outside the emergency room entrance on Nov. 1 at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. Orange County's health officer has declared a local health emergency in response to increases in respiratory illnesses and an onslaught of the quickly spreading RSV, a respiratory virus that is most dangerous in young children. Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images hide caption
A small group, including Stephanie Batchelor, left, sits on the steps of the Georgia state Capitol protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 26, 2022. The Georgia Supreme Court on Wednesday, Nov. 23, reinstated the state's ban on abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy. Ben Gray/AP hide caption
Workers wear protective gear in a Beijing neighborhood placed under lockdown in November. China had raised hopes by slightly relaxing its zero-COVID policy, but cities have been contending with a surge in cases. Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption
American Medical Association President Dr. Jack Resneck recently recounted how doctors around the country are facing difficulties practicing medicine in states that ban abortion. Nicole Xu for NPR hide caption
After witnessing the social media debate about whether to sell sanitary pads on trains, university student Wendy Kou made posters about fighting "period shame" and hung them around her campus. Wendy Kou hide caption
From left: 1) Colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a human cell infected with H3N2 flu virus (gold filamentous particles). 2) Scanning electron micrograph of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) virions (colorized blue) that are shedding from the surface of human lung epithelial cells. 3) Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus particles (gold). Science Source/ NIAID hide caption
Exhibit creator Susannah Perlman poses in front of the "tiny home" on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption
Republican state Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy speaks to supporters at an election watch party at the Renaissance Hotel on Nov. 8, in Columbus, Ohio. Kennedy was reelected to the court, this time as its chief justice. Andrew Spear/Getty Images hide caption
A worker walks past lines of solar panels at the Roha Dyechem solar project in the western northwest Indian state of Rajasthan. Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Eric Minikel and Sonia Vallabh pivoted from careers in law and urban planning to lead a prion research lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Maria Nemchuk/Broad Institute hide caption
Antonio Rapuano got an infusion of a monoclonal antibody to treat his COVID in Albano, Italy in 2021. Such infusions have been effective treatments for COVID during the pandemic, but doctors are now finding that most monoclonal antibodies no longer work against new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Yara Nardi/Reuters hide caption
Chima Williams, an attorney in Nigeria, is one of the winners of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize. He sued Shell over oil spills in his country. Speaking of his activism, Williams notes: "There is power in what you believe and how you go about it uncompromisingly." KC Nwakalor for NPR hide caption
A sign from Valencia, Spain, is a reminder of how important it is to have access to a safe toilet. Kristina Ketelsen hide caption
Cinde Lucas, whose husband Rick has suffered from long COVID, examines the many supplements and prescription medications he tried while looking for something to combat brain fog, depression and fatigue. Blake Farmer/ WPLN hide caption