The U.S. National Institutes of Health announced Tuesday it will try to make lemonade out of the mountains of Zika lemons that have piled up in Rio de Janeiro.
The NIH said it will fund a study to monitor the health of the U.S. Olympic delegation—including athletes, coaches and members of the Olympic Committee—for exposure to the virus during next month’s Games. The most public and troubling side effect of the Zika virus so far is its connection to birth defects, specifically the condition microcephaly, which can result in babies being born with abnormally small heads. Microcephaly can also contribute to greater developmental problems. Mothers who contract Zika while pregnant or within a few years of getting pregnant are suspected to be at risk of having babies born with the disorder. But it can also lead to a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre that causes paralysis in adults.
The study will be spearheaded by Dr. Carrie Byington out of the University of Utah, who told Reuters, participants will be tracked for up to two years so researchers can monitor how the virus lives in the body as well as its effects on reproductive health. Byington is aiming for at least 1,000 subjects to volunteer, and already started a pilot version of the study earlier this year with 150 participants. Those willing to join and be tested will submit fluid samples to test for Zika-related viruses that may manifest in people who have Zika, but are asymptomatic.
Since Zika became an international health crisis it has left people equal parts frightened and confused due to its unique nature. People aren’t even sure how not to get it, as Reuters explained, “Zika is the first known mosquito-borne virus that can also be transmitted via unprotected sex with an infected male partner, leading to imprecise recommendations of how long couples should abstain or refrain from unprotected sex if the woman is pregnant or hoping to become pregnant.”
United States officials may not be able to do anything about the severely polluted waterways in Rio, or the pieces of people washing up on local beaches, or the rise in crime or any of the other misfortunes weighing heavily on the International Olympic Committee right now, but at least they can do this: Work on a long-term solution for combating Zika through scientific research.
Elle Rugari is a nurse. So when her 4-year-old daughter Alice started complaining about foot pain one evening in late September of last year, Elle did what most parents do first: she gave her some children’s paracetamol, a wheat bag for warmth, and put her to bed. Alice had just had a normal day at childcare. There was no obvious injury.
But Alice woke up screaming that night, and the pain kept coming back over the following days. She started limping. She cried more often than usual. “She doesn’t like taking medicine or seeing doctors,” Elle, who is from South Australia, told Newsweek. “So I knew it was something serious” when Alice started asking for both.
At the emergency department, doctors X-rayed Alice’s foot. It showed nothing. But as they continued their assessment, a nurse noticed something else: tiny pinprick bruises scattered along Alice’s legs. Blood tests were ordered. While they waited for results, Elle pointed out something she’d spotted too: swollen lumps along her daughter’s neck.
The blood results, in the doctor’s words, came back “a bit spicy.” When Elle asked him directly whether he was thinking leukemia, he said yes. She and her partner Cody were transferred to the women’s and children’s hospital, and the diagnosis was confirmed the following day by an oncologist.
For parents who aren’t medical professionals, those tiny bruises might easily have been overlooked. They’re called petechiae, and they’re caused by small capillaries bleeding under the skin when platelet counts drop. According to the American Cancer Society, bruising and petechiae appear in more than half of children diagnosed with leukemia, often alongside bone or joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. The limping, the foot pain, the bruises, the lumps on the neck: in retrospect, they were telling a clear story. In the moment, without blood work, they’re easy to miss.
A nurse embraces a young cancer patient. Photo credit: Canva
As Newsweek reported, Alice is now three months into a three-year treatment plan on a high-risk protocol, meaning her course of therapy is more intensive than standard. She is losing her hair. She has hard days. And she sings Taylor Swift songs every single day.
“She lets everyone around her know that she has leukemia and that she’s going to get rid of it,” Elle said. “She’s honestly the most amazing child.”
Under the handle @elle94x, Elle shared Alice’s story on TikTok in December 2025, and the response has been overwhelming, with the video drawing over 1.3 million views. Many of the comments came from parents who recognized the pattern from their own experience. “My daughter was changing color and having fevers and complaining of leg pain and arm pain, and hospitals all kept saying it was her making it up,” wrote one user. “I didn’t give up, and it was leukemia.” Another wrote: “I thought my son had strep throat because he is nonverbal with autism. We got admitted that night for leukemia.”
… This song is 100% about superstitions and trees 👀 Do not tell my 4 year old who’s battling leukaemia otherwise. @Taylor Swift @Taylor Nation @New Heights @Travis Kelce #taylorswift#swifties#swiftie#fyp#taylornation
Medical experts recommend that parents seek urgent evaluation for any child with unexplained bruising that appears in unusual places, doesn’t heal normally, or comes alongside other symptoms like fatigue, bone pain, or swollen lymph nodes. Norton Children’s Hospital pediatric oncologist Dr. Mustafa Barbour advises that if symptoms don’t improve or don’t have a clear explanation, it’s always worth making an appointment.
Elle said there are still days when the weight of it hits hard. But Alice’s attitude keeps pulling her forward. “There are still days where it feels so, so overwhelming,” she said. “But she’s such a little champion.”
This article originally appeared earlier this year.
Licensed therapist Jeffrey Meltzer offers three steps for dealing with rude people. In his helpful TikTok post under the name therapytothepoint, he suggests helpful tactics that go far beyond setting simple boundaries.
Rude people are almost impossible to avoid, and the instinct to snap back or make a passive-aggressive remark can be strong. Meltzer shares some practical mental health advice that can lead to a calmer resolution.
Some individuals might believe that other people are responsible for how they make us feel. Meltzer suggests that self-regulation is an important first step to dealing with disrespectful people. Despite instincts to retaliate or escalate the situation, staying calm is more effective.
Meltzer proposes that reciprocating aggression will only embolden a rude person and even justify their poor behavior. Instead, calmness and controlling our emotions will disrupt the pattern. Meltzer explains, “You might feel angry, embarrassed, disrespected, but calmness is about your behavior, despite the internal chaos you may be having. At the end of the day, emotional regulation is your strength, and reactivity gives your power away.”
A 2024 study in the National Library of Medicine found that people’s ability to reappraise a stressful event in a more balanced way was strongly linked to greater resilience and better recovery from stress. The strategy helps people stay calmer by changing how the brain interprets the event.
A woman is rudely interrupted on the phone. Photo credit Canva
Passive Aggression Is NOT a Solution
An easy response might be the simple eye roll, sarcasm, or a retaliatory personal dig. Meltzer points out that these are only ego attempts to win an unwinnable situation. “Instead, be straightforward. I’m open to talking about this, but not like that. It’s hard for me to connect when you speak to me that way.” Meltzer explains that these tactics bring clarity and remove the defensive guard of said rude individuals.
A 2026 study in Psychology Today reported that passive-aggressive behaviors worsen relationship dynamics and fail to resolve disagreements. Criticism, ostracism (ignoring others), and sabotage all undermine cooperation and relational success.
A man blows a dandelion in a woman’s face. Photo credit Canva
Role play works
Practice makes perfect has value in dealing with rude people. “You don’t magically become composed under pressure; you train for it.” Meltzer continues, “Practice with a friend. Practice with your therapist. Have them be rude. Respond calmly. Respond assertively. Respond clearly. Because in real life, you don’t rise to the moment, you fall to your level of preparation.”
A 2024 study in the National Library of Medicine revealed that an individual’s level of assertiveness can be trained. The strategy of preparation reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
The solutions offered by Meltzer seem to resonate. Several people reveal their own struggles when facing similar predicaments. These are some of their comments:
“Practice with a therapist? Why didn’t I think of that”
“You don’t rise to the moment you fall to the level of your preparation. I’m gonna memorize that.”
“I’m waiting for you to write a book about all your amazing insights”
“I can handle them but i internalize later n let it ruin my day”
“The real skill is knowing when to ignore and when to address it. Not everything deserves your energy.”
“Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength. Just say that to them and if they continue, walk away with a smile.”
Meltzer advises that the best way to handle rudeness begins with how we respond. Diffusing a situation helps maintain peace of mind. Remaining composed helps control our own reactions. In the end, rehearsing for success allows us to stay confident when difficult situations arise.
In a recent TED Talk, love coach Francesca Hogi shared how even your awkward flirting can be a superpower. Sometimes mistaken as off-putting, flirting actually offers a powerful gateway to real human connection.
By reframing flirting as an act of curiosity, she explains how anyone can kickstart attraction and open the door to lasting love. In an impassioned presentation, Hogi demystifies flirting and explains why building attraction matters.
Flirting can be a superpower
Hogi explains that for 12 years she’s been helping people fall in love as both a matchmaker and a coach. “As a love professional, I can assure you that many dating problems can be solved with flirting,” Hogi says. “If you’re single, it helps you to connect and fall in love. If you’re partnered, it helps you to reignite or maintain the spark of chemistry that brought you together in the first place.”
Many might have concerns about their ability to flirt. Will they be received well, or are they even doing it right? Hogi explains, “I’ve got good news for the introverts out there. You don’t have to be extroverted to be a magnet for connection. In fact, I believe that introverts have a secret advantage when it comes to flirting because your efforts at being more open feel more genuinely inspired by another person and therefore special.”
She shares that flirting can give you confidence and courage. She also acknowledges that feeling awkward is normal. “Confidence with flirting comes from knowing yourself, your intentions, reading the room, discerning other people’s reactions, and adapting accordingly,” she says. “Sometimes it’s going to be awkward, sometimes it’s going to be embarrassing, and that’s okay.”
“Flirting gives you more agency over human connection,” says Hogi.
She then describes the two foundational principles of healthy flirting. The first is presence: being in the moment and avoiding distractions like a phone or the surrounding environment. The second is enthusiasm. Getting the right vibe while being enthusiastic goes a long way toward mastering the art of flirting. These principles have a strong effect on other people.
Hogi explains that expressing positive intentions has a large impact on outcomes:
“You have the ability to leave other people feeling good for having interacted with you…Even your unspoken appreciation for a shared moment of connection, no matter how brief, can often be felt. Lean into being the version of you who leaves other people with a smile on their face and notice how much more magnetic you become.”
People seem quite taken with Hogi’s energy and charisma. Some of the comments expressed admiration for her vibe and flirtatious delivery on stage. Hogi was sharing her own version of flirting as a superpower:
“Even this presentation feels like shes flirting…especially her laughs”
“She is such a good public speaker, ten minutes of speech with no filler words whatsoever”
“Flirting is a way making one feel seen and acknowledged.”
“Where were you, Francesca, when I needed these words? Like, 40 years ago? Never too late, right?”
“Had me clapping in the end! She’z good”
“I feel better about my flirting abilities after watching this now.”
“She’s good , reading her body language generally teaches me more about flirting than learning it itself”
A vintage photo of a couple flirting. Photo credit: Canva
The power behind a flirtatious connection
Flirting can have a powerful effect on both the initiator and the person on the receiving end. It isn’t necessarily about romance or sex. It helps build and strengthen relationships in everyday life.
A 2025 study on ResearchGate analyzed where and how people flirt. The results suggested that people who flirt can improve with practice. The best flirting involved humor, confidence, and social skills. A 2026 study on ScienceDirect found that flirting can be an effective way for people to express their personality and individual differences. While personality traits and sex were linked to how often and how skillfully people flirted, these influences had only modest effects on overall outcomes.
Hogi suggests flirting requires nuance and a little bit of courage. Practice prepares you for any occasion. “Attentiveness, compliments, playfulness—there’s nothing complicated about these actions, yet they have the potential to spark and sustain connection over time,” she says. “That’s a true superpower we can all tap into.”
Hogi and the research suggest flirting isn’t just a trivial social game. It’s a meaningful way to express personality, build connections, and boost self-confidence. Flirting isn’t shallow. It doesn’t need to involve manipulation or outcome-obsessed action. These small everyday acts of courage embolden human connection and reveal individual superpowers in all of us.
