Changing America - Why COVID-19 can result in loss of smell and taste, a black diamond from outer space could sell for $6 million, and a transgender girl could be TIME’s ‘Kid of the Year’

View in browser     ©iStock Researchers find genetic link to COVID-19-induced loss of smell and taste By Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech   Scientists may be one step closer to understanding exactly why some people lose their sense of smell or taste after contracting COVID-19. A team of researchers has identified a genetic risk factor that increased the odds a person would lose their sense of smell or taste after infection by 11 percent. Read the full story here       ©The Associated Press/Kamran Jebreili Rare black diamond from outer space could sell for over $6M By Jenna Romaine   The diamond is the largest fancy black natural color diamond in the world and was named the largest cut diamond in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006. The exact source of the diamond, also known as a carbonado diamond, is unknown, though it is believed to have originated from outer space.    Read the full story here     ©Getty Images Transgender girl is a finalist for TIME's 'Kid of the Year' By Brooke Migdon   An 11-year-old transgender girl and activist from Texas is a finalist for TIME and Nickelodeon’s 2021 ‘Kid of the Year’ award. A video clip of Shappley’s testimony before a Texas Senate committee where she argued against the passage of two anti-LGBTQ+ bills went viral last year. Read the full story here     ©The Associated Press/Noah Berger California will pay college students $10K for completing volunteer work By Shirin Ali   California is launching a massive statewide program that will award thousands of college students $10,000 toward their college costs if they complete community service work. The volunteer work must be in climate action, K-12 education or COVID-19 recovery.  Read the full story here     Feature of the Week: © The Associated Press/Yuki Iwamura People should not try to intentionally catch omicron, experts say By Chia-Yi Hou   With omicron outbreaks happening all over the country, some people have discussed contracting it intentionally or assuming that everyone will get it eventually anyway. Health experts warn that this approach is risky.  Read the full story here           Did a friend forward you this email?   Sign up for Changing America       Forward Changing America       Privacy Policy  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©1998 - 2021 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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