Why Do So Many Africans Drown?
One of the most dangerous spots is Lake Victoria. And even the police who patrol the lake don't always know how to swim. But a life preserver may be on the way.
Health & Safety
Overlooked Drug Could Save Thousands Of Moms After Childbirth
An inexpensive drug could dramatically reduce the number of deaths of mothers from bleeding after childbirth in low- and middle-income countries around the world.
Welcome To The Poison Garden: Medicine's Medieval Roots
One corner of the garden of Alnwick Castle in northern England grows a hundred plants behind lock and key. Many of the toxic species there were used by medieval doctors — nasty plants adapted to heal.
Homegrown Indian Beverage Industry Takes On Cola Giants With Nostalgic Flavors
A handful of new Indian beverage companies are offering traditional Indian tastes in neat, hygienic packs and bottles. The industry is growing fast and already competing with big soda companies.
ProPublica Investigation Finds Nursing Homes Waste Tons Of Prescription Drugs
A ProPublica investigation reveals nursing homes waste millions of dollars in prescription drugs every year. NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with ProPublica's Marshall Allen about his reporting.
Shutdown Averted: White House Backs Down On Health Care Demands
The White House appears to be backing down on multiple demands that were threatening a partial government shutdown, including withholding subsidies to help low-income people under Obamacare.
Boston Champ Juggles Marathons, 5 Kids, Kenyan Farm
The daughter of peasant farmers, Edna Kiplagat was the fastest woman in the Beantown race by nearly a minute.
'Minibrains' In A Dish Shed A Little Light On Autism And Epilepsy
Experiments with small clusters of networked brain cells are helping scientists see how real brains develop normally, and what goes awry when cells have trouble making connections.
Tyson Foods Promises Better Conditions And Safety For Meat Workers
Meat-processing employs more than a half-million people. An investigation found they've got some of the most dangerous factory jobs in America and suffer from injury, low pay and lack of work breaks.
How A Wild Berry Is Helping To Protect China's Giant Pandas And Its Countryside
Long before it became a "superfood" in the U.S., schisandra was made into soups and jams and prized as a medicinal plant. Now the berry is at the center of a dramatic new approach to conservation.