History

Science

The megalodon maybe wasn't so mega, research suggests

4:42pm January 23, 2024

by Ari Daniel

The megalodon went extinct 3.6 million years ago, and is thought to be the largest shark that ever swam the Earth. But the megalodon may not have been as big as once thought, some researchers suggest.

New kelp fossils may help explain the Pacific Ocean's underwater jungles

4:41pm January 22, 2024

by Ari Daniel

Newly discovered kelp fossils peg their existence to 32 million years ago. These fossils may help explain how the Pacific Ocean's underwater 'forests' came to be.

National

The controversy involved in making Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a holiday

5:58pm January 15, 2024

by Alana Wise

While Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a reminder to Americans to be of service to their communities, the road to getting the holiday established was marked by controversy.

Queue Listen Now

Why does the U.S. vote this way — and why is Iowa first? A look at caucuses

5:58pm January 15, 2024

by Domenico Montanaro

We look at what sets the Iowa caucuses apart and why the U.S. primary system is such a patchwork.

Queue Listen Now

A rendering of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, a newly identified relative of T. rex. A partial skull on view at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science was key to the discovery.

Science

An old relative of the T. rex sparks new questions about the dinosaur's origins

5:00am January 15, 2024

by Emma Bowman

Researchers say they've identified the oldest known Tyrannosaurus, shaking up the ongoing debate over how and when the dinosaurs arrived in North America.

The impact of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' on Savannah over 30 years

6:40pm January 12, 2024

by Benjamin Payne

It's been 30 years since one book elevated Savannah, Ga., to a literary tourist destination. We check in on the impact of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Queue Listen Now

During his lifetime, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s views were considered radical by much of the white establishment, including the government. King was the subject of several FBI surveillance investigations, designed to collect subversive material on him.

National

Martin Luther King Jr. was once considered 'radical.' Here's how he came to be lauded

11:18am January 11, 2024

by Vanessa Romo

As the U.S. celebrates the civil rights icon on MLK Day, here are a few things to know about the holiday honoring the slain activist and his fight against inequality and racial injustice.

How E.J. Koh drew on her own family members' experiences to write 'The Liberators'

6:09pm January 10, 2024

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with author E.J. Koh about her novel, The Liberators. In just over 200 pages, the story covers generations, wars and geopolitical upheaval.

Queue Listen Now

With songs by The Avett Brothers, Swept Away is inspired by the true story of an 19th century shipwreck in which seamen resorted to cannibalism to survive.

Truth, forgiveness: 'Swept Away' is a theatrical vessel for Avett Bros' music

4:27pm January 08, 2024

by Elizabeth Blair

With songs by the Avett Brothers, Swept Away follows four men fighting to survive a shipwreck. The musical is inspired by the true story in which men resort to cannibalism to survive.

The U.S. Mint has released the 2024 Harriet Tubman Silver Dollar as part of the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Program. The coins include $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins honoring the bicentennial of her birth.

The U.S. Mint releases new commemorative coins honoring Harriet Tubman

5:17pm January 04, 2024

by Jonathan Franklin

The designs featured on the coins honor Tubman's life and her work as an abolitionist and social activist. The coins include $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins.