Atheists Take Old Hymns Out Of The Chapel And Into The Streets
For 40 years, the Renaissance Street Singers have given free public performances of sacred music. But they insist that their mission is not religious in nature.
Story of the Day
Cash, Cows And The Rise Of Nerd Philanthropy
Most charities get money from donors and spend it on things they think will help people — schools, medicine, farm animals. GiveDirectly just gives money away. And that poses a challenge to the more traditional charities.
On A Rocky Maine Island, Puffins Are Making A Tenuous Comeback
The windswept island about 6 miles off the coast was a haven for a hugely diverse bird population until fishermen decimated the birds' ranks. Puffins have been successfully reintroduced to Eastern Egg Rock, but warming ocean waters may be threatening their ability to survive.
Meet The Olinguito, The Newest Member Of The Raccoon Family
This cousin of the raccoon is the first new carnivore discovered in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years. Native to the Andes Mountains of Colombia and Ecuador where it's still living, the olinguito was actually first identified in a Field Museum specimen storage room in Chicago.
You Ask, We Answer: More Of Your Questions About The Affordable Care Act
Think buying health insurance through the Affordable Care Act will be confusing? You're not alone. NPR listeners asked questions that have been bugging them about student status options and penalties. Julie Rovner, NPR's health policy correspondent, explains how it's going to work.
In Rural N.C., New Voter ID Law Awakens Some Old Fears
Just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, North Carolina has a new law to require photo ID at the polls and to shorten early voting. Proponents say the law will stave off voter fraud. Opponents say it will effectively quash the vote of many poor minorities.
Brains Of Dying Rats Yield Clues About Near-Death Experiences
Researchers discovered what appears to be a momentary increase in electrical activity in the brain associated with consciousness. As the brain struggles to survive, it also struggles to make sense of many neurons firing in the survival attempt.
The Tricky Business Of Predicting Where Media Will Go Next
One of journalism's most recognizable mastheads, The Washington Post, is entering a new era with a new owner. In 1992, the paper's managing editor urged it to get at the forefront of the upcoming digital revolution, but it so far has fallen short in a world of fast-paced BuzzFeeds.
The Algae Is Coming, But Its Impact Is Felt Far From Water
From China's Yellow Sea to the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, agricultural waste in the water system is fueling spectacular algae blooms. The masses of slime cause dead zones in the water and major losses in tourism revenue in affected towns. But the algae fight doesn't begin at the water's edge; it starts in the fields and pastures.
The Raisin Outlaw Of Kerman, Calif.
In most industries, competitors getting together and conspiring to control supply of a product is illegal. But in the raisin world, the law actually says competitors have to work together. It's going against your competitors that can get you in trouble.