National

Maha Loubaris

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AFP

How an ancient resin traded for centuries got snarled up by the Iran war

Scott Horsley

It's not just energy supplies that have been disrupted by the Iran war. It's also hitting frankincense, a commodity that's been defining trade routes in the Middle East for thousands of years.
Cinematic

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Alamy

The most memorable moon movies aren't even about space

Bob Mondello

While marveling at Artemis II's mission, NPR's film critic went down a rabbit hole about moon-themed movies. Most have nothing to do with space.

National

What draws people into cults? A new book tracks the journeys of two followers

Ilana Masad

Harrison Hill's book The Oracle's Daughter is a story about the terror of losing the self — but it's also, gratifyingly, a story about finding the way back to it.
National

710,000 fewer babies were born last year in U.S. compared with two decades ago

Brian Mann

The U.S. fertility rate continued its slide to historic levels, due to plunging teen pregnancies and far more women delaying motherhood into their 30s and 40s.
National

How a cheese sandwich at the Masters is still $1.50 in an era of price hikes

Rachel Treisman

The priciest concessions at the Masters, beer and wine, cost just $6 each. The Georgia golf tournament prides itself on a simple and affordable menu, even as ticket prices continue to climb.
National

How bad for humans is wildlife trade? A new study has answers

Jonathan Lambert

People sell wild animals for food and for traditional medicine — legally and illegally. A study looks at the risks of spillover diseases from those pangolins, giant rats and other exotic critters.

The Artemis II crew — Christina Koch (left), Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman — have to share tight quarters aboard the Orion spacecraft on their way home. But even with limited space, they can still get a solid workout in — thanks to a very special piece of equipment.

NASA

National

We can't all be astronauts, but the Artemis II crew has fitness lessons for everyone

Katia Riddle

The Artemis II astronauts don't have a lot of space to exercise. That's why they've got the flywheel — a small device that can be used for strength and cardio workouts.

MIKE (second from left) and Earl Sweatshirt (third from left) with the members of Surf Gang, the New York-based collective who produced the rappers' new double album, Pompeii // Utility.

National

Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE put a ring on indie rap's favorite friendship

Sheldon Pearce

Liveright

National

'After the Flood' argues Bob Dylan's late career is just as potent as his early years

Ken Tucker

National

BTS stays at No. 1 on the charts — and thwarts Ye in the process

Stephen Thompson

This week, no album can unseat last week's champion: BTS's Arirang, which holds on to the top spot thanks to another flood of sales.
National

In the Trump era, everybody's talking about 'soft power.' But ... what is it exactly?

Fatma Tanis

The U.S. government long saw giving international aid as a way to build goodwill throughout the world. Did it work? And what does the reducing of foreign aid mean for that effort now?
National

Hilariously caustic 'Big Mistakes' drags Dan Levy into organized crime

Glen Weldon

The new Netflix comedy created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott stars Levy as an uptight pastor and Taylor Ortega as his sister.
National

Israel vows to continue fighting Hezbollah but agrees to talks with Lebanon

NPR Staff

Israel's prime minister said his government would begin talks with Lebanon but vowed to continue attacks against the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, despite a fragile Iran ceasefire.
National

Why high oil prices are good for oil companies — until they aren't

Camila Domonoske

Yes, higher crude oil prices mean a multibillion-dollar cash infusion to the oil industry. But volatility is bad for business, and sustained high prices come with very serious drawbacks.