How Your Sandwich Changed The World
What road did your lunch travel before it reached your plate? NPR's latest animated video follows a BLT from the fields where it began its journey.
Brain Candy
When Is It 'Terrorism'? How The Media Covers Attacks By Muslim Perpetrators
In the last five years, just 12% of terrorist attacks in the U.S. were carried out by Muslims. More than 50% were perpetrated by far right extremists. So why the media focus on "Islamic terrorism"?
The Roots Of Consciousness: We're Of Two Minds
Surgery that severs the link between brain hemispheres reveals that those halves have way different views of the world. We ask a pioneering scientist what that tells us about human consciousness.
Rap on Trial: How An Aspiring Musician's Words Led To Prison Time
Olutosin Oduwole was a college student and aspiring rapper when he was charged with "attempting to make a terrorist threat." We explore how perceptions of rap music may have played a role.
315,000-Year-Old Fossils From Morocco Could Be Earliest Recorded Homo Sapiens
Scientists who found the fossils believe they are the remains of five people and far older than all previous finds. But how do the remains really fit into the bushy family tree of modern humans?
Cracking The Code That Lets The Brain ID Any Face, Fast
People and other primates have an amazing ability to instantly recognize faces. Scientists at Caltech found that we do that by having 205 specialized brain cells divvy up the task.
Abigail Marsh: Are We Wired To Be Altruistic?
When Abigail Marsh was 19, a complete stranger risked his life to save her from a car accident. Today, she studies what motivates us to help others — and why some of us are "extraordinary" altruists.
Cheryl Steed: Can Altruism Be Learned?
At the prison where Cheryl Steed works, certain inmates are chosen to be caregivers for elderly inmates. The program has made her wonder — can altruism be learned?
Peter Singer: How Can We Be More Effective Altruists?
Philosopher Peter Singer's work focuses on "effective altruism" — how to do the most good to make the world a better place. He argues effective giving involves balancing empathy with reason.
Larissa MacFarquhar: How Far Would You Go To Help Others?
Larissa MacFarquhar writes about extreme altruists, people who make great sacrifices to help others. She says most of us aren't prepared or willing to do that — which is why we don't give more.