Food

Mendoza hopes his experiment contributes to further research on the topic.

Science

Can we grow veggies on Mars? Fly larvae and synthetic soil may hold the answer

10:18am November 22, 2023

by Mallory Yu

A Texas undergrad is investigating how to grow vegetables on Mars — and has cultivated test samples of English peas in simulated Martian soil, with fertilizer from fly larvae.

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National

In Wisconsin, a lot of training goes into being a cheese tester

7:35am November 22, 2023

by Maayan Silver

Two hundred and fifty people applied for five part-time jobs to taste cheese. Their goal? To help cheesemakers create a creamier cheddar or more melty mozzarella.

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National

At the gateway to Zion National Park, travelers can enjoy bumbleberry pie

5:22am November 22, 2023

by David Condos

A busload of hungry tourists, a restaurant kitchen with a near-empty pantry. What could have been a disaster turned into an improvised recipe that's been pleasing crowds for nearly six decades.

Pastry chef Carla Jones loads a trio of sweet potato pies onto a tray destined for the oven on Nov. 15 at Ol' Henry, a restaurant in Berkeley, Mo.

National

Pumpkin or sweet potato pie? There's a rich history behind both

5:00am November 22, 2023

by Chad Davis

The two desserts have similarities — both are orange, sweet, and have a bit of spice — but they have distinct histories that have led to dedicated followings.

Obesity medications will have some people spending the holidays without an appetite

6:27pm November 21, 2023

by Yuki Noguchi

Obesity medications like Wegovy that tamp down hunger mean some people are navigating life and the holidays without an appetite. This changes social interactions and a traditional source of comfort.

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National

The government wants to make beef production climate friendly. Here's how it's going

5:45pm November 21, 2023

by Rachel Cohen

The Farm Bill includes $3 billion for "climate friendly commodities." That means paying farmers to change practices to reduce emissions or capture carbon.

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For this student newly arrived from India, Thanksgiving came to feel like home

9:46am November 21, 2023

by Rhitu Chatterjee

She came to the U.S. for grad school. She was lonely. Then came an invitation for Thanksgiving — no turkey (strictly vegan) but a spirit that touched her soul. And her mango lassi was a hit!

Two different brain circuits influence our taste for salt, study finds

5:58pm November 20, 2023

by Jon Hamilton

Two different brain circuits help regulate salt intake, according to a study in the journal Cell. One adjusts salt cravings, the other determines whether we find salty food delicious or disgusting.

Life Kit: Cooking turkey for first-timers

6:01pm November 18, 2023

by Marielle Segarra

A Thanksgiving turkey can be a great project for beginner cooks. NPR's Life Kit talks with Lan Lam of America's Test Kitchen about how to prep and roast a turkey for first-timers.

In the new book "The Farmer's Wife", author Helen Rebanks balances recipes and life

7:13am November 18, 2023

by Scott Simon

Scott Simon speaks to Helen Rebanks about her farm life as laid out in her book, "The Farmer's Wife." They are joined by actor Nick Offerman, who occasionally works on Rebanks' farm.

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