History

Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding, by Daniel E. Lieberman

'Exercised' Explains Why It Can Be Hard To Commit To Working Out — And Why We Should

10:29am January 05, 2021

by Barbara J. King

Harvard University's Daniel Lieberman looks at exercise from an evolutionary point of view, concluding that we evolved to limit our physical activity where possible, saving it for survival activities.

The final restoration project by the nonprofit Advancing Women Artists group features works by Violante Ferroni, an 18th century prodigy about whom little is known today.

'Where Are The Women?': Uncovering The Lost Works Of Female Renaissance Artists

1:35pm January 02, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

A nonprofit has identified 2,000 works by women artists that had been stashed in Italy's public museums and damp churches. It's also supported restoration of 70 works from the 16th to 20th centuries.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

More Works Of Art Enter The Public Domain On New Year's Day

5:02am January 01, 2021

by Petra Mayer

January 1st is Public Domain Day. That's the day creative works over a certain age enter the public domain.

Queue Listen Now

Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham holds up his mask with the words "2020 Census" as he testifies before a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on the census in July.

Census To Miss Year-End Deadline For Delivering Numbers For House Seats

7:28pm December 30, 2020

by Hansi Lo Wang

Behind schedule and struggling to fix irregularities in the count, the Census Bureau is working toward Jan. 9 as the next date in the process for releasing results, a bureau employee tells NPR.

Archaeologists In Ancient City Of Pompeii Dig Up Roman Food Counter

6:03am December 29, 2020

The thermopolium is the first of its kind discovered in the city's ruins. Think New York City street vendor, but with more varied offerings. Researchers found traces of goat, duck, pig and snails.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

A Poet Reflects On How We Reckon — Or Fail To Reckon — With The Legacy Of Slavery

1:36pm December 28, 2020

by Clint Smith

Atlantic writer Clint Smith grew up surrounded by Confederate iconography, being told that the Civil War wasn't about slavery. He shares a poem from his forthcoming book, How the Word Is Passed.

Queue Listen Now

U.S. WWII Veteran Virtually Reunited With 3 Children He Met In 1944

6:27am December 28, 2020

A daughter's attempt to cheer up her dad, 96-year-old Martin Adler, during the quarantine went viral in Italy. Adler and another soldier were looking for German troops when they found the children.

Queue Listen Now

National

'Kansas City Star' Publishes Apology For Its Coverage Of Black Community

12:39am December 23, 2020

The Kansas City Star apologized for failing generations of Black people over its 140-year history. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Star reporter Mara Rose Williams and editor Mike Fannin.

Queue Listen Now

National

Tommy Oliver On His Documentary About 1978 MOVE Standoff In Philadelphia

3:44pm December 21, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with filmmaker Tommy Oliver about 40 Years a Prisoner — his documentary about the fallout of a 1978 standoff between Philadelphia police and the back-to-the-land group MOVE.

Queue Listen Now

A statue of Robert E. Lee was removed from the U.S. Capitol early Monday.

Virginia Removes Its Robert E. Lee Statue From U.S. Capitol

9:54am December 21, 2020

by Merrit Kennedy

The Confederate general's statue is expected to be replaced by one of civil rights activist Barbara Johns, who at 16 led a student walkout protesting inferior conditions at an all-Black high school.