News

(From left) Incandescent, CFL and LED light bulbs. Many people are finding that choosing the right light bulb has a steep learning curve.

In The Dark About Picking A Light Bulb? This FAQ Can Help

9:23pm May 07, 2014

by NPR Staff

It used to be easy to buy a light bulb. But the transition to more energy-efficient lighting means choosing from an array of products. We help you navigate the world of the 21st century light bulb.

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UN Committee Grills Vatican Officials On Sex Abuse

11:05am May 07, 2014

by Sylvia Poggioli

The Vatican has faced two days of grilling before the U.N. Committee on Torture investigating the Catholic Church's handling of cases of sexual abuse by priests.

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White House Report Says Climate Change Is Here And Now

9:04pm May 06, 2014

by Elizabeth Shogren

A new U.S. government report tells an unambiguous story: The planet is warming, climate change is driven primarily by people and it's already affecting Americans, through more frequent or intense heat waves, downpours and, in some regions, floods or droughts.

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World News

In Ukraine, West's New Diplomatic Options May Be Few

9:04pm May 06, 2014

by Michele Kelemen

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is in Washington Tuesday for a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry that is likely to be dominated by events in Ukraine.

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On the outskirts of Islamabad, a Pakistani health worker vaccinates an Afghan refugee against polio.

The Comeback Of Polio Is A Public Health Emergency

4:25pm May 06, 2014

by Jason Beaubien

The paralyzing virus had seemed on the verge of disappearing. But this year cases are being reported in 10 countries. The World Health Organization has responded with strict vaccination rules.

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Srinivas Ayyagari onstage in 1992 (left); at right, Ayyagari today. "Seeing someone from ESPN commenting on your style and strategy was bizarre and weird. But it's the closest I'll ever come to being an athlete," Ayyagari says.

Arts

What Happens To Spelling Bee Kids? Years Later, The Prize Is Perspective

2:25pm May 06, 2014

by Elise Hu

NPR tracked down former top spellers to see how they're faring, decades after their early successes.

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David Loberg's family farm in Carroll, Neb., is featured in the film Farmland.

Agribusiness Funds 'Farmland' To Counter Hollywood Message

11:38am May 06, 2014

by Adam Ragusea

Films like Food Inc. and King Corn highlight the evils of big agriculture. Now farmers are hitting back with their own movie, Farmland. It was funded by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

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Sanctions Put Pentagon's Business Deals With Russia Up For Debate

9:39am May 06, 2014

by David Welna

The U.S. wants Europe to enforce economic sanctions against Russia over its push into Ukraine, but the Pentagon itself is reluctant to stop trading with Moscow.

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World News

In Venezuela Protests, Report Condemns Police's 'Pattern Of Abuse'

6:35pm May 05, 2014

by John Otis

A Human Rights Watch report documents brutal force used by Venezuelan security forces against peaceful demonstrators — including beatings, shootings and, in some cases, torture. The report also shows how security forces work in cahoots with pro-government armed gangs, calling the abuses the worst they have seen in years.

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Science

Max Planck Goes To Florida, Invites Brain Scientists To Join

6:35pm May 05, 2014

by Jon Hamilton

Germany's famous Max Planck Society has opened a brain research institute in Jupiter, Fla. It's another move in the international competition to attract the best brain researchers.

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