Story of the Day

Scent Bar, in central Los Angeles, is home to over 700 niche fragrances — several of which are neatly arranged here.

The Scents And Sensibility Of LA's Nosy New Perfume Enthusiasts

1:54pm February 23, 2015

by Chloe Prasinos

Our sense of smell isn't simply a powerful trigger. It's a draw to scientists — and to a flourishing subculture in Los Angeles, where amateur perfumers collect fragrances like others collect stamps.

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This year's Oscars will be given out at the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday night. At O'Brien's Pub in Santa Monica, Calif., pub trivia regulars — including many former game show champs — had their own competition, answering harder-than-average question

Arts

'I'll Take Insanely Hard Oscar Trivia For 400, Alex'

8:57am February 23, 2015

by Neda Ulaby

Can you name the longest title of a film nominated for best picture? Or most Oscar-nominated family? At O'Brien's Irish Pub in Santa Monica, the trivia night regulars are former game show champions.

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The raft sequences in Unbroken were filmed on a giant tank of water in Australia, near a highway and an amusement park. All of the dialogue had to be re-recorded on a sound stage.

Arts

The Woman Behind The Oscar-Nominated Sound Of 'Unbroken'

6:25pm February 21, 2015

by Becky Sullivan

The film's tricky dialogue and dogfights were made possible by Becky Sullivan — the fifth woman ever nominated for the sound editing award. NPR's own Becky Sullivan met her to learn about the craft.

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Despite Recovery, Many Find Home Loans Still Hard To Get

1:54pm February 20, 2015

by Chris Arnold

The housing market and the economy are both well on their way back from the Great Recession. But housing advocates say banks, stung by the housing crisis and its fallout, remain reluctant to lend.

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Female Libido Pill Fires Up Debate About Women And Sex

8:35am February 19, 2015

by Rob Stein

Is the FDA being sexist or appropriately cautious in requiring stringent evidence that the latest pill works and is safe? Women's advocacy groups aren't sure.

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A New York Stock Exchange trader works on the floor on Dec. 17. Stocks rose nearly 300 points after the Federal Reserve announced it plans to begin raising interest rates next year.

Economy Weathers A Bad Winter And Other Storms To Finish 2014 Strong

1:09pm February 17, 2015

by John Ydstie

Early in 2014, the economy was floored by the polar vortex — plus, businesses and consumers were dazed by a government shutdown and debt limit fight. But it rebounded, and analysts are optimistic.

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Solar Sunflowers, an art installation, greets visitors to Mueller's commercial and retail hub off of Interstate 35. The panels power a nightly light display and return power to the grid. When the development is complete, five miles of granite trails will

With Porches And Parks, A Texas Community Aims For Urban Utopia

12:25pm February 17, 2015

by John Burnett

Austin's Mueller neighborhood is a new-urbanist dream, designed to be convivial, walkable and energy-efficient. Every house has a porch or stoop, and all the cars are hidden away.

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Arts

And The Oscar Goes To ... Wait, Who Hasn't Had One In A While?

2:12pm February 11, 2015

by Neda Ulaby

It's happened enough that it's a thing: A stellar actor is awarded for a not-so-stellar role. Many feel it happened again this week with the Oscar nominations.

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Sara Martín reads bedtime stories with her children. When the kids were younger, she says, staying up to date on their frequent immunizations was tough, because of cost and transportation issues.

Schools Not Keeping Track When Kids Are Behind On Their Shots

9:18am February 11, 2015

by Rebecca Plevin

California lets kindergartners start school as long as they've had the first dose of all required vaccines. But some schools aren't tracking whether such kids end up getting all the doses they need.

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Kathy Liu and her son Joey Xu talk to friends back home in Gainesville, Fla., from his hospital room in Cincinnati.

Health & Safety

Son's Rare Cancer Leads Family On Quest For Cure

6:50pm February 10, 2015

When a child falls ill with cancer, many of the drugs that might help are either experimental or unapproved for use in kids.

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