Memorializing loved ones through AI
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Michael Bommer, a man dying of colon cancer who created an AI avatar of himself for his wife, Anett, to interact with after he dies.
radio highlights
The representation of climate change on-screen is scant, but growing
The representation of climate change on-screen is scant, but growing
Researchers says the movies of the last decade are a missed opportunity, as very few of them address the urgency of climate change. They surveyed 250 of the most popular movies between 2013 and 2022.
Movies can be powerful cultural messengers for ideas, behaviors and values. But a team of researchers says the movies of the last decade or so have missed an opportunity because very few of them address the urgency of climate cha
Researchers says the movies of the last decade are a missed opportunity, as very few of them address the urgency of climate change. They surveyed 250 of the most popular movies between 2013 and 2022.
Movies can be powerful cultural messengers for ideas, behaviors and values. But a team of researchers says the movies of the last decade or so have missed an opportunity because very few of them address the urgency of climate cha
This airport has never lost a bag. For one chief handler, it's all about respect
This airport has never lost a bag. For one chief handler, it's all about respect
As the summer travel season begins, thousands of bags will go missing at airports all over the world. It's a given at this point. But not at one particular airport in Japan that makes a stunning claim: it has never lost a piece of luggage.
Kansai International Airport opened in September 1994, on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, and its records state it has maintained a perfect baggage streak since.
That's a lo
As the summer travel season begins, thousands of bags will go missing at airports all over the world. It's a given at this point. But not at one particular airport in Japan that makes a stunning claim: it has never lost a piece of luggage.
Kansai International Airport opened in September 1994, on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, and its records state it has maintained a perfect baggage streak since.
That's a lo
From tweet to three-book deal, this author wants to transform the fantasy genre
From tweet to three-book deal, this author wants to transform the fantasy genre
A new young adult novel called Blood at the Root follows a Black teen learning to harness his ancestral magic. Before it was a novel, it was a failed TV pilot. Before that, it was a tweet.
The new young adult novel "Blood At The Root" follows a Black teen learning to harness his ancestral magic. But before it was a novel, it was a failed TV pilot. And before it was a failed TV pilot, it was a tweet. NPR's Kathryn F
A new young adult novel called Blood at the Root follows a Black teen learning to harness his ancestral magic. Before it was a novel, it was a failed TV pilot. Before that, it was a tweet.
The new young adult novel "Blood At The Root" follows a Black teen learning to harness his ancestral magic. But before it was a novel, it was a failed TV pilot. And before it was a failed TV pilot, it was a tweet. NPR's Kathryn F
Astronomer Wanda Diaz-Merced didn't watch the eclipse. She listened
Astronomer Wanda Diaz-Merced, who is blind, describes her experience listening to Monday's solar eclipse with a device called LightSound.
A huge crane with a CIA history helps with the Baltimore bridge cleanup
A huge crane with a CIA history helps with the Baltimore bridge cleanup
Cleanup efforts continue after last week's fatal collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. A key part of the wreckage removal is a decades-old, massive crane.
Cleanup efforts continue after last week's fatal collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. A key part of the wreckage removal is a decades-old, massive crane.
Meet the queens of March Madness: South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao
NPR is providing listeners with mini profiles of talented players leading their teams into the tournament, their off court talents and passions and overall chances of making the Final Four.
Te-Hina Paopao bookends every basketball game with two distinct rituals. Before the game...
TE-HINA PAOPAO: I'm just, like, a boring person for pregame rituals. I always got to get a nap in, no matter if it's a noon game, a afternoon, or even a night game.
SHAPIRO: Then, win or lose, afterwards, it's time
Te-Hina Paopao bookends every basketball game with two distinct rituals. Before the game...
TE-HINA PAOPAO: I'm just, like, a boring person for pregame rituals. I always got to get a nap in, no matter if it's a noon game, a afternoon, or even a night game.
SHAPIRO: Then, win or lose, afterwards, it's time
The shaka could become an official state gesture for Hawaii
The shaka could become an official state gesture for Hawaii
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Hawaiian native Ryan Ozawa about a pair of bills in the state legislature that would make the shaka an official state gesture.
Over the years, the shaka has become ubiquitous in surfing communities and pop culture. It's a symbol, a visual cue to hang loose. Take it easy. Well, there are competing origin stories about the shaka. And now lawmakers in Hawaii want to set the record straight. A pair of bi
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Hawaiian native Ryan Ozawa about a pair of bills in the state legislature that would make the shaka an official state gesture.
Over the years, the shaka has become ubiquitous in surfing communities and pop culture. It's a symbol, a visual cue to hang loose. Take it easy. Well, there are competing origin stories about the shaka. And now lawmakers in Hawaii want to set the record straight. A pair of bi
Nearly all of Uranus' 27 moons have Shakespearean names. What'll this one be called?
Nearly all of Uranus' 27 moons have Shakespearean names. What'll this one be called?
Scientists have found a 28th moon around Uranus. In keeping with tradition, they plan to name it after a Shakespearean character. Scholar Michael Dobson weighs in on the suggested name, "Violenta."
Scientists have found a 28th moon around Uranus. In keeping with tradition, they plan to name it after a Shakespearean character. Scholar Michael Dobson weighs in on the suggested name, "Violenta."
Does religious freedom protect abortion access?
Does religious freedom protect a right to an abortion? We talk with a rabbi and an imam in states with restrictive abortion bans.
What cremation's surge in popularity says about our evolving views on death
56 percent of Americans who died in 2020 were cremated. That’s more than twice the rate two decades go.
California Outlawed 'Stealthing.' Will The Rest Of The Nation Follow Its Lead?
A 2019 study shows that 12 percent of women said that they had been a victim of stealthing.
Fare Thee Well: The Timeless Endurance Of Renaissance Faires
1A producer Kathryn Fink reports from the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Plus, we meet Kevin Patterson, son of the founders of the original Renaissance Faire.
What We Know About The California Wildfires
Wildfires are nothing new for Californian residents. But with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, mounting an adequate response has become fatally complicated.
Michaela Coel Of ‘I May Destroy You’ On Trauma, Levity And The Space Between
The show, centered around surviving sexual assault, draws on Coel’s own experience.
The 1A (Mini) Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee may have been canceled — but listen to our own 1A (mini) spelling bee.
Blocked From The Ballot: Meet Desmond Meade, Who Has A Felony Conviction
We talk about the battle for restoring voting rights for people with felony convictions in states across the country.
MTV's 'Are You The One?' And The Future Of Queer Representation In Reality TV
But MTV’s latest season of “Are You the One?” promises something different: For the first time in the show’s eight-season history, all 16 contestants identify as “sexually fluid” and are attracted to all gender identities.
