The Doomsday Clock has never been closer to metaphorical midnight. What does it mean? The Doomsday Clock now stands at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest to catastrophe in its nearly eight-decade history. Here’s a look at how — and why — it’s moved. Read more on NPR
Month: January 2025
NPR News: The Smithsonian will close its diversity office and freeze federal hiring
The Smithsonian will close its diversity office and freeze federal hiring The Smithsonian isn’t a federal agency, but it gets much of its funding from federal appropriations. Read more on NPR
NPR News: Mona Lisa’s roommates may be glad she’s moving out
Mona Lisa’s roommates may be glad she’s moving out Now that Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is moving to another room at The Louvre, other Renaissance masterpieces hanging in the same space by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese may finally get their due. Read more on NPR
NPR News: RFK Jr.’s raspy voice is the result of a condition called spasmodic dysphonia. What is it?
RFK Jr.’s raspy voice is the result of a condition called spasmodic dysphonia. What is it? Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare neurological disorder that causes a strained voice. RFK Jr. says he has had the disorder for decades and treats it with Botox injections, a common treatment. Read more on NPR
NPR News: Two ways Trump aims to reshape government. And, how U.S. children are doing in school
Two ways Trump aims to reshape government. And, how U.S. children are doing in school President Trump’s actions this week reveal his broad effort to reshape the federal government. And, the new Nation’s Report Card shows the pandemic’s impact on education nearly five years later. Read more on NPR
NPR News: Trump’s health secretary pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faces confirmation hearing
Trump’s health secretary pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faces confirmation hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, faces Senate confirmation hearings today. What can we expect? Read more on NPR
NPR News: RFK Jr. says he’ll fix the overdose crisis. Critics say his plan is risky
RFK Jr. says he’ll fix the overdose crisis. Critics say his plan is risky Robert F. Kennedy Jr. survived heroin addiction and says that if confirmed as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, he’ll build treatment “farms” to help people recover. Read more on NPR
NPR News: 66 million years ago, a fish chewed up and spit out food. It’s now a fossil in Denmark
66 million years ago, a fish chewed up and spit out food. It’s now a fossil in Denmark The fossil was found at a cliff in Denmark. Fossilized vomit is called regurgitalite, and it’s a type of trace fossil, which tells scientists about an organism’s daily life. Read more on NPR
NPR News: Trump signs order restricting gender-affirming care for minors
Trump signs order restricting gender-affirming care for minors President Trump signed an executive order seeking to end gender-affirming medical treatments for children and teenagers under the age of 19. Read more on NPR
NPR News: Step inside the secret lab where America tests its nukes
Step inside the secret lab where America tests its nukes A thousand feet beneath the desert, the United States conducts experiments to verify that its weapons work. But some fear a live test could come soon. Read more on NPR