Small fossil has big implications for bird brain evolution Birds descended from the dinosaurs, but researchers have known relatively little about how the bird’s brain took shape over millions of years. A new fossil sheds light on that mystery. Read more on NPR

Trump would like to bring back mental institutions, but experts are skeptical Permanent tent cities are another idea Trump has for dealing with people who are unhoused. Sequestering people with mental illness or substance abuse in one place has been tried, an expert says, and “it turns into hell on earth.” Read more on NPR

Analyzing Trump’s cabinet picks so far. And, Biden’s intimate view of the White House President-elect Donald Trump has made a flurry of announcements about key cabinet members, at least one of which has come as a shock. And, President Biden provides an intimate view of the White House. Read more on NPR

Pakistan’s smog is visible from space. This activist is ‘frustrated’ but won’t give up The government in Lahore has closed schools and public spaces and shut down factories. Environmental lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam shares his perspective: “frustrated” but still fighting. Read more on NPR

What happens when a vaccine skeptic leads health policy? Ask Florida Among the names being floated to head the Department of Health and Human Services are RFK Jr. and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Both are vaccine skeptics, which worries pediatricians. Read more on NPR