The Federal Reserve lowers interest rates again — but hints at fewer cuts next year The Fed lowered interest rates by a quarter percentage point — but policymakers are projecting fewer rate cuts next year as inflation remains elevated. Read more on NPR

With a January ban looming, TikTok’s future in the U.S. is more uncertain than ever A new law gives TikTok a Jan. 19 deadline to sell to a non-Chinese company or face a nationwide ban. Law professor Alan Rozenshtein explains what this means and how President-elect Trump might intervene. Read more on NPR

With a ban looming, TikTok’s future is more uncertain than ever In April, Congress passed a law forcing TikTok to sell to a non-Chinese company or face a nationwide ban. Law professor Alan Rozenshtein, delves into the legal and cultural stakes of that law. Read more on NPR

Genital herpes is a ‘forgotten’ virus. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone away. Over 800 million people have genital herpes — and in many cases the virus can flare up over a person’s lifetime, causing painful symptoms. So why doesn’t the world pay more attention? Read more on NPR

Supreme Court agrees to review TikTok ban-or-sale law The high court said Wednesday it will review a challenge submitted by TikTok asking for the overturn of a law that could ban the video-sharing app by Jan 19. Read more on NPR

Supreme Court takes up South Carolina’s effort to defund Planned Parenthood The state cut off funding to Planned Parenthood because it provided non-abortion services to Medicaid patients. Read more on NPR

The bald eagle isn’t actually America’s national bird — but that’s poised to change After learning the U.S. doesn’t officially recognize the bald eagle as its national bird, a Minnesota man swooped in. This week the House passed his bill, which now heads to Biden’s desk. Read more on NPR

Viewers watched 20.35 billion hours on Twitch in 2024. ‘Stream Big’ explores why According to the Twitch 2024 community recap, viewers watched 20.35 billion hours on the live-streaming service. A forthcoming book explains why. Read more on NPR

Scientists know our bodies are full of microplastics. What are they doing to us? Plastic particles are found in our organs, blood and even semen. But do they stay in us forever? What damage are they doing? Here are 6 questions scientists are trying to answer Read more on NPR

You don’t look a day over 4.35 billion! Here’s the moon’s anti-aging secret Early interactions with the Earth may have heated up the Moon and caused it to remelt, producing new lunar rocks and erasing old craters.  Read more on NPR