How a fox skull shape conquers the snow Research explains how foxes hunting mice can plunge down into the snow at high speeds without injuring their poor little snouts. Read more on NPR

Top global TikToks in 2024: Mr. Bean disciple, lip-sync for their life, baby hippo! Scenes from some of the most popular TikToks from the Global South in 2024: a dancing teen from the Philippines; an homage to Mr. Bean, that cute baby pygmy hippo. Read more on NPR

South Korea’s acting president impeached. And, how the ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ did on Netflix South Korea’s acting president has been impeached less than a month after the impeachment of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, for imposing martial law. And, how’d the “Beyoncé Bowl” do on Netflix? Read more on NPR

More than 10,000 migrants died in 2024 trying to reach Spain by sea, aid group says The migration route that connects West African nations with the Spanish Canary Islands remains the deadliest in the world, according to a Spanish aid organization. Read more on NPR

The World’s Largest River is Running Low (Encore) The region drained by the Amazon River, including the Amazon Rainforest, is in the second year of a punishing drought. That has lead to the lowest water levels in more than 100 years for the Amazon and its major tributaries. Millions of people and an array of…

Protests in Georgia continue as demonstrators rally in support for joining the EU On the eastern edge of the Black Sea, the Georgian president is refusing to step down, as demonstrations have gone on for weeks in support of Georgia joining the European Union. Read more on NPR

Congressional lawmakers almost got a pay bump this year. Then it crashed and burned Lawmakers on Capitol Hill haven’t had a pay increase since 2009, representing a 31% decline in their salary when adjusted for inflation. Read more on NPR

A health care provider that faced dozens of prisoner lawsuits is filing for bankruptcy Wellpath, a health care provider for hospitals, prisons and jails, has been dogged by wrongful death and medical negligence suits. What happens to those cases now that it has filed for bankruptcy? Read more on NPR

For homeless seniors, finding stable housing takes a village — and a lot of luck The number of unhoused seniors is expected to triple by 2030. As rents rise, it becomes tougher to find affordable housing that’s accessible for those with medical conditions and disabilities. Read more on NPR

A wild year in politics, by the numbers From the election results to the the charges against President-elect Donald Trump, here are the numbers that defined 2024 in politics. Read more on NPR