AARP Finds Toll On Family Caregivers Is ‘Huge’

A new study by the AARP estimates that for the more than 40 million Americans caring for an elderly or disabled loved one, the value of their work is $450 billion a year. That’s a good deal for society. But for the family members doing the work, the study finds they need a lot more [...]

Terrorism Training Casts Pall Over Muslim Employee

In the first of two stories on counterterrorism training, NPR reports on one training session that turned a state employee into a suspect. The man at the center of this story is a 59-year-old Jordanian-American named Omar al-Omari. He looks very much like the college professor that he is — all tweed jacket, button-down shirt, [...]

Education Of An Interrogator: Questioning The CIA

Glenn Carle’s bosses asked him if he could go on a trip — one that would last somewhere between 30 and 60 days. His job? To interrogate a man suspected of being a top member of al-Qaida. It was 2002 and, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy, the U.S. was heavily engaged in [...]

Crafting Shuttles: Labor Of Love, Vanishing Art

As space shuttle Atlantis orbits the Earth on NASA’s last shuttle mission, it’s worth remembering that key parts of this high-tech spaceship were handmade by people back here on Earth. Five years ago, NPR profiled a few of the workers who make pieces of NASA’s shuttles, using everyday tools like sewing needles and X-ACTO knives. [...]

The Handmade Space Shuttle

Many parts of the space shuttles were built and crafted by the hands of skilled workers. Below, see photos from the construction of the space shuttles and hear from some of the people who built and worked on maintaining the space ships. [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio]

U.S. Women Lose To Japan, In A Title Game Of Many Chances

The FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the U.S. and Japan had a familiar feel to it, as the American squad once again found themselves being pushed to the brink. But the confidence, skill and resourcefulness that propelled them past Brazil and France weren’t quite enough Sunday, and the U.S. women lost despite never trailing [...]

Author George R.R. Martin ‘Playing For Keeps’

George R. R. Martin is best known as the man behind the epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. The latest volume, A Dance With Dragons, is now in bookstores after an epic six-year wait. An HBO series based on the first book, A Game of Thrones, just wrapped up its Emmy-nominated first [...]

Edison’s Talking Doll: Voice Of History Through Static

The voice on the little antique cylinder record is tinny, scratchy, barely audible through storms of static. But if you listen closely, you can just hear a young woman reciting a nursery rhyme: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star.” This is the oldest known commercial recording. Made by Thomas Edison late in 1888, it’s a prototype for [...]

U.S. Women Face Japan In World Cup Title Match

The U.S. women’s national team tries to take its first World Cup title since 1999 Sunday, facing a Japanese team that has become a sentimental favorite in Germany, the host nation. We’ll be updating this post with highlights from the game. You can watch also follow the live action at ESPN3.com. Update: 3 p.m. ET: [...]

GOP’s Return To The Right Goes Too Far For Some

Twenty-four. That’s the number of bills President Obama has signed into law since the swearing in of the 122th Congress this January. That’s about a quarter of the amount that the president signed during the same period last year. Certainly, productivity slips when Congress is split, but the trickle of bills passed this year suggests [...]