Issues
How do ‘torpedo bats’ work? We asked baseball physicists to explain
They look like baseball bats morphing into bowling pins, their ends flaring into an aggressive bulge that suddenly tapers. So how do they work?
Today is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day.’ What does that mean for tariffs?
President Trump has been promising new "reciprocal tariffs" to punish other countries for their tariffs and trade barriers. Markets are nervous that a trade war could hike prices and hurt the economy.
The U.S. already has tariffs on a few sectors. It hasn’t gone that great
The U.S. has generally kept tariffs low, but a few domestic industries have long been protected by import taxes and other trade barriers. They offer clues about how Trump's new tariffs might work out.
Supreme Court to decide if states can strip Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funds
At issue is whether a state, in this case, South Carolina, can remove Planned Parenthood clinics from its state Medicaid program, even though Medicaid funds cannot generally be used to fund abortions.
Say goodbye to chain crews: The NFL will use camera technology to measure 1st downs
Starting next season, a system of cameras will determine whether to award a first down rather than trot out a 10-yard chain. But humans will still decide where to spot the ball to begin with.
Why gold prices are surging to record highs
Tariffs are roiling stock markets — but making gold hotter than ever.
Alabama can’t prosecute groups who help women travel to get an abortion, federal judge says
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws.
Crumbling trust in American institutions: A MAHA activist takes on Girl Scout cookies
A controversial study raised the specter that Girl Scout cookies are unsafe. Authorities say they are safe, but the whole saga highlights a breakdown of trust in American institutions.
More billionaires than ever ranked in Forbes’ annual list. Here are the top 10
There are now more than 3,000 billionaires in the world, according to Forbes' annual ranking of the wealthiest people. They collectively hold about $16.1 trillion in wealth.
Supreme Court seems ready to let religious groups opt out of unemployment compensation laws
The case was brought by a chapter of Catholic Charities in Wisconsin, which says that it should be able to opt out of the mandatory state unemployment compensation system.
6 things borrowers should know about federal student loans right now
NPR has spent the past few weeks catching up with student loan experts and asking the Trump administration for clarity on some of borrowers' biggest questions.
Catholic Charities tests Wisconsin’s unemployment payment system at Supreme Court
A chapter of Catholic Charities in Wisconsin contends it should be exempted from the state's unemployment compensation system because it's a charitable organization with a religious mission.
Auburn completes sweep of No. 1 seeds into Final Four, beating Michigan State
The South Region champion Tigers, the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, became the last of the No. 1 seeds to advance to the Final Four — joining Florida, Duke and Houston.
Nine home runs for the Yankees lead to questions about their new bats
Some Yankees players used a new bat during the second game in the Major League Baseball series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Sears, Alabama can’t duplicate record 3-point night, fall to Duke with Final Four at stake
Duke handcuffed Alabama's All-American, Mark Sears, and did a pretty good job stifling the rest of the high-scoring Crimson Tide, too.
Alysa Liu ends long U.S. drought at women’s figure skating world championships
"I don't know how to process this," the 19-year-old from Clovis, Calif., said after becoming the first American women's figure skating world champion in nearly two decades.
March Madness is a season for betting, but help for problem gambling is hard to find
For people with gambling disorder, the proliferation of gambling opportunities makes it difficult to fight their addiction. Investment in treatment lags behind other addiction disorders.
Jersey Shore Wave to kick off season as one of the newest teams in women’s football
The Women's National Football Conference kicks off its sixth season this weekend. The Jersey Shore Wave is one of the new teams joining the league this year.
What Ramadan has been like this year in Gaza, from ceasefire to war
For the first week of Ramadan, Palestinians in Gaza marked the holy month with a respite from war. Then Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas. The fighting and blockade mean there's little to celebrate.
March Madness returns to Birmingham with women’s Sweet 16, Elite Eight games
The top women’s college basketball teams will play at Legacy Arena for a spot in the Final Four. Bringing the games to Birmingham was years in the making.
NPR speaks to a former Education Secretary about dismantling the department, arrests
NPR's Emily Kwong speaks with former Education Secretary John B. King Jr. about the dismantling of the education department and recent arrests of international scholars.
Cooper Flagg sends Duke into Elite Eight while Texas Tech wins an overtime thriller
The Sweet 16 weekend began Thursday night with dramatic late-night games as both men and women roll into action on Friday.
Cardboard cutouts stand in for elected leaders at town halls
In cities across Alabama, voters have been inviting their elected representatives to town halls. They hope to air their grievances and pose their questions about federal funding and staff cuts.
In need of some peace? Take a stroll — or scroll — through D.C.’s cherry blossoms
Springtime means cherry blossoms in the nation's capital. On a recent breezy morning, with peak bloom still two days away, the Tidal Basin was packed with both blossoms and visitors.
There’s no rulebook for deep-sea mining. Companies want to push forward anyway
Countries have debated for decades whether to allow mining on the ocean floor, a potential trove of critical minerals. Now, companies are telling regulators they plan to move ahead, whether or not rules are in place.
Guitar/violin duo Davis and Haleigh present genre-bending music in first release
The Birmingham-based pair count numerous musical influences – from jazz to Celtic, Appalachian to eastern music.
Déjà vu all over again? Dodgers are favorites as 2025 MLB season begins
Major League Baseball's 2025 season gets fully underway Thursday. The scary news for the league: the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, favorites to repeat, may be even better this season.
March Madness and babies: Are the sounds of the game too big for little ears?
What's the right age to take kids to a loud sporting event? A Johns Hopkins noise expert on protecting babies' ears and when game day noise might be too much for them.
Trump announces new 25 percent tariff on all cars made outside the U.S.
The president's latest action on trade enacts a 25% tariff on cars made outside of the U.S., continuing his trade policies focused on boosting American manufacturing.
EV buyers who missed out on their tax credits now have a fix from the IRS
Some car owners couldn't claim the EV tax credit for vehicles purchased in 2024 because dealers skipped a key sales reporting step. The IRS is now offering a fix.
What’s soil blocking? This seeding method helps gardeners use less plastic and peat
Soil blocking is an environmentally friendly method to prep seedlings. The technique has captured the attention of serious gardeners who'd like to make their growing more sustainable.
Top-seeded Auburn brushes off late-season lull to make Sweet 16 with contributions abound
Now, Auburn is in its first Sweet 16 since 2019 looking to top that Final Four run with its first national championship.
