Enlarge image i A new coronavirus looks a lot like its cousin SARS under the microscope, but it appears they’re quite different when it comes to contagiousness. NIAID/RML A new coronavirus looks a lot like its cousin SARS under the microscope, but it appears they’re quite different when it comes to contagiousness. NIAID/RML Ever since

Enlarge image i The proposed Earth to Mars trajectory. Inspiration Mars The proposed Earth to Mars trajectory. Inspiration Mars The American businessman who paid $20 million to visit the International Space Station in 2001, has presented an ambitious plan for a manned fly-by mission to Mars. If all goes as planned, a couple would be

Enlarge image i A waiter carries beer mugs during the 2012 Oktoberfest in Munich. Johannes Simon/Getty Images A waiter carries beer mugs during the 2012 Oktoberfest in Munich. Johannes Simon/Getty Images For centuries, Germany has been synonymous with beer. Tourists flock from around the world to take part in the country’s many beer festivals, including

Today’s economic indicators all point up: — New Home Sales: There was a 15.6 percent surge in sales of new homes in January from December, the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development say. That was the biggest one-month gain in nearly 20 years, according to The Associated Press. At an annual rate

Enlarge image i Billy Ray Harris. GiveForward.com/billyray Billy Ray Harris. GiveForward.com/billyray Nearly $152,000 has been donated online to help Billy Ray Harris, a homeless man in Kansas City who returned an engagement ring to the woman who accidentally left it in a cup he uses to collect change. Here’s his good news story: Last Friday,

Enlarge image i Edward Blum, director of the Project on Fair Representation, at his home in South Thomaston, Maine, on Nov. 9. Joel Page/Reuters /Landov Edward Blum, director of the Project on Fair Representation, at his home in South Thomaston, Maine, on Nov. 9. Joel Page/Reuters /Landov Edward Blum isn’t a lawyer, and he doesn’t

Barring a last-minute deal that at the moment seems unlikely, months of brinkmanship are set to culminate on Friday. The sequester — $85 billion worth of across-the-board cuts in federal spending — will begin to kick in, with potentially serious economic consequences, including federal furloughs and the slashing of programs. Here are three stories we’ve

Enlarge image i Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin. Paul J. Richards /AFP/Getty Images Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin. Paul J. Richards /AFP/Getty Images ‘); } }, onPlay: function() { if ($(“#jwPlayer172868548_wrapper .loading”).length 0){ $(‘#jwPlayer172868548_wrapper .loading’).remove(); } } } }); } } catch (e) { NPR.messaging.exception(e, ‘jw player javascript’, ‘look in CommonJwPlayer.inc’, NPR.messaging.constants.PLAYER_JS_ERROR); };

Enlarge image i For many, Swedish meatballs are part of the allure of shopping at IKEA. Marit Toomas Hinnosaar/Flickr For many, Swedish meatballs are part of the allure of shopping at IKEA. Marit Toomas Hinnosaar/Flickr Bad news for those whose shopping trips at IKEA are partly motivated by the allure of the store’s famous meatballs:

Enlarge image i U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the press prior to talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the State Department in Washington on Friday. Nicholas Kamm /AFP/Getty Images U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the press prior to talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the

Enlarge image i Stephanos Mwange, a Greek-born citizen of Ugandan descent, says his love for Greek history and mythology have inspired him to act ancient Greek tragedies such as Hecuba. He’s a well-known actor, though his positive experience as a naturalized Greek citizen is exceptional. Most from a similar background say they’ve been made to

Enlarge image i Cranes fly at sunset above the Hula Valley of northern Israel in January. Millions of birds pass through the area as they migrate south every winter from Europe and Asia to Africa. Some now stay in the Hula Valley for the entire winter. Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images Cranes fly at sunset above the