It’s not just energy supplies that have been disrupted by the Iran war. It’s also hitting frankincense, a commodity that’s been defining trade routes in the Middle East for thousands of years.
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The most memorable moon movies aren’t even about space
While marveling at Artemis II’s mission, NPR’s film critic went down a rabbit hole about moon-themed movies. Most have nothing to do with space.
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What draws people into cults? A new book tracks the journeys of two followers
Harrison Hill’s book The Oracle’s Daughter is a story about the terror of losing the self — but it’s also, gratifyingly, a story about finding the way back to it.
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710,000 fewer babies were born last year in U.S. compared with two decades ago
The U.S. fertility rate continued its slide to historic levels, due to plunging teen pregnancies and far more women delaying motherhood into their 30s and 40s.
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How a cheese sandwich at the Masters is still $1.50 in an era of price hikes
The priciest concessions at the Masters, beer and wine, cost just $6 each. The Georgia golf tournament prides itself on a simple and affordable menu, even as ticket prices continue to climb.
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How bad for humans is wildlife trade? A new study has answers
People sell wild animals for food and for traditional medicine — legally and illegally. A study looks at the risks of spillover diseases from those pangolins, giant rats and other exotic critters.
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Artemis II astronauts have fitness lessons for everyone
The Artemis II astronauts don’t have a lot of space to exercise. That’s why they’ve got the flywheel — a small device that can be used for strength and cardio workouts.
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‘After the Flood’ argues Bob Dylan’s late career is just as potent as his early years
Much of our image of Dylan derives from his early protest music, but Robert Polito’s book makes the argument that the most recent 30 years of Dylan’s career have been just as creative as the first 30.
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BTS stays at No. 1 on the charts — and thwarts Ye in the process
This week, no album can unseat last week’s champion: BTS’s Arirang, which holds on to the top spot thanks to another flood of sales.
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In the Trump era, everybody’s talking about ‘soft power.’ But … what is it exactly?
The U.S. government long saw giving international aid as a way to build goodwill throughout the world. Did it work? And what does the reducing of foreign aid mean for that effort now?
