NPR News
Roll your eyes, but Black Friday's still got it. So here's what to look for
Americans say Black Friday is overhyped, but nearly 1 in 5 still plan to do most of their shopping then. This holiday season is expected to break shopping records.
NPR NewsNPR NewsCan we grow veggies on Mars? Fly larvae and synthetic soil may hold the answer
A Texas undergrad is investigating how to grow vegetables on Mars — and has cultivated test samples of English peas in simulated Martian soil, with fertilizer from fly larvae.
NPR NewsEmail fraud poses challenges for consumers and companies during the holiday season
Keep an eye out for cyber scams during the holiday shopping season. New research suggests companies could be doing more to protect consumers from being tricked.
NPR NewsHere's what will cost you more — and less — for the big Thanksgiving feast
The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving feast is slightly lower this year than last, thanks in large part to falling turkey prices. Overall grocery inflation has eased significantly in the last year.
NPR NewsPumpkin or sweet potato pie? There's a rich history behind both
The two desserts have similarities — both are orange, sweet, and have a bit of spice — but they have distinct histories that have led to dedicated followings.
NPR NewsHe disappeared in 1995. His mother's search led to a mass grave and changed laws
LaMont Dottin was a sophomore at Queens College when he vanished one day in 1995. His mother became a "one-woman search party" whose journey would lead her to a mass grave.
NPR NewsOpenAI reinstates Sam Altman as its chief executive
The company, maker of the popular ChatGPT chatbot, said its board would be remade without many of the members who had opposed Altman and voted for his removal late last week.
NPR NewsSouth Korea says it boosts surveillance after North claims spy satellite launch
The South Korean announcement — which will likely infuriate North Korea — came hours after the North claimed to have placed a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit.
NPR NewsPope Francis: Climate activist?
The Pontifex has long used his platform to advocate for climate change awareness. Now he's attending one of the biggest conferences seeking to address it.
NPR NewsCZ, founder of crypto giant Binance, pleads guilty to money laundering violations
Changpeng Zhao agreed to plead guilty to money laundering charges and step down from Binance as part of a sweeping settlement with the Department of Justice and top regulators.
NPR NewsNorth Korea claims it has put a spy satellite into orbit in 3rd attempt
North Korea claimed to have successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit with its third launch attempt this year, demonstrating the nation's determination to build a space-based surveillance system.
NPR NewsPalestinians in Israel cite threats, firings and discrimination after Oct. 7
At least 20% of Israelis identify as Arab or Palestinian. Many say they have long felt like second-class citizens. The current war has worsened their position in the country, they say.
NPR NewsJudge says 'undated' Pennsylvania ballots should count, setting up a likely appeal
A federal judge says mailed ballots that arrive on time but in envelopes without dates handwritten by Pennsylvania voters should be counted. The case is likely to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
NPR NewsKentucky cut off her Medicaid over a clerical error — just days before her surgery
The Medicaid 'unwinding' is in full swing, and thousands of people are being kicked off the rolls due to administrative errors. Kentucky canceled Beverly Likens' coverage even though she is disabled.
NPR NewsTrump, 77, issues letter lauding his health and weight loss on Biden's 81st birthday
The report, signed by Trump's personal physician, says the GOP frontrunner has lost weight. But it didn't say whether he weighs the same as Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, as Trump has claimed.
NPR NewsFor this student newly arrived from India, Thanksgiving came to feel like home
She came to the U.S. for grad school. She was lonely. Then came an invitation for Thanksgiving — no turkey (strictly vegan) but a spirit that touched her soul. And her mango lassi was a hit!
NPR NewsUp First briefing: holiday travel records; migrant crisis in California desert
Record-breaking Thanksgiving travel will test an already strained aviation system. A humanitarian crisis is brewing near the U.S.-Mexico border.
NPR NewsHamas leader says deal to release some hostages could come soon
As fighting around a hospital in northern Gaza continues, the head of Hamas' political wing says mediators in Qatar are "close to reaching" a deal with Israel for a pause in the fighting.
NPR NewsFor companies, rehiring a founder can be enticing, but the results are usually worse
After his ouster, it's possible that OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman could join a club of CEOs who return after leaving the company they founded. Research shows such CEOs perform worse than new hires.
NPR NewsArmy ants use collective intelligence to build bridges. Robots could learn from them
As army ants travel over uneven terrain, they link their bodies together to create bridges — a system that might give engineers insight into controlling robotic swarms.
NPR NewsBorder Patrol sending migrants to unofficial camps in California's desert, locals say
Residents of the Southern California border community of Jacumba say hundreds of migrants are dropped off every day at ad hoc sites where conditions are often dire. They call it a humanitarian crisis.
NPR NewsUkrainian hacktivists fight back against Russia as cyber conflict deepens
Russia and Ukraine are fighting a war on multiple fronts, including in cyberspace. A secretive Ukrainian hacktivist group says it is carrying out cyber missions against Russia.
NPR NewsShe was elated about her pregnancy. Then came a $2,400 bill for blood tests
Convenient as it may be, beware of getting your blood drawn at a hospital. The cost could be much higher than at an independent lab, and your insurance might not cover it all.
NPR NewsBlack Friday deals start early and seem endless. Are there actually any good deals?
Longer Black Friday sale windows give companies more chances to win potential business, but it also affords consumers the ability to shop around, experts say.
NPR NewsA novel prison program for pregnant women and their babies
Minnesota is believed to be the first state that allows some mothers live outside of prison with their new babies.
NPR NewsA fan died of heat at a Taylor Swift concert. It's a rising risk with climate change
The concert in Rio de Janeiro took place during one of the worst heat waves ever in Brazil. The country is in the middle of a record-breaking six months of extreme weather.
NPR NewsMusk's X sues Media Matters over its report on ads next to hate groups' posts
Elon Musk's social media company X, formerly called Twitter, filed a lawsuit against the liberal advocacy group Media Matters for America on Monday.
NPR NewsItalian tribunal sentences more than 200 in crime syndicate
An Italian tribunal convicted 207 people on charges related to their membership in an Italian crime syndicate that is one of the world's most powerful, extensive and wealthy drug-trafficking groups.
NPR NewsU.S. Navy plane overshoots runway and goes into a bay in Hawaii, military says
The P8-A aircraft overshot the runway at a Marine base on Kaneohe Bay, officials said. Further information, including any details on injuries, was not made available.
NPR NewsThe Gaza war's youngest evacuees reach safety in Egypt — many without their parents
On Monday, 28 newborns were evacuated from Gaza to Egypt, after being transported from Al-Shifa Hospital. Four mothers accompanied the babies. It's not known how many of the other parents are alive.