NPR
How Your Sandwich Changed The World
What if you could go back in time and follow your food from the farm to your plate? What if you could see each step of your meal’s journey — every ingredient that went into its creation, and every footprint it left behind? Back in February, The Salt reported on English researchers who did just…
Could Drones Help Save People In Cardiac Arrest?
AED-carrying drones beat ambulance times to the sites of previous cardiac arrest cases in a rural area of Sweden, a study finds. But this has yet to be tried in real emergencies.
‘Supersizing Urban America’: How U.S. Policies Encouraged Fast Food To Spread
A new book examines how federal government policies made it easier for minorities to open fast-food franchises than grocery stores. Today the landscape of urban America reflects this history.
Polar Photographer Shares His View Of A Ferocious But Fragile Ecosystem
Paul Nicklen has spent decades documenting the Arctic and the Antarctic. “I want people to realize that ice is like the soil in the garden,” he says. “Without ice the polar regions cannot exist.”
‘The Trump 10’: Packing On The Pounds In An Age Of Stressful Politics
Think of it as the political version of the freshman 15. Nowadays, some people who are unhappy with the current political environment are complaining of stress-induced eating and weight gain.
‘Praise The Lard’: A Barbecue Legend Shows Us How To Master Smoked Chicken Wings
Mike and Amy Mills are a father-daughter team from southern Illinois. Mike was trained as a dental technician. “I made false teeth — crowns, bridges, partials — this type of thing. It’s what I did as a trade,” he recalls. “Later on, I started barbecuing just for the fun of doing it.” And that’s what…
Eating Chocolate, A Little Each Week, May Lower The Risk Of A Heart Flutter
There’s a rich body of evidence that links chocolate to heart health. Now comes a new study that finds people who consume small amounts of chocolate each week have a lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a heart condition characterized by a rapid or irregular heartbeat. “The rate of atrial fibrillation was 20 percent lower…
Grocery Stores: ‘The Best Of America And The Worst Of America’
Grocery stores in America have changed from neighborhood corner markets to multimillion-dollar chains that sell convenience — along with thousands of products — to satisfy the demand of the country’s hungry consumers. What caused this transformation? And what will our grocery stores be like in the future? Award-winning food writer Michael Ruhlman, author of more…
Whirring, Purring Fidget Spinners Provide Entertainment, Not ADHD Help
Fidget spinners — the trendy toy of the moment — are causing a commotion. A lot of kids love them, just as many teachers hate them and some people think they’re more than just toys. The basic fidget spinner has three prongs centered around a circle with bearings in the middle. Take one prong, give…
‘Tar Baby’: A Folk Tale About Food Rights, Rooted In The Inequalities Of Slavery
The tar baby story in which Bre’r Rabbit outwits Bre’r Fox is a classic trickster folk tale. But like all fables, it is a double-barreled affair, with entertainment firing in tandem with a serious message. The question the story addresses is a fundamental one: Who controls access to food and water? Or, more crucially, who…