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2:14 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

Oh, Poop! Animal Shelter May Still Need More Newspapers

Credit iStockphoto.com

A dog eagerly awaits adoption in an animal shelter.

By Reema Khrais

When San Francisco's Animal Care & Control put out the word last month that it needed more newspapers to line the cages for dogs that have to take care of business, the city's library system stepped up to help.

NPR Story

1:23 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

While Studying Ice, Scientists Discover Huge Penguin Colony

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Credit International Polar Foundation

A few members of the newly discovered 9,000-strong emperor penguin colony on Antarctica's Princess Ragnhild Coast.

Credit International Polar Foundation

Adults and chicks at the newly discovered emperor penguin colony. The animals had never had human contact.

Credit International Polar Foundation

The colony lives on Antarctica's Princess Ragnhild Coast.

Credit International Polar Foundation

Hubert and two other researchers traveled 30 miles to find the penguins.

Credit International Polar Foundation

Expedition leader Alain Hubert was one of the first to visit the colony.

Credit International Polar Foundation

The colony of emperor penguins was first discovered in satellite imagery by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey in 2009.

Credit International Polar Foundation

The Princess Elisabeth research station is the world's first zero emission polar research station.

Credit International Polar Foundation

The colony of emperor penguins was first discovered in satellite imagery by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey in 2009.

Credit International Polar Foundation

The team found one penguin chick that didn't make it.

By editor

Originally published on Fri February 8, 2013 8:55 pm

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In 2009, a team of researchers from the British Antarctic Survey were studying satellite images of the Antarctic when they noticed something interesting: trails of penguin poop. That showed signs of a huge emperor penguin colony.

The existence of the colony was unconfirmed until a team of researchers from the International Polar Foundation visited in December 2012.

NPR Story

1:22 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

A Preview Of Brennan's Confirmation Hearings

By editor

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 3:12 pm

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Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. This afternoon, the Senate Intelligence Committee takes up the nomination of John Brennan to be the next director of the CIA, a hearing that will feature a festival of euphemisms. One man's targeted killing is another man's assassination.

NPR Story

1:22 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

With Pot Legalized, States Enter Uncharted Waters

By editor

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 3:14 pm

When electorates in Colorado and Washington State voted to legalize recreational marijuana, they thrust their states into uncharted territories. While it's one thing to say pot is legal, it's another to set up regulatory, law enforcement and business practices that work for the industry.

The Two-Way

1:05 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

NFL's Gregg Williams, Who Orchestrated Bounty Program, Is Reinstated

Credit Bill Haber / AP

Gregg Williams, then a coach with the New Orleans Saints, in August 2011.

By editor

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 10:16 pm

Less than a year after orchestrating a bounty program in Saint Louis, Gregg Williams will be back in the NFL next season. The Tennessee Titans have hired the former Saints defensive coordinator as a senior assistant coach.

Back in May of last year, Williams was suspended indefinitely for being part of a scheme in which he set up cash rewards for hits that knocked opponents out of games.

The Two-Way

12:55 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

Makeup Artist Who Created Yoda Dies; Stuart Freeborn Was 98

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Credit Tim Whitby / Getty Images

One of makeup artist Stuart Freeborn's best-known characters, Yoda.

Credit AP

When Superman returned to the silver screen in the '70s, Freeborn did actor Christopher Reeve's makeup.

Credit Scott Gries / Getty Images

Chewbacca, the furriest of the Star Wars rebels that Freeborn helped create.

Credit Tim Whitby / Getty Images

Alien, he was: Yoda is among Freeborn's most famous creations.

Credit Robert Spencer / AP

Jabba the Hutt, another Star Wars character who Freeborn helped bring to life.

Credit AP

Actor Peter Sellers on the set of Dr. Strangelove. Freeborn's makeup turned Sellers into several characters.

Credit / AP

Stuart Freeborn, in an undated photo provided by his granddaughter, Michelle Freeborn.

By Mark Memmott

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 5:28 pm

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The makeup artist who gave Star Wars' Yoda and Chewbacca their out-of-this-world looks, and helped bring to life other memorable characters such as the apes in 2001: A Space Odyssey, has died.

Stuart Freeborn was 98. According to The Associated Press, his granddaughter Michelle Freeborn "said he died Tuesday in London from a combination of ailments due to his age."

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

12:47 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

When We Hunt, Do We Murder?

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By Barbara J. King

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 3:24 pm

When people hunt and kill animals for sport, are they committing murder?

The Two-Way

12:44 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

What Nations Were The Most Forward-Looking In 2012?

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Credit Suzy Moat and Tobias Preis

The Future Orientation index shows a strong correlation between Internet activity and its gross domestic product. Countries in blue are deemed forward-looking.

Credit Suzy Moat and Tobias Preis

A chart ranks countries whose Internet users were more likely to seek information about the future than the past, based on Google searches.

Credit Suzy Moat and Tobias Preis

By Bill Chappell

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 10:16 pm

Germany was the world's most future-oriented country in 2012, followed by Switzerland and Japan, according to the "Future Orientation Index." Researchers found that in Germany and 10 nations last year, more people used Google to search for "2013" than for "2011."

The 11 countries represent a gain over 2011, when only seven countries had as many searches for the upcoming year as for the prior one.

The Two-Way

12:23 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

Poll: 9 In 10 Americans Support Background Check For All Gun Sales

Credit Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images

A photo illustration showing a Remington 20-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a Colt .45 semi-auto handgun, a Walther PK380 semi-auto handgun and various ammunition clips with a copy of the US Constitution on top of the American flag.

By Eyder Peralta

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 1:07 pm

A new Quinnipiac University poll finds Americans overwhelmingly support background checks on all gun sales.

The poll found that 92 percent of Americans support the checks, while 7 percent oppose them.

Quinnipiac also found that 52 percent support stricter gun laws and 56 percent support "a ban on the sale of assault weapons."

The Salt

12:09 pm

Thu February 7, 2013

Chain Restaurants Boost Sales With Lower-Calorie Foods

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Ordering the small fries? You're part of a trend.

By editor

Originally published on Thu February 7, 2013 2:54 pm

Lower-calorie foods are driving growth and profits for chain restaurants, according to fresh research, suggesting that people are making smarter choices when it comes to burgers and fries.

We're still ordering the burger and fries, mind you. But we're going for smaller portions and shunning sugary drinks. French fry sales dropped about 2 percent from 2006 to 2011, while sales of lower-calorie beverages rose 10 percent, the study found.

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