Nation Dec 25 How the character and traditions of Santa Claus evolved over centuries This Christmas, many children welcomed a familiar visitor – a jolly man in a red suit and a sleigh full of gifts. But the bearded figure Americans recognize today as Santa Claus is a relatively modern creation, shaped over centuries…
Nation Dec 24 Why Christmas carols endure as popular music changes From “Silent Night” to “Jingle Bells,” Christmas carols are some of the most familiar songs of the season, and some of the oldest. Stephanie Sy explores why most popular music changes with time, but many of these old tunes have…
Nation Nov 28 Long-overlooked marvel of ancient Indigenous engineering gets validation in Ohio On Native American Heritage Day, we examine a long-overlooked marvel of ancient engineering that had been tucked away beneath a golf course in Ohio. It is a place some archaeologists say is on par with Stonehenge. But its struggle for…
Education Nov 25 How artificial intelligence is reshaping college for students and professors This year’s senior class is the first to have spent nearly its entire college career in the age of generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, like text and images. As the technology improves, it's…
Arts Nov 06 Netflix's 'A House of Dynamite' sparks discussion about nuclear threats This week’s top-streaming film on Netflix tackles a long-running Hollywood theme. The threat of a nuclear attack and the discourse around "A House of Dynamite" has struck a nerve with audiences and with military defense experts. Geoff Bennett spoke with…
Arts Oct 31 'Morbidly Curious' explores the fascination with horror movies and the macabre On Halloween night, chances are you'll be watching something spooky, and you’re far from alone. Horror is the fastest-rising film genre in the U.S., more than quadrupling its market share in the past decade. The new book, "Morbidly Curious," delves…
Nation Oct 07 Trump considers $10 billion bailout for farmers as tariffs disrupt the market President Trump is said to be preparing a bailout package of at least $10 billion that could provide relief to farmers facing the financial pain of tariffs on China. To discuss what this means for farmers and for the heartland,…
Nation Oct 07 The complications and risks of relationships with AI chatbots Artificial intelligence has revolutionized everything from health care to art. It's now filling voids in some personal lives as AI chatbots are becoming friends, therapists and even romantic partners. As this technology enters our lives in new ways, our relationship…
Nation Oct 03 The pawpaw: America's forgotten native fruit finds new popularity Apples, oranges and bananas are sold in abundance in supermarkets throughout the country. But some say the most American fruit is one you’ll likely never see in the produce department, and it’s one you’ve probably never heard of. Deema Zein…
Arts Sep 20 In Detroit, a public garden thrives with help from an army of volunteers As the end of summer nears, we visit a public garden in Michigan that evolves with the seasons, thanks to its meticulous design and an army of volunteer gardeners. John Yang reports from Detroit for our arts and culture series,…