All Things Considered Special Features Archive

New York Works
Radio Diaries and All Things Considered begin a multi-part radio tribute to jobs that are slowly disappearing, celebrating people who keep alive an older way of life. The series begins with a profile of one of the last original seltzer men left in New York City.

Helen Levitt's Indelible Eye
Helen Levitt is considered "a photographer's photographer" -- little known by the public, but revered by fellow photographers. She has a new book of her photos documenting New York City street scenes, and talks about her life with All Things Considered co-host Melissa Block.

The Fall of Enron
Once, Enron looked like a corporate juggernaut; now it's beleaguered, bankrupt, and being grilled by no fewer than 10 Congressional panels. As part of NPR News' continuing coverage, All Things Considered examines what the Enron story says about American business.

Bobsled Run
NPR's Howard Berkes zips down the icy Olympic bobsled track to experience the thrill of athletes competing in next month's winter games in Salt Lake City. Hear his story on All Things Considered.

Born to Be Tone Deaf?
Monica is normal in every way -- except she can't carry a tune to save her life. Canadian researchers says Monica's extreme case of amusia is helping them discover why people are tone deaf.

Positive Outlook for Preemies
A new study following premature infants into adulthood finds that some babies who started out weighing less than three pounds grow into remarkably resilient adults. NPR's Rachel Jones reports for All Things Considered.

Cloak of the Prophet
At the center of the war-torn city of Kandahar, Afghanistan is a shrine said to hold a cloak once worn by the Prophet Mohammed himself. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports on the symbolic power of Afghanistan's holiest Muslim site. worn by the Prophet Mohammed himself.

The Arches of Kandahar
More than two decades of warfare and chaos in Afghanistan have given way to hopes of rebuilding. In the former Taliban capital, NPR's Steve Inskeep finds dreams of reconstruction amid the rubble of intricate, arch-bedecked buildings.

Homo Sapiens Get Smart in Africa
Ancient evidence had pointed to Europe as the birthplace of modern behavior. But now, two pieces of carved ochre suggest that yet again, it all started in Africa. NPR's Chris Joyce reports for All Things Considered.

The Latest News on Space
Planet nurseries, violent star births and the color of the universe are the talk of this week's American Astronomical Society meeting. NPR's Richard Harris reports for All Things Considered.

Kevin Kling Returns
Last summer, a motorcycle accident sent storyteller Kevin Kling to the hospital, where he rediscovered the powers of prayer, family and friends. Kling recounts his near-death experience with his trademark humor -- and an enhanced zest for life.

Islam's Crisis
The Islamic world once led the globe in science and religious tolerance. But in his new book on Islam, historian Bernard Lewis describes a culture in turmoil. Lewis talks with All Things Considered host Robert Siegel about the politics of hate and historic choices ahead.

Training for Terrorism
A wartime mandate is shifting the FBI's mission and training. NPR's John McChesney recently visited the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., and found the bureau on a crash course to address the challenge of terrorism.

For Auld Lang Syne
For most of four decades, bandleader Guy Lombardo practically owned New Year's Eve. On All Things Considered, commentator Mal Sharpe recalls the era of "Mr. New Year's Eve" -- and a Boston band offers a new New Year's Eve tune to replace "Auld Lang Syne."

Nike Missile
As President Bush aims to develop a missile defense shield, experts warn the limitations that killed a Cold War system could pose similar problems today. NPR's Brian Naylor looks at the Nike missile system.

Adapting to Ground Zero
All Things Considered host Robert Siegel talks to people around Ground Zero, and finds that New York has already begun to assimilate the event into its culture.

Defeating Childhood Obesity
Obesity has become an epidemic among American children. One researcher's solution is to change the parents' habits. Dr. Leonard Epstein has found that children are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off when they team up with their families. NPR's Vicky Que follows one family's experience with Epstein's Stoplight diet and their struggle with obesity.

Giant Squid Sightings
Researchers writing in Science magazine report they may have found a new deep-sea squid -- all 23 feet of it. Several of these giraffe-sized beasts have been encountered in the deep -- and largely unexplored -- waters of the world's oceans. NPR's Chris Joyce reports for All Things Considered.

The Roots of Resentment
Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, many Americans have paid closer attention to their attitudes about the Muslim world. NPR and American RadioWorks explore the mixed feelings Arabs have toward the United States.

Alan Cheuse's Annual Book Reviews
In a look at the literary offerings of the year, NPR's book reviewer, Alan Cheuse, offers All Things Considered the wish list he'd draw up for the holidays.

A Very Vocal Christmas
NPR music critic Tom Manoff has chosen four CDs that he's listening to over the Christmas holidays -- all vocal performances. Listen to a track from each of Manoff's selections.

The Lone War Dissenter
On the 60th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, commentator Walter Cronkite reflects on the lone dissenter in the Congressional vote to declare war -- political pioneer Jeanette Rankin -- and how another lone dissenting vote granting President Bush added powers to hunt Osama bin Laden echoes Rankin's own vote.

In Your Face Security
The Pelco DX 9000 Plus face recognition device takes pictures of airline passengers, then compares those pictures to its database of several hundred known terrorists. The system is being used for the first time at the airport in Fresno, Calif.

A Taste of Hanukkah
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah began Dec. 9 -- and Joan Nathan, author of The Foods of Israel Today, shares her favorite recipes for latkes, a traditional holiday potato pancake. All Things Considered host Robert Siegel was the lucky taste-tester for Nathan's modern revision of the venerable dish.

'Homebody/Kabul'
Tony Kushner's new play, Homebody/Kabul, couldn't be more timely -- a drama about the clash of East and West, set in London and Kabul, the Afghan capital. Yet it was four years in the making, finished last winter, and wasn't modified after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. All Things Considered co-host Noah Adams talks with Kushner about his new theatrical vision.

Saving Ocean Wildlife
Conservationists are taking wildlife preserves to the ocean, creating refuges where fishing is forbidden. NPR's Christopher Joyce reports that fish in these marine reserves are thriving and that they can even become nurseries for replenishing nearby fisheries.

Conrad's Garage
Frank Conrad's garage near Pittsburgh is widely considered to be the birthplace of modern broadcasting. For 94-year-old Harry Mills, memories of Conrad's earliest broadcasts still ring with excitement. Hear the story of radio's early days on All Things Considered. It's part of NPR's continuing Lost and Found Sound series.

NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Poll: Civil Liberties and Terrorism
A new survey by NPR News, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government shows most Americans are willing to accept curbs on civil liberties in order to fight terrorism.

Remembering George Harrison
George Harrison was "the quiet Beatle." But his soulful world view and unique guitar style helped give the group its distinctive sound. Harrison died at 58 after a long battle with cancer. All Things Considered host Robert Siegel speaks with Michael Palin of Monty Python's Flying Circus, who was a friend of Harrison.

Good News for Right Whales
Two new studies are giving marine biologists new confidence they'll be able to save the severely endangered rights -- one whale at a time. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports.

Fast Cat Sanctuary
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on the planet -- and their numbers are dropping just as fast. NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports that at a unique Texas animal sanctuary, wildlife experts are fighting to save the cat from extinction and inbreeding.

Singer Dan Bern
With his acoustic guitar and a batch of witty and insightful songs, Dan Bern is rapidly becoming the voice of a new generation of folk music. The singer/songwriter -- hailed by some critics as the next Bob Dylan -- talks about his latest album, titled New American Language.

Voices of Parkesburg
An estimated 3,500 voices were silenced on Sept. 11, victims of the worst-ever terrorist assault on U.S. soil. All Things Considered co-host Noah Adams sought out the stories of the people of Parkesburg, Penn. -- population about 3,500 -- to better understand what was lost.

Patricia Well's Paris Cookbook
Food writer Patricia Wells has lived in Paris for 20 years, dining in the city's finest restaurants. Now she has a cookbook showcasing those restaurants' recipes. All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks to Wells about her new Paris Cookbook.

Creating a Roadmap to the Brain
A new 3-D database offers researchers unprecedented details of the human brain. NPR’s Michelle Trudeau visits the laboratory of the human brain atlas project in California.

Dugan's Double Play
Poet Alan Dugan burst on the scene 40 years ago, winning the National Book Award for his very first collection of poems. In Nov., 2001, he won a second time. Dugan talks with host Linda Wertheimer about critics, time and what makes a good poem.

A Different Way to Help
Contributions are flooding in to aid groups to help victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. But a very different charity is collecting reward money to help hunt down terrorism suspects worldwide.

'Madama Butterfly' Revisited
Leave it to an imaginative Polish film director to find an innovative way to frame a classic opera. Mariusz Trelinski speaks with host Robert Siegel about how to make Madama Butterfly register with a television-jaded audience.

Selling the War
More than bombs are dropping on Afghanistan. Psychological warfare soldiers are dropping leaflets and broadcasting news and music, hoping to frighten the Taliban and foster civilian support. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports on the military's war of words.

Goodbye, Julia Child
Gourmet guru Julia Child is saying goodbye to her Cambridge, Mass., home, where she has held court on good cooking for 40 years. She's headed for retirement in sunny California. Rachel Gotbaum from NPR member station WBUR sat down for an interview with Child in her pot-cluttered kitchen.

Comfort Food: The Recipes

Sky High Spending
An independent oversight committee tells Congress that NASA should scale back its plans for a full-scale International Space Station until the space agency can stop cost overruns that have nearly quadupled the price tag.

Sheep Smarts
The lowly sheep may be getting a bad rap -- that’s the conclusion of a new study that finds the easily herded creatures may be smarter than originally thought.

Cincinnati's Racial Divide
In April, 2001, Cincinnati was rocked by three days of rioting after a young black man was shot and killed by a cop. All Things Considered host Noah Adams reports that six months later, the racial divide is still as wide as ever.

Afghanistan's Invisible Women
Postcard from a Lost Kabul
One Year In High School
NPR's Robert Smith follows a group of former eighth graders as they make their first nervous steps into a much bigger world -- high school. Smith's report is the first of a year-long series following students and faculty at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Wash.

Civil Liberties in Quarantine
Found Art
Mission to Mars
Airline Layoffs
Voice of Moderation
All Things Considered host Robert Siegel speaks with Sari Nusseibeh, the newly appointed top political representative for the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem, on the path for peace and the need for moderation and reason in the Middle East.

The Pelican Experiment

A Brother's Betrayal

The Artist Behind the Penny

America Responds
As the United States responds to the terrorist assault of Sept. 11, 2001, NPR News provides continuing coverage on the air and online.

Terror Urban Legends

Walking With Whales

Huntsville Prison Blues

In Giuliani's Shadow

The Plight of the Roma

The Forgetting
Host Noah Adams interviews David Shenk, author of a new book about Alzheimer's disease entitled The Forgetting. Alzheimer's: Portrait of an Epidemic.

Houston's Bug Hunters
Health officials in Houston, Texas, have discovered mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis in seven areas of the city. NPR's Wade Goodwyn travels with one of the health department's "mosquito men" as he makes his way through Houston's extensive sewer system, trapping mosquitoes and sending them back to the lab for testing.

Pauline Kael
To Pauline Kael, the legendary film critic who died Monday, a good movie "makes me feel great. I think good movies do that for people." Her books and writing for The New Yorker and other magazines carried great importance in the motion picture world.

America's Poet: Billy Collins
U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins is a professor of English at Lehman College of the City University of New York. Collins' latest work is called Sailing Alone Around the Room.

Seeing Double
Host Linda Wertheimer reports on a twin explosion we're experiencing in the United States. Dr. Barbara Luke of the University of Michigan's Division of Prenatal Epidemiology talks about some of the reasons.

Dead Air Online
It's been a rough time for radio stations that simulcast their programs over the Internet. A new contract for advertising actors, and a ruling broadcasters are not exempt from paying royalties for on-line broadcasts have forced many stations to stop their Webcasts.

An Untouchable Subject?
The caste system remains in India, even though "untouchability" is banned by the Indian constitution. The estimated 160 million dalits, or untouchables in India still face discrimination.

A Dinosaur Discovery
The ostrich-like dinosaurs who thundered across the screen in Jurassic Park may not have been fierce creatures after all. Researchers show that these beaked dinosaurs used their mouthparts as sieves, not daggers - and probably ate plants and small water creatures rather than hunting meat.

Slavery in Mauritania
Slavery remains a fact of life in some isolated parts of Africa. The Mauritanian government outlawed slavery more than two decades ago, but slavery, in some forms, exists to this day.

Creating A College
From member station WBUR, Jason Beaubien reports on a new engineering college in Boston where students will learn how to design all sorts of things -- including their own school.

Lighting Up Jefferson
A new and improved lighting system is being installed at the Jefferson Memorial. The new system will use less energy than the current system and will enhance the appearance of the building and interior.

Sea Creature Sight
A sea creature known as a brittlestar has a natural fibre optic system far in advance of anything technology has yet devised.

High Art and Politics
An oil painting by Marc Chagall was stolen from the Jewish Museum in New York two months ago. Now there's news that the painting is being held for ransom. The demand: peace in the Middle East in exchange for the painting's return.

Montana Mandolin Society
Since the 1800s, Montana has been mandolin country. Ten musicians from Bozeman together produce a dramatic sound - they call it the "Montana Sound" - inspired by the freedom and open spaces of their home state.

Making a Michelada
Noah Adams talks with Charles Davis, president of Habagallo Foods in McAllen, Texas, about his new cocktail mix for the Michelada cocktail. The New York Times food critic says the drink tasted like the best steak he ever had.

How Safe is Our Food?
A small but significant number of people are getting sick and finding the usual antibiotics don't work, because the strain of bacteria that's making them sick has become resistant to the drug. The cause is widely believed to be the common practice of feeding antibiotics to farm animals.

Living With HIV
In 1987, NPR's Patricia Neighmond profiled Archie Harrison -- a young man with HIV. Archie died from AIDS in August 1988, leaving behind his partner Drew. Drew has been HIV positive for years, but hasn't taken any drugs and remains healthy. This story explores the science of long-term survivors and current AIDS therapies as well as the various issues gay men face in dealing with survivorship.

The Spirit of Cuba
NPR's Tom Gjelten looks for hints at Cuba's future in a battle over one of Cuba's signature products: Cuban rum. The story involves the Bacardi family of Santiago, Cuba, which developed rum in the 19th century, but left after Castro imposed Communism.

Calder's Storm
The largest retrospective ever assembled of Alexander Calder's large-scale sculptures is now at the Storm King Art Center in New York state. Calder is best-known for his mobiles. Even some of his massive outdoor sculptures move.

Lawyers Without Borders?
NPR's Michele Kelemen reports on the new trend toward "universal jurisdiction," in which any country can try anybody for war crimes committed anywhere. Several countries want to question former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger about the U.S. role in Chile 25 years ago though Kissinger says he's not a criminal.

Misery Index
From the Midwest to the East Coast, millions of Americans are feeling the dog days of summer. High temperatures combined with high humidity -- the so-called "heat index" -- are pushing the mercury into the triple digits across much of the nation.

Country Music in His Heart
Roger Wallace is living proof that much of the very best country music now comes from Texas. But this young singer/songwriter's musical influence reaches back to the traditions of country and bluegrass that prevail in his hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.

Mockingbird Sparks Controversy
Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is in the news again. The city of Chicago has chosen the 1960 classic for The Chicago reading initiative "One Book, One Chicago." The same day, Muskogee High School in Oklahoma removed the book from its required reading list for freshmen.

Burning Season
NPR's Howard Berkes traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where a 4,000-acre blaze came close to destroying dozens of homes, some valued in the millions of dollars. Many of the houses had taken no steps to make them more fire resistant.

Rostral Nostrils
Paleontologists may have gotten dinosaur nostrils all wrong. Until now. As NPR's Richard Harris discovered, dinosaur artists up until now had simply guessed where the nostril would appear on a dinosaur's snout.

Online Crime Busters
Robert Siegel speaks with Bill and Miriam Brownwell, who founded WeTip, a non-profit organziation where citizens can anonymously report information regarding a crime. The Bromwells says that citizens fear reprisal from criminals if they report crimes to the police, so they act as the neutral third party.

Silicon Valley Blues
An industry trade group reported that manufacturing activity in the U.S. fell in July for the 12th straight month. In California's Silicon Valley, big companies that helped create the high-tech boom are shedding thousands of jobs.

Little Pill, Big Addiction
Noah Adams travels to Southwestern Virginia to talk to people there about the pain-relief drug OxyContin. Now is the best selling narcotic pain medication in America, the drug has proven to be highly-effective for many users, but OxyContin is also being abused for fun and profit, and reports of overdoses and addiction to the drug have been steadily increasing.

The 'Net After Napster
Finding free music on the Internet is as easy as it was in Napster's heyday -- and maybe even easier. A random assortment of people nationwide told us what they'd like to find on the Internet, then NPR's Rick Karr finds it with the latest music trading programs.

The Demise of Sea Giants
Back in the seventeenth century, explorers told of seas teeming with giant marine creatures. A group of researchers concluded that these were an accurate account of life in the oceans at the time. As John Nielsen reports, these fabulous aquatic ecosystems collapsed as humans started to hunt these creatures.

Summer Reading Lists
What's on America's summer reading list? All Things Considered asked listeners around the country -- including a rancher, a nuclear engineer, a retiree and an elementary school student -- what they’re reading this summer. Their choices range from best-selling fiction to the history of Egyptian mythology.

Changing Face of Privacy
Polls show that Americans are worrying more about their personal privacy. With easy access to personal information via the Internet and computer databases, are threats to privacy worse than ever? NPR's Bob Garfield ponders privacy issues.

Death of a Bandit Queen
NPR's Robert Siegel spoke with Mary Anne Weaver, who penned a profile of Phoolan Devi, the wildly popular member of India's Parliament. The 1994 Indian movie Bandit Queen, which told the remarkable story of Devi's life, solidified her image as a heroine to members of India's lower castes.

Fire in the Sky
NPR's Linda Wertheimer spoke with Allan Langheinrich, a master tool and die maker and meteorite enthusiast who maintains a rock cutting and preparation facility at his workshop in Ilion, New York.

Sticking It to British Art
The Stuckists are fed up with the contemporary British art scene. As NPR's Rick Karr reports from London, the group of painters says modern art in the UK is made by and for an elite clique.

Child Soldiers of Sierra Leone
NPR's Ivan Watson reports that Sierra Leone's civil war seems to be ending and rebel commanders are turning over hundreds of child soldiers to the United Nations. The UN estimates that some 5,000 child soldiers saw combat during the 10-year civil war.

Ethiopian Fossil Discovery
NPR's Christopher Joyce reports that scientists working in an Ethiopian desert have uncovered a small boxful of bone fragments and teeth that they say may be the oldest human ancestor.

Giving up Custody
Children with severe mental disabilities often need expensive treatment or round-the-clock supervision. NPR's Joanne Silberner profiles one family that had to give up custody of their child because they could not afford the care he needed.

David Brock
Journalist David Brock, who attacked the credibility of law professor Anita Hill, now says he printed lies about Hill following her testimony against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Nina Totenberg talks to Brock about the confession, detailed in a forthcoming book.

Media on the 'Net
As NPR Cultural Correspondent Rick Karr reports in a two-part series, smaller Internet media companies increasingly are being subsumed or edged out by media conglomerates.

Changing American Comedy
Comic Judy Carter explores how American stand-up and situation comedy has changed in the last few years.

Tasting Freedom
Culinary anthropologist Grosvenor recalls how food figured in slave life. "Imagine planting, harvesting, cooking, curing, canning, smelling, serving foods that were not for you," says Grosvenor. And then, thanks to Juneteenth, "Imagine freedom -- after centuries of stirring the pot for others, you could do it for yourself."

St. Petersburg to Moscow
More than 200 years ago, a Russian aristocrat from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Aleksandr Nikolaevich Radishchev took notes on what he saw and turned his reporting into an impassioned plea for reform. In this five-part series on All Things Considered, join NPR's Anne Garrels as she recreates Radishchev's journey.

Acting Up on the Evening News
On Jan. 22, 1991 three AIDS activists snuck onto the set of the CBS Evening News. John Weir, one of those men, spoke on AIDS community television about getting the attention of the nation.

Alan Cheuse's Summer Reading List
All Things Considered book reviewer Alan Cheuse's picks list of summer books.

Astronomy on Mauna Kea
The top of 14,000-foot Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the big island of Hawaii, is one of the last best places to do astronomy. But astronomers now have devised a way to make "the seeing," as they call it, even better. Join NPR's Christopher Joyce for a visit to Mauna Kea.

James' Story
After a seven-year prison term, James, went through a rigorous education process including job training, drug counseling and support meetings. James watched others in the program drift back to crime while he struggled to overcome the obstacles that ex-offenders face when trying to re-connect to family and society.

National Poetry Month
In recognition of National Poetry Month, All Things Considered featured a different poet each week in April, 2001. Poets include Ron Padgett, Stanley Kunitz, Judy Jordan, Maurice Manning and Ofelia Zepeda.

Self-Determination
U.S. News and World Report senior writer Joseph Shapiro reports on a new model of providing government assistance for the severely disabled. Called self-determination, it allows disabled people a much greater role in making decisions about their own care. Find out how a pair of twin sisters used self-determination to reunite after years of separation.

Birdsong Mystery
Commentator Brad Klein tells the story of a treetop mimic in New York City's Central Park. For several years, careful birdwatchers noticed that they heard the Black-Throated Green Warbler weeks before they saw it. This puzzled them -- until someone noticed that the Warbler's song was alternating with that of the White-Throated Sparrow.

The Capitol Steps
The Capitol Steps, a political satire group in Washington, D.C., takes on the new presidential administration on the way to the White House while helping public radio fundraise throughout the country.

Bolivian Childhood Death Rate
Bolivia has the highest infant mortality in South America, far worse than its neighbors. NPR's Joe Palca explores the reasons for this depressing statistic, and also looks into what both governmental and non-governmental organizations are doing to address the problem

Globalization of Disease
As the global economy knits countries closer together, it becomes easier for diseases to spread through states, over borders and across oceans doing serious damage to vulnerable populations. American RadioWorks and NPR News present a series on this lethal side effect of globalization.

America's Oil Century
In his three-part series on the oil century, John Burnett reports that a century ago, a gusher blew on Spindletop Hill in southeast Texas, inaugurating America's infatuation with oil and gas. The first of the great southwest oil fields, Spindletop made America a global energy power, virtually overnight.

Homeschooling 101
Changing Face of America's three-day series on homeschooling surveys three familes across the nation, exploring their reasons for choosing home-based education as well as the teaching methods they employ. There are as many approaches to homeschooling as there are familes doing it.

Sounds of the Silophone
Noah Adams talks with Emmanuel Madan and Thomas McIntosh about their sonic project, the Silophone. The two artists, who call themselves The User, have given an old grain silo in Montreal a new function by rigging it with broadcast lines and microphones. People can call into the Silophone or submit sounds over the Internet.

Wind Power
NPR's Howard Berkes exlores the rush to harness energy from wind during a visit to the town of McCamey, the Wind Energy Capital of Texas, where hundreds of wind turbines are going up on every available mesa.

The NPR 100
Throughout the year 2000, NPR presented the stories behind 100 of the most important American musical works of the 20th century. These special features cover music from a wide variety of genres -- classical, jazz, rock'n'roll, country, R&B, musical theatre and film scores.