All Things Considered for December 23, 2014 Hear the All Things Considered program for December 23, 2014

All Things Considered

Larkin Carey, an optical engineer with Ball Aerospace, examines two test mirror segments designed for the James Webb Space Telescope. The mirror for the scope is extremely powerful, but heavy and pricey. NASA hide caption

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NASA

Joe's Big Idea

Could Glitter Help Solve NASA's Giant Telescope Problem?

NASA's next big space telescope costs $8 billion and is very heavy. New York scientists think they may have found the makings of a cheaper, lighter answer for future space scopes — in a crafts store.

Sarah Bajc's partner, Philip Wood, disappeared along with Flight MH370. "The issuance of the death certificate is an emotional thing," she says, "because we're not convinced that they're dead." Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images

A Vanished Jetliner Still Haunts Families Of The Missing

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Nissan workers at a plant in Canton, Miss. The auto company received financial incentives, including tax relief, from the state for the factory. Rogelio V. Solis/AP hide caption

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Rogelio V. Solis/AP

A Backlash Brews Against Low Pay On The Factory Floor

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Larkin Carey, an optical engineer with Ball Aerospace, examines two test mirror segments designed for the James Webb Space Telescope. The mirror for the scope is extremely powerful, but heavy and pricey. NASA hide caption

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NASA

Could Glitter Help Solve NASA's Giant Telescope Problem?

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The Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker features choreography by Kent Stowell and sets and costumes by the late children's book author Maurice Sendak. Angela Sterling/Pacific Northwest Ballet hide caption

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Angela Sterling/Pacific Northwest Ballet

In Seattle, Maurice Sendak's 'Wild' 'Nutcracker' Reaches Its Final Act

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At the We Care food bank in Southeast London, customers pay 1 pound sterling, or about $1.60, for 10 items. The token payment is meant to ease customers' discomfort about having to use the food bank's services. Ari Shapiro/NPR hide caption

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Ari Shapiro/NPR

The Salt

Record Number Of Britons Are Using Food Banks

4 min

Record Number Of Britons Are Using Food Banks

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All Things Considered