All Things Considered for July 9, 2019 Hear the All Things Considered program for July 9, 2019

All Things Considered

By one estimate, emissions from producing and incinerating plastics could amount to 56 gigatons of carbon — almost 50 times the annual emissions of all of the coal power plants in the U.S. — between now and 2050. Koji Sasahara/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Koji Sasahara/AP

Science

Plastic Has A Big Carbon Footprint — But That Isn't The Whole Story

Plastic waste litters cities, oceans and even the air. Largely overlooked is how making plastic affects the environment. Plastic is a big contributor to global warming. So are its alternatives.

By one estimate, emissions from producing and incinerating plastics could amount to 56 gigatons of carbon — almost 50 times the annual emissions of all of the coal power plants in the U.S. — between now and 2050. Koji Sasahara/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Koji Sasahara/AP

Plastic Has A Big Carbon Footprint — But That Isn't The Whole Story

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/735848489/739999780" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Nicki Minaj has cancelled her performance in Saudi Arabia due to pressure from human rights activists. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj Cancels Saudi Arabia Performance, Citing Human Rights Concerns

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/739947467/739999792" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Ransomware crime is many times more lucrative than bank robbery, with practically no risk of getting caught. Andrew Brookes/Getty Images/Cultura RF hide caption

toggle caption
Andrew Brookes/Getty Images/Cultura RF

Ransomware Attacks Create Dilemma For Cities: Pay Up Or Resist?

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/739999730/739999733" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Divino Niño (L to R): Javier Forero, Pierce Codina, Guillermo Rodriguez and Camilo Medina. Rachel Cabitt/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Rachel Cabitt/Courtesy of the artist

Divino Niño Uses Old Friendships And Retro Sounds To Create 'A Little Vacation'

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/739571924/739999804" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Searching for a song you heard between stories? We've retired music buttons on these pages. Learn more here.

All Things Considered