Talk of the Nation

The story of Adam and Eve is a primary belief for many Christians. Some scholars argue research on the human genome shows that modern humans did not descend from the Biblical couple, and that Christianity must reconcile modern science and religious beliefs. Originally broadcast September 22, 2011.

In 1989, Reginald Daniel began teaching a college course on multiracial identity called Betwixt and Between. It's the longest-running college course addressing the multiracial experience. For his continuing studies and research, Daniel received the Loving Prize. Originally broadcast June 21, 2012.

Despite news of terrorist bombings and crackdowns in Syria, two recent books argue the world has never seen so little war and violence. Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, and Joshua Goldstein, author of Winning the War on War, discuss. Originally broadcast on December 7, 2011.

For the first time, astronomers peered to the edge of a massive black hole at the heart of a distant galaxy and measured its "point of no return." Shep Doeleman, assistant director at MIT's Haystack Observatory, shares some of the black hole's deepest (and darkest) secrets.

Mapping streets is easy. The trick is pinning down businesses and giving accurate turn-by-turn directions, as many people discovered when Apple launched its apology-worthy Maps app for iOS 6. Rakesh Agrawal, principal analyst for reDesign mobile, talks about how mobile maps are made--and what can be done to improve them.

Reporting in Science, researchers write that mouse stem cells can be transformed not only into egg cells--but into newborn pups. Sean Morrison, a stem cell expert at the University of Texas Southwestern, explains the stem cell's journey, and what it could mean for fertility and assisted reproduction.

Over the past 27 years, Australia's Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its live coral cover, and a type of starfish is partly to blame for the alarming decline. Mark Eakin, head of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, discusses how to save the world's largest coral reef system.

In The Joy of X: A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity, mathematician Steven Strogatz provides an entertaining refresher course in math, starting with the most elementary ideas, such as counting, and finishing with mind-bending theories of infinity--including the idea that some infinities can be bigger than others.

A recent study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania identified key molecules involved in forming long-term memories. Experts discuss how this is the latest in a growing field of research on how our bodies regulate our genes, and how this process affects our memories.

The horn of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle can grow to be two-thirds the length of the rest of its body. And size matters. The beetles battle with their horns to get access to female beetles. Biologists Doug Emlen and Erin McCullough, of The University of Montana, are looking into what regulates the size of this extra-large attribute.

For The Latin Road Home, chef Jose Garces traced the food traditions that have influenced his cooking. From Spain to Mexico, to Ecuador, Peru and Cuba, he investigated the techniques and ingredients that shaped the foods of his childhood. Garces talks about his journey, and shares favorite recipes.

The Oxford English Dictionary has put out a call for help. Editors hope the public will be able to fill in the blanks about many English words and phrases. For example, "Can you provide evidence of 'bellini' before 1965?" and "Did John le Carre coin the phrase: 'Come in from the cold'"?

In the aftermath of death, many adults struggle with how to talk to kids while dealing with their own grief. Often, the instinct is to protect children from pain and loss. That can sometimes leave kids out of the family grieving process, which can leave them feeling lonely and misunderstood.

Mitt Romney proved he can go head-to-head with President Obama in the first of three debates. The consensus is that Romney won the night with a performance Republicans hope brings new life to his campaign. NPR's Ron Elving talks about the debate and what the candidates did — and didn't — say.

Dominican-American novelist Junot Diaz was awarded a MacArthur "genius grant" and the no-strings-attached $500,000 prize that comes with it. The Pulitzer prize-winning author of The Brief And Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao talks about the grant, his writing process and how the award may affect his work.