What are 'orphan crops'? And why is there a new campaign to get them adopted? The grass pea is one: a hardy crop that can thrive in a drought. An agriculturist is spearheading an effort to diversity what farmers grow as climate change threatens staples like corn and wheat. Dan Charles
The U.S. has come up with its own global strategy to thwart the next pandemic The Biden administration has launched a new effort to improve the ability of the U.S. to prevent, detect and respond to global health threats. Some experts say the new strategy doesn't go far enough. Gabrielle Emanuel
Here are 3 solutions to get blood to folks in 'blood deserts.' One is often illegal Doctors have coined a term to describe places where blood for transfusions is not readily available: "blood deserts." When blood banks aren't around, they try different strategies to help patients. Simar Bajaj
The banjo is a star of Beyoncé's new album. Turns out it has African roots In "Texas Hold 'Em," the singer is accompanied by a banjo. It's often thought of as a quintessential Americana instrument. But the history of the banjo tells a different story. Aaron Cohen
Glasses aren't just good for your eyes. They can be a boon to income, too That's the finding of a new study in Bangladesh, which gave reading glasses to hundreds of people and then measured their earnings. Gabrielle Emanuel
Mercy me: Photos show what humans have done to the planet in the Anthropocene age Anthropocene refers to the age of humans — the things we've done to Earth. Geologists just rejected a proposal to declare an official "Anthropocene epoch." But everyone agrees: Damage has been done. Rebecca Ellis
Is the pandemic causing a surge in female genital mutilation? Kenya's president pledged to stamp out the practice by 2022. But since the pandemic began, activists say more girls are being cut — and married off afterward. Maria Godoy
Choosing A Charity: Should You Go With Your Heart Or Your Head? Some argue that looking at data about a charity's effectiveness is the best way to make your pick. But there are drawbacks. Nurith Aizenman
