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Short Wave - Alive Or Not Alive… Is A Tricky Question

In this Back To School episode we consider the "List of Life": the criteria that define what it is to be a living thing. Some are easy calls: A kitten is alive. A grain of salt is not.

But what about the tricky cases, like a virus? Or, more importantly, what about futuristic android robots?

As part of our Black History Month celebration, developmental biologist Crystal Rogers and Short Wave co-host Regina G. Barber dig into what makes something alive, and wade into a Star-Trek-themed debate.

Listen to Short Wave on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Is there something you'd like us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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The Indicator from Planet Money - The nepo baby premium, frothing markets, and Apple vs. Apples

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our rapid run through the numbers you need to know.  

On today’s episode: John Legend croons; CPI inflation soothes; Same job as mom? You’ll earn more, dude; Apple vs. Apple, a courtroom feud. 

Related episodes: 
Why every A-lister also has a side hustle 
The DOJ's case against Apple 
The Intergenerational Transmission of Employers and the Earnings of Young Workers

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.


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NPR's Book of the Day - For the authors of ‘Reading Van Gogh,’ ‘Black in Blues,’ art opened a door to meaning

In today’s episode, the authors of two recently released nonfiction books search for meaning in art. First, Elizabeth Barks Cox’s Reading Van Gogh: An Amateur’s Search for God chronicles her infatuation with the painter’s writings, especially those on spirituality. In today’s episode, Cox joins Here & Now’s Lisa Mullins for a conversation that touches on the artist’s eye for beauty and despair – and why the author says she fell “a little bit in love with him.” Then, Harvard professor Imani Perry’s book Black in Blues tells the story of Black history through the color blue. In today’s episode, Perry speaks with Here & Now’s Scott Tong about the many ways blue appears in African American culture, art and literature.


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Consider This from NPR - Can Trump get Putin to make a deal?

American Presidents have been trying to manage Russian President Vladimir Putin since the beginning of this century.

There was George W. Bush, who met with Putin 28 times.

Barack Obama and Putin sat down together 9 times.

Joe Biden met with Putin only once.

Past presidents had hoped to strike deals and push Russia toward a more democratic society.

Instead, Russia started wars and tried to expand its borders.

Soon, President Trump heads here to Alaska for his seventh meeting with Putin – and like his predecessors – he’s trying to get something out of Putin.

This time he’s hoping to finally end the war in Ukraine.

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State of the World from NPR - Four Years after Taliban’s Return to Power in Afghanistan, Life for Many has Worsened

It's been four years since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's return to power. Life for certain groups has deteriorated significantly. But the Trump administration says Afghanistan’s conditions have improved in recent years to the point where sending Afghan nationals BACK does not pose a threat to their safety.

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1A - What Trump’s DC Takeover Means For The Capital And Beyond

President Donald Trump has taken over Washington D.C.’s police force and deployed the National Guard in the capital.

The president took over the city’s police department for 30 days, and says he wants Congress to grant him “long-term” control of the force.

All this in the name of public safety, despite the fact that D.C.'s violent crime rate is at a 30-year low.

He says he might do the same in places like Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore.

We get into what it all means for our nation’s capital and beyond.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. 

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Up First from NPR - Ukraine Battlefield, New Immigrant Detention Center, Kennedy Center Honors

Military escalations have taken place in Ukraine in recent days, even as President Trump prepares to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. A new El Paso immigration detention center billed as the country's largest will start accepting migrants this weekend. And President Trump will host this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. 

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Alfredo Carbajal, Jay Vanasco, Olivia Hampton and Adam Bearne. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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The Indicator from Planet Money - Why every A-lister also has a side hustle

Seemingly every celebrity has their own brand these days, whether it’s booze (Cameron Diaz, Matthew McConaughey) or cosmetics (Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga) or squeezy food pouches (Jennifer Garner). IToday on the show, what is fueling the celebrity business bonanza? We hear from two legendary singers, Lisa Loeb AND John Legend, who are pursuing ventures outside of show business

Related episodes:
The celebrity crypto nexus
The Olympian to influencer pipeline (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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NPR's Book of the Day - In ‘Human Nature,’ Kate Marvel bridges the gap between climate science and emotions

Kate Marvel is a climate scientist who has testified before Congress and served as lead author of the U.S. National Climate Assessment. But in her new book Human Nature, she takes a different approach to climate change, exploring the crisis through nine emotions. In today's episode, the scientist and author speaks with NPR’s Scott Simon about watching the world end through computer models, pushing back against emotional neutrality, and her book’s chapter on pride.

To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday

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State of the World from NPR - How Alaska Went from Russian Colony to U.S. State

All eyes are on Alaska ahead of President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting there on Friday. We revisit the history of Russia’s sale of the Alaskan territory to the U.S.. NPR’s Greg Myre describes how some Russians still question whether Alaska is truly American.

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