The Inca Empire in South America was one of the most powerful pre-Columbian societies. It was known for the architecture of Machu Picchu, an extensive road network and a system of terraces for agriculture. The society also kept records known as khipu, which involved a system of tying knots to encode sophisticated information.
Literacy in this form of writing was assumed to be something that only the highest levels of Inca society could do. But NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce shares how a new analysis of a cord made out of human hair may change that assumption.
Curious about science history? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
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NPR's Book of the Day - In the novel ‘Loved One,’ an ambiguous friendship is further complicated by loss
Aisha Muharrar’s debut novel Loved One is about a woman’s effort to understand her relationship with a friend who’s recently died. Julia had been friends with Gabe for nearly a decade after the two briefly dated – but their relationship became complicated right before his death. In today’s episode, Muharrar joins NPR’s Juana Summers for a conversation about ambiguous loss, uncertainty, and how the author hoped to write a book about grief that wouldn’t depress people.
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The Indicator from Planet Money - Trump’s unprecedented attack on the Fed
Last night, President Donald Trump posted a letter firing Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook. The reason? She was accused of listing two properties as her primary residences, which potentially gave her more favorable lending terms. This marks another escalation in the president’s battle for control of America’s central bank.
We’re publishing our conversation early about whether this is legal, what the Fed might do, and how the Fed’s independence is more fragile than we may think.
Related episodes:
Should presidents have more of a say in interest rates?
Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?
It's hard out there for a Fed chair
Patent Racism
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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Consider This from NPR - Can Trump call the National Guard into Chicago too?
For over two weeks, members of the National Guard have been walking the streets of Washington, D.C. -- alongside federal law enforcement and local police.
President Trump has said there is a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital -- and has openly hinted at taking similar actions in other Democratic-led cities like Chicago, New York and Baltimore.
But while the president has unique authorities over the District of Columbia, federalizing the National Guard in U.S. states will require a higher legal standard.
Georgetown University law professor Steve Vladeck breaks it down.
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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. It features additional reporting by Frank Langfitt. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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President Trump has said there is a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital -- and has openly hinted at taking similar actions in other Democratic-led cities like Chicago, New York and Baltimore.
But while the president has unique authorities over the District of Columbia, federalizing the National Guard in U.S. states will require a higher legal standard.
Georgetown University law professor Steve Vladeck breaks it down.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. It features additional reporting by Frank Langfitt. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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State of the World from NPR - Where do Peace Talks Between Russia and Ukraine Stand?
President Trump has made clear he’s interested in ending the war Russia has waged on Ukraine. After a flurry of diplomatic meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a variety of European leaders, is the prospect of peace near? We hear from NPR’s correspondent in Moscow and a national security correspondent from the New York Times on whether progress has been made.
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Up First from NPR - Fed Governor Fired, Trump Expands National Guard, Abrego Garcia Back in Custody
President Trump has moved to fire a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. The President has also taken action to eliminate cashless bail and expand the role of the National Guard as part of his crackdown on crime in Washington, DC. And, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been taken into custody and faces deportation to Uganda.
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 Padma Rama, Rafael Nam, Eric Westervelt, Lisa Thomson and HJ Mai.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Mansee Khurana.
We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
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The Indicator from Planet Money - Three ways companies are getting around tariffs
Businesses are scrambling for ways to minimize the impact of the Trump administration’s global tariff policy. Today on the show, we go over some of the tricks and legal loopholes that companies are employing to get around these sudden import taxes.
Related episodes:
The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs
You told us how tariffs are affecting you
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 - ‘Dinner with King Tut’ follows experimental archaeologists as they recreate the past
To write his latest book Dinner with King Tut, Sam Kean joined a group of experimental archaeologists who learn by doing. These researchers aim to recreate the sites, sounds, smells and tastes of lost civilizations in order to solve mysteries about how people lived. In today’s episode, Kean talks with NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe about eating caterpillars, making acorn bread, and the tension between experimental archaeologists and their academic counterparts.
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Short Wave - Nature Quest: What Does Climate Change Sound Like?
Feel like summers are hotter than they used to be? It’s not just your imagination. Climate researchers say that average annual temperatures around the country have been trending upwards for the past 50 years — and are still on the rise. But it can be hard to represent those numbers in a way that makes sense to everyday people. So Gulf States Newsroom reporter and New Orleans resident Drew Hawkins wondered: What if he could help people hear those changes for themselves? Turn temperatures into tunes?
This episode is part of Nature Quest, a monthly Short Wave segment that answers listener questions about their local environment.
Got a question about changes in your local environment? Send a voice memo to shortwave@npr.org with your name, where you live and your question. We might make it into our next Nature Quest episode!
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This episode is part of Nature Quest, a monthly Short Wave segment that answers listener questions about their local environment.
Got a question about changes in your local environment? Send a voice memo to shortwave@npr.org with your name, where you live and your question. We might make it into our next Nature Quest episode!
Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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1A - Why The FBI Searched John Bolton’s Home And Office
Another Friday, another move against a perceived enemy of the president.
Last week, the FBI searched the Maryland home and Washington office of President Trump’s former national security advisor, John Bolton.
Since he was fired from the administration during Trump’s first term, Bolton has turned into one of the president’s most vocal critics.
Vice President JD Vance confirmed in an interview that aired this weekend that this raid was in part connected to a criminal investigation over Bolton’s handling of classified documents and information.
What does this investigation say about the priorities of the Justice Department in Trump’s second term?
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Last week, the FBI searched the Maryland home and Washington office of President Trump’s former national security advisor, John Bolton.
Since he was fired from the administration during Trump’s first term, Bolton has turned into one of the president’s most vocal critics.
Vice President JD Vance confirmed in an interview that aired this weekend that this raid was in part connected to a criminal investigation over Bolton’s handling of classified documents and information.
What does this investigation say about the priorities of the Justice Department in Trump’s second term?
Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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