Who knew two letters could spark so much conversation? This week, we're breaking down the many uses of "um" and why the word is so controversial.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with soul singer KIRBY about her new album, Miss Black America, and how her Mississippi roots have shaped her music.

Selfies can be great fun — or horribly dangerous. India, which has tallied hundreds of injuries and deaths from risky selfie-taking, is urging folks to stay safe when holding up their phone for a pix.

For many Gen Z and millennial Americans, concerns about finances and the economy can feel ever present. NPR wants to know how economic barriers are affecting you and your political views.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, NPR journalists were there to cover the developments day by day. Greg Allen reflects on covering the catastrophe and digs into the archives to remember the feel of the city after the storm.

Parents are struggling to figure out what to say to their children after another school shooting. We talked to some experts, who offered these guidelines.

Even years after an arm is amputated, the brain maintains a detailed map of the limb and tries to interact with this phantom appendage.

How did a word that simply referred to a millennia-old beverage come to be the latest iteration of "what's up?"

On a planet that can feel increasingly challenged, we asked activist Edgard Gouveia Jr. about his latest efforts to improve life on Earth, what "artivism" is — and what he dreams of.

Fungi and plants have something to teach humans about global trade and cooperation