Matthew Cloutier
Stories
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Researchers were surprised to find some medieval books covered in seal skins
12th century French monks used animal skins to bind and cover their books. One group of books covers didn't look at all like the others. Protein fingerprint and DNA analysis revealed them to be not local cows or sheep, but seals from as far away as Greenland. The find highlights the extent of medieval trade.
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Researchers unearth rare King Arthur sequel
Researchers have discovered a manuscript of one of the oldest versions of the story of King Arthur. How did they find and decipher it?
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The thinking behind President Trump's tariffs
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Rana Foroohar, a columnist for the Financial Times, about President Trump's goal with tariffs.
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Painting by Winston Churchill sells for more than $1 million
Christie's held an auction for "The Bay of Eze," a painting by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. With fees and all, the painting ended up selling for 945,000 pounds.
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'Courage the Cowardly Dog' head writer David Steven Cohen dies at 58
Producer and screenwriter David Steven Cohen has died. He was the head writer on Cartoon Network's popular animated show Courage the Cowardly Dog.
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Birds can change their tunes as their populations evolve, researchers find
New research from the University of Oxford has provided fresh insights into how bird songs evolve over time. The analysis is based on over 100,000 songs.
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With Trump in office, U.S. allies lose standing, security
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Richard Haass, who served three republican presidents. Haass says President Trump's foreign policy has effectively put the post-WWII world order "on life support."
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Why so many of us hate the sound of our voice
Why do we react harshly when we listen to recordings of ourselves? Voice expert Rebecca Kleinberger explains the mechanics of how we hear our own voice—and why that elicits mixed feelings.
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In conflict zones, priceless artifacts are often destroyed. How can we save them?
When relics and landmarks are damaged in war or natural disasters, they're lost forever. Or are they? Google's Chance Coughenour explains how the latest tech can preserve and share that history.
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In uncertain times, this activist says to 'think like a mother'
Activist Yifat Susskind's organization, MADRE, is rooted in the idea that in uncertain times, we should 'think like a mother.' To her, this means being determined to ease the suffering of others.
