Matthew Cloutier
Stories
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Science
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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Politics
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.
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Laughter as medicine: How medical clowns help patients cope through humor
At a hospital, you may not expect to see clowns playing ukuleles or wearing tutus. But Matt Wilson says clowns can be a crucial distraction—even a companion—amid the fear and uncertainty of hospitals.
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An audacious plan to preserve vast swaths of South America's wild lands
In the 90s, Kristine Tompkins and her late husband began buying swaths of land in South America. Their plan to create national parks through private enterprise had no precedent. That didn't stop them.
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Most Americans don't like their job. A private equity investor says he has a fix
Most Americans are disengaged at work, a fifth are phoning it in or planning to quit. Pete Stavros says private equity has the answer, turn companies around by granting employees free shares of stock.
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Rice feeds the world. One farming family is trying to grow it sustainably
Rice feeds the world—but it uses more water and emits more methane than any other crop. Jim Whitaker and his daughter, Jessica Whitaker Allen, are changing that on their Arkansas family farm.
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Short-term loss for long-term gain? The ethical dilemma at the heart of EVs
As mines meet mineral demands for electric vehicles, they put communities and ecosystems at risk. Sustainability researcher Elsa Dominish says the EV industry cannot repeat fossil fuel's mistakes.
