https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2 <em>All Things Considered</em> hosts Ailsa Chang, Mary Louise Kelly, Juana Summers and Scott Detrow present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features 7 days a week. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:19:41 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/ For the first time, researchers have used artificial intelligence to generate novel viruses in a laboratory setting, according to a paper in the journal <em>Science</em>. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:11:17 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927074/researchers-have-successfully-used-ai-to-create-brand-new-viruses https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927074/researchers-have-successfully-used-ai-to-create-brand-new-viruses For the first time, researchers have used artificial intelligence to generate novel viruses in a laboratory setting, according to a paper in the journal Science.

]]> Katia Riddle As the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., hits the one year mark, experts worry about the potential for President Trump to deploy the military during the upcoming election. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:07:48 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927394/troops-have-been-patrolling-d-c-for-a-year-experts-are-worried-about-elections https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927394/troops-have-been-patrolling-d-c-for-a-year-experts-are-worried-about-elections As the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., hits the one year mark, experts worry about the potential for President Trump to deploy the military during the upcoming election.

]]> Kat Lonsdorf Austin is lauded for its live music scene, but many musicians struggle to get by. A nonprofit helps thousands of them pay their monthly insurance premiums. And the model is being tried elsewhere. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:02:17 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5906839/a-nonprofit-helps-thousands-of-musicians-in-austin-pay-for-insurance https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5906839/a-nonprofit-helps-thousands-of-musicians-in-austin-pay-for-insurance Austin is lauded for its live music scene, but many musicians struggle to get by. A nonprofit helps thousands of them pay their monthly insurance premiums. And the model is being tried elsewhere.

]]> Olivia Aldridge Light in the Attic is reissuing <em>Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat</em> by Charanjit Singh, a foundational album for the genre of acid house. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:41:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5693780/a-once-overlooked-album-that-paved-the-way-for-electronic-music-gets-a-new-life https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5693780/a-once-overlooked-album-that-paved-the-way-for-electronic-music-gets-a-new-life Light in the Attic is reissuing Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat by Charanjit Singh, a foundational album for the genre of acid house.

]]> Christopher Intagliata Shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown began, Ashleigh Bell Pedersen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She came to desperately miss physical touch during treatment. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:23:49 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5922542/what-a-forbidden-hug-from-a-nurse-during-lockdown-meant-to-one-a-cancer-patient https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5922542/what-a-forbidden-hug-from-a-nurse-during-lockdown-meant-to-one-a-cancer-patient Shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown began, Ashleigh Bell Pedersen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She came to desperately miss physical touch during treatment.

]]> It's shaping up to be a historic wildfire season in the Western U.S. In Oregon, more acres have already burned than any time in modern history. At least 10 wildland firefighters have also died. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:17:24 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927315/the-wests-wildfire-season-is-already-breaking-records-and-its-not-over https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927315/the-wests-wildfire-season-is-already-breaking-records-and-its-not-over It's shaping up to be a historic wildfire season in the Western U.S. In Oregon, more acres have already burned than any time in modern history. At least 10 wildland firefighters have also died.

]]> Kirk Siegler Hundreds of rescue workers have been deployed in hardest hit cities trying to free victims still trapped under the rubble. Hundreds of people are still missing. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:12:05 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5928036/the-death-toll-climbs-from-mondays-7-4-magnitude-earthquake-in-colombia https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5928036/the-death-toll-climbs-from-mondays-7-4-magnitude-earthquake-in-colombia Hundreds of rescue workers have been deployed in hardest hit cities trying to free victims still trapped under the rubble. Hundreds of people are still missing.

]]> John Otis Many of the people who lost their homes in the Spokane fires are just beginning to take stock of the damage and start to think about what it may look like to rebuild. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:42:19 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927467/in-spokane-those-who-lost-homes-to-the-fires-are-taking-stock-of-the-damage https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927467/in-spokane-those-who-lost-homes-to-the-fires-are-taking-stock-of-the-damage Many of the people who lost their homes in the Spokane fires are just beginning to take stock of the damage and start to think about what it may look like to rebuild.

]]> Paige Browning Jackie, who was one half of the famous mated eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, died this week. The birds' eagle-cam livestream has fans across the world. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:41:33 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5928214/jackie-famous-eagle-from-california-eagle-cam-dies https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5928214/jackie-famous-eagle-from-california-eagle-cam-dies Jackie, who was one half of the famous mated eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, died this week. The birds' eagle-cam livestream has fans across the world.

]]> Madison Aument Iran has set a high price for President Trump to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel's PM has rejected his Gaza plan. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:40:33 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927215/trump-touts-big-peace-deals-in-iran-and-gaza-but-struggles-to-follow-through https://www.npr.org/2026/08/11/nx-s1-5927215/trump-touts-big-peace-deals-in-iran-and-gaza-but-struggles-to-follow-through Iran has set a high price for President Trump to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel's PM has rejected his Gaza plan.

]]> Hadeel Al-Shalchi