Analysts say the presidential election will be “crucial” for the future of the Asian island and its relationships with both the United States and China.
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Winter storm brings snow to the East Coast. But what’s in a snowflake?
A winter storm brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the East Coast this weekend, which got us thinking about snowflakes. Those intricate, whimsical crystals are a staple of magical wintry scenes, but how big can they really get? Well, according to the Guinness World Record keepers, the “largest snowflake” ever recorded was a whopping 15 inches in diameter. It was spotted near Missoula, Montana in 1887. But Kenneth Libbrecht, a physicist at Caltech, has long been skeptical of that record. So he set out to find what makes a snowflake a snowflake and whether that 1887 record is scientifically possible. You can read more about what he discovered here.
Want to share the snowflakes you’ve spotted this winter? Email us a photo at shortwave@npr.org.
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Fuel leak forces U.S. company to abandon moon landing attempt
Astrobotic had been targeting a lunar landing on Feb. 23. It could have been the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years, and the first by a private company.
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Moon landing attempt by U.S. company appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak
The first U.S. moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appeared to be doomed after a private company’s spacecraft developed a “critical” fuel leak just hours after Monday’s launch.
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Congressional leaders reach a deal to fund the government, avert a shutdown
The deal — which has yet to pass Congress — adheres to the spending levels agreed to by President Biden and former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in a deal last summer.
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An endangered river dolphin finds an unlikely savior: fisherfolk
In Pakistan, illiterate fishermen have become citizen scientists, helping to revive the fortunes of the endangered Indus River dolphin.
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The Pentagon’s 2nd in command was not informed of defense secretary’s hospitalization
The Pentagon kept Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization under wraps for days. The secrecy is in contrast to the usual practice among Cabinet members when they step away from official duties.
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Alaska Airlines grounds 737 Max 9 fleet after window blows out on flight from Oregon
Alaska Airlines grounded all of its Boeing 737-9 aircraft, hours after a window on one such plane blew out midair and forced an emergency landing in Oregon. The airline said the plane landed safely.
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Perspective: Getting to know the Puzzlemaster, Will Shortz
Weekend Edition host Ayesha Rascoe spent the day with Puzzlemaster Will Shortz to talk all things puzzle, table tennis, and a new chapter of his life.
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Heavy snow and ice are expected to frost the East Coast, from Virginia to Maine
States across the East Coast, including North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont, are expected to see wintry conditions that could lead to power outages and slippery roads.