The U.S. still has troops in Syria, where they've been for a decade. Yet during the same period, the U.S. Embassy has been shuttered, complicating the work of U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be hosting the 2034 World Cup. The news has stirred backlash amongst critics who point to the country's questionable human rights record.

A new study reveals how a group of killer whales is able to hunt whale sharks, adding to a growing body of research showing how the whales use intelligence and coordination in impressive ways.

Many animals get their external marking--like, feathers, hair or scales-from genetics. But it turns out, the crocodile gets its head patterns differently.

With efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act unlikely under Republican control of the new Congress, advocates are refocusing on state protections against racial discrimination in elections.

Ohio's state supreme court has struck down one of the central legal arguments used against corporations accused of fueling America's opioid crisis. The ruling could have far-reaching implications.

It's been less than a week since a coalition of opposition fighters overthrew the Syrian regime. Opposition leaders and government workers are rolling back decades of repression and corruption.

A federal bankruptcy judge rejected a bid by the owners of The Onion to buy Alex Jones' Infowars company, saying the auction was flawed. The owners of The Onion say they are "deeply disappointed." ...

DeEtte Sauer, 83, went from being a girl who wasn't allowed to participate in sports, to an elite swimmer as a senior. She talks with NPR's Juana Summers about what being active means to her.

Brain cells are increasingly being found outside the brain, and now researchers have identified specific neurons in the abdomen that control some aspects of digestion.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Steven Heydemann, Middle East Studies director at Smith College, about how Syria might avoid replicating Arab countries that are worse off after overthrowing dictators.

Inflation was a little bit higher in November than October, but probably not high enough to alarm policymakers at the Federal Reserve. The central bank is still expected to lower interest rates.