Search results for

The EPA plans to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, which are used in refrigerators and air conditioners. When HFCs are released into the atmosphere, they are extremely good at trapping heat.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell about the investigation into how spyware infected the devices of international government officials, activists and journalists.

It smells like vinegar and tastes like spoiled cider. But fans of the fermented tea say that kombucha helps fight off diseases and aging. Sounds fantastical? Well, it probably is. At this point, scientists still know little about kombucha's health effects.

After implementing a shorter work week, Iceland has published its findings — which include no change in productivity and less employee burnout.

A new report from a non-profit group finds that goods imported from the Xinjiang region in China could be the result of policies that coerce the Uyghur ethnic minority into factory jobs.

A small Canadian firm takes on two of the largest drug companies in the world with its surprise launch of a generic copy of the best-selling blood thinner Plavis. Apotex began shipping its generic version to U.S. stores today. The makers of Plavix sold $6 billion of the popular heart drug last year.

Three people were charged Wednesday with trying to sell confidential information from The Coca-Cola Co., including a sample of a new drink, to its rival, Pepsi. John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, talks with Lynn Neary about they case.

A Mars factory in Pennsylvania turns out millions of pieces of Dove dark chocolate using a secret method that preserves a compound found in raw cocoa beans. If Mars can harness that compound, chocolate may turn from a comfort food to a health food.

Dennis Campbell, chief executive of Ballard Power Systems, a Canadian-based fuel cell technology company, talks about how to keep a company afloat when demand for its product is low.

A deal announced last week arranges for the Palestinian Authority to purchase and run greenhouses from Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip, allowing the multimillion-dollar agricultural business to continue after the planned Israeli pullout from settlements begins later this week. Liane Hansen speaks with Steven Cohen of the Israel Policy Forum.

In honor of Levine's 40th anniversary conducting the Metropolitan Opera, the Met has released two box sets of his live performances. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says the new releases prove what a vital figure Levine has been.

Slate contributor Seth Stevenson reviews the new commercials promoting the flu and cold medication Theraflu. The campaign depicts sick people as disfigured monsters transformed back into regular humans with a single dose of Theraflu Thin Strips.

Slate contributor Seth Stevenson examines the latest series of ads from the insurance company Geico. The commercials range from parodies to straightforward -- and, some say, bland -- pitches for their services.

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a ban on menthol cigarettes and all types of flavors in cigars. The agency says the ban would significantly reduce disease and death from tobacco.

You've seen Obama, the president-elect. Now there's Obama: The Musical. A playhouse in Obama's ancestral homeland of Kenya is drawing crowds to its partisan production.

Television critic Andrew Wallenstein reviews Going Hollywood, a new reality television series premiering Wednesday on the TLC cable TV network. The show follows the misadventures of three interns trying to make it in showbiz, doing the grunt work for the production companies of some well-known Hollywood players.

Royal Dutch Shell plans to spend nearly $70 billion to acquire natural gas giant BG Group. The deal, if approved, would create the world's largest independent producer of liquefied natural gas.

Chances are, the vaccine for annual flu shots was made in the small Pennsylvania town of Swiftwater. It is home to the biggest flu vaccine plant in the country.

Despite sanctions, Iran is one of the world's major oil producers, with much of its crude exported to China.

Prices for protective masks have surged as fears of coronavirus spread. Demand for masks has easily outpaced the current supply. The U.S. government is urging manufacturers to scale up production.