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Sectarian violence has flared in Iraq a year and a half after the departure of American forces. The U.N. reported that more than 1,000 people were killed there in May, the deadliest violence since the height of the insurgency during the U.S. occupation. For more on what's causing the chaos, Linda Wertheimer talks with Joost Hiltermann, an Iraq expert with the International Crisis Group.

Renee Montagne talks to Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated about the second week of the French Open tennis tournament. In quarterfinal action Tuesday, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated veteran champ Roger Federer in straight sets.

This week on the Down East Journal, we explore House Bill 146, known as the “Back to Basics” bill, which would make learning cursive writing and the…

Government spending cuts and higher taxes are weighing on the economy, experts say. According to the latest ADP National Employment Report, just 135,000 jobs were added to private payrolls.

What can you do with beach sand? Build a sand castle. Dig a canal. Make a snake. What can you do with MIT's "smart" sand? One day, you will turn it into a hammer, fork, chair, anything you want. And when you're done? Poof! It's sand again.

A scientist has developed a technology to turn the cellulose in nonfood plants like trees and grasses into edible starch. Sounds zany, but guess what? Cellulose products are already commonly used as food additives in hundreds of processed and fast food items.

From business to culture, Bruce Pickering of the Asia Society speaks to host Michel Martin about China's growing influence, and offers perspective about whether some Americans' fears about China's role in the country are founded.

Born to Chinese parents, conjoined twins Eng and Chang Bunker became famous throughout the world as "Siamese twins." After years of being displayed at exhibitions, they settled in the mountains of North Carolina in the 1830s. NPR's Michel Martin learns more about their remarkable story from descendant Alex Sink.

The former crack dealer is now selling weaves. "Just like crack, you don't need a weave," Rick says. "It takes advantage of people's ignorance, I guess you could say. But there's a lot of stuff people don't need, and still we consume it."

Irish-American author Colum McCann has spent the better part of his life inhabiting others in his novels — from Russian ballet dancers to New York subway diggers. In TransAtlantic, he tells the story of his native country — its famine, its troubles, its emigrants and those who stayed.