Talk of the Nation

Once upon a time, giants roamed the planet — many of them in what is now Utah. A panel of paleontology experts describes some of the state's ancient treasures, from massive long-necked sauropods to the Utahraptor, a predator that would put those in Jurassic Park to shame.

The James Webb Space Telescope will succeed Hubble in 2018, boasting modern computers and a mirror with seven times the viewing area. Bob Hellekson, ATK Program Manager for the telescope, discusses the telescope's newly constructed wings, designed to support the telescope's folding mirror, and astrophysicist Stacy Palen talks about what the telescope may reveal about the cosmos.

The Boston Police Department tweeted photos of bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and later announced his capture via social media. As the number of Twitter users grows, police forces face new opportunities and challenges in using social media for communicating with the public.

Rocky Balboa's sprint up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum is a scene that would have once been impossible to film. Camera innovator Garrett Brown made it possible when he invented the Steadicam. The jack of all trades will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May.

Forty-seven million Americans now rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. For many people, the decision to sign up is fraught with conflicting feelings about taking government assistance.

Since the debut of Superman in Action Comics in 1938, fans have been thrilled by the adventures of the Man of Steel. In his book Superman: The Unauthorized Biography, comic book geek Glen Weldon explores the evolution of the superhero in comics, radio and small and large screen.

Survivors of sudden, unexpected events, like the bombings at the Boston Marathon, the explosion in West, Texas and natural disasters, may deal with a wide variety of emotions. Some may discover a newfound appreciation for life, while others may experience extreme feelings of guilt.

At a briefing in Beijing Wednesday, World Health Organization officials called the H7N9 bird flu that's emerged in China one of the "most lethal" flu viruses so far. NPR science correspondent Richard Knox talks about what we know, and the questions that remain about the deadly strain.

Last week, the Senate voted against a proposal for background checks on gun buyers. Several senators from states with strong pro-gun constituencies cast votes supporting the checks despite voter polls. On divisive issues, politicians may often face a choice between personal and public opinion.

Like many poets, Charles Simic has a day job, teaching in the English Department at the University of New Hampshire. The Pulitzer Prize winner and former poet laureate has traveled the road for over 50 years — giving hundreds of readings at schools, book stores, jazz clubs and abandoned malls.

Legendary folk singer Richie Havens died Monday at the age of 72. The Brooklyn-born singer is famous opening act at the 1969 Woodstock music festival. Talk of the Nation remembers him by listening back to a 2004 performance chat around the release of his 26th album Grace of the Sun.

Don't ever email the professor. Never friend the teacher on Facebook. Those are some of the rules A.J. Jacobs learned when he joined the ranks of millions enrolled in massive open online courses, MOOCs. Harvard, MIT and Stanford are among universities offering virtual classes free of charge.

A week after a massive explosion at the West Chemical and Fertilizer Company in West, Texas 14 bodies have been recovered from the area. A number of those killed were volunteer firefighters responding to the scene. Volunteer firefighters represent nearly 70 percent of the country's fire service.

British, French and Israeli officials say they have evidence that the Syrian government repeatedly used chemical weapons against civilians. Though the U.S. hasn't confirmed the allegations, the Obama administration previously said that the use of chemical weapons could provoke a stronger response.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including the effects spectators have on marathon runners, the ways political leaders govern during crises and how ethnicity and identity intersect.