The behind-the-scenes battle
over health care reform in the U.S.

National Parks look toward a more diverse future

As the National Park Service approaches its centennial in 2016, it is grappling with how to give minority visitors a greater sense of ownership of the parks and encourage the next generations of Americans to treasure these preserved lands.

Though it is difficult to track park visitors by race and age for privacy reasons, surveys of Americans show that members of minority communities are less likely to visit the federally funded park sites than whites.

Air, earth, fire and water: A report on religion and the environment

According to a variety of ancient religious and philosophical systems, the world is composed of five elements: earth, air, fire, water and a heavenly, intangible ether. For thousands of years, humans have used the first four elements to try to touch the fifth, to mark life’s most important moments and connect them with a divine power. See the special Elements of Faith site to explore more.

Concussions on the playing field:
Tackling an old problem with new methods

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For many football players, retirement means reminiscing about their glory days, but for some, reminiscing is impossible because they can’t remember them.