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What motivates someone to become a terrorist? That's the question former prosecutor Ken Ballen set out to tackle when he traveled to Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to interview more than 100 Islamist extremists. "We've never sat back and said, 'Let's really understand our adversaries,' " he says.

The Inquisition was initially designed to deal with Christian heretics, but author Cullen Murphy says that "inquisitorial impulse" is still at work today. In fact, he says, it was the harbinger of the modern world.

The Inquisition was initially designed to deal with Christian heretics, but author Cullen Murphy says that "inquisitorial impulse" is still at work today. In fact, he says, it was the harbinger of the modern world.

The former prisoners were tearfully reunited with family and friends at the airport, hugging and crying after years of enforced separation.

New evidence shows that people who maintain a range of healthy habits, from good sleep to physical activity to strong social connections, are significantly less likely to experience depression.

The scientist is known as much for his contributions to theoretical cosmology and quantum gravity as for his willingness to make science accessible for the general public. His work is the topic of a new biography by science writer Kitty Ferguson.

In the 18th book in Sara Paretsky's series, the fierce and fiercely feminist detective V.I. Warshawski investigates a grisly murder in a cemetery — as well as the growing class divide in America.

Morocco's earthquake last week hit thousands of people who live in traditional villages in the Atlas Mountains. NPR followed rescuers and saw just how hard it was getting to people in need.

In New York Diaries, editor Teresa Carpenter presents 400 years of diary excerpts written by people who've lived in or just passed through one of the greatest cities in the world.

In Thomas Caplan's latest novel, The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen, Ty Hunter, a spy-turned-movie star, is called back to service at the U.S. president's behest. The book is Caplan's third work of fiction, and an early draft got a little editing help from the real-life ex-president.