Americas

A Smithsonian exhibit of work by photographer Timothy O’Sullivan reveals the harsh terrain of the unsettled American west, making for intriguing classroom discussions.

Torrey Maldonado is an author, a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Middle School 88 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a trained specialist in conflict resolution. Maldonado, who describes himself as a Black Puerto Rican, says he was inspired to become a teacher by his mother, who gave him homework she created herself, and by a few good teachers in Red Hook. Maldonado's first book, “Secret Saturdays,” will publish in April 2010. Learn more about “Secret Saturdays” at TorreyMaldonado.com.

Expandable, lightweight houses are being developed for homeless Haitians in Port-au-Prince, though some experts suggest relocating the capital city is the safest option.

What could save animals, end world hunger and protect the environment? Scientists are hoping that meat engineered in the lab might do the trick.

In many U.S. states, the DNA of those arrested but not convicted is held indefinitely. In Britain, however, the Home Office dropped a DNA database proposal due to strong public opposition and a European court ruling.

An enormous green wall has been installed at PNC headquarters in Pittsburgh, an extreme energy-saving method that can be recreated by homeowners and businesses on a smaller scale.

Cheryl J. Wachenheim, a North Dakota State University professor, was deployed to Iraq in 2008, but continued to teach classes online from her base in Iraq, highlighting the popularity of online learning.

With many adults expected to receive the swine flu vaccine/H1N1 influenza vaccine this year, those with a history of allergies to thimerosal may wonder if it’s safe for them.

With Howard Schultz's second act at Starbucks in full swing, some analysts say the company has found a way forward after ambitious expansions left it in financial straits.

Twitter, the San Francisco-based micro-blogging service, is reportedly receiving an additional $100 million in funding, but many still wonder how the service will become profitable.

A new study suggests that parenting has a polarizing effect on where men and women stand on social welfare issues.

President Obama's selection of Pittsburgh as host of the G-20 Summit later this month is a crowning moment in the city's revitalization, and serves as a model for other struggling cities.

The U.S. is conducting clinical trials on a cancer drug developed in Cuba, but unless embargo laws are altered, the drug won't be available for sale in the U.S.

In some U.S. locations hit hard by the recession and foreclosures, residents are adapting by looking to the past and reconnecting with their neighbors.

Blackwater, a private company contracted by the U.S. government for security work during the war in Iraq, was involved in the CIA’s recently abandoned plan to assassinate al-Qaida operatives.

A course at Duke University will allow students to take over aspects of teaching and grading. How will it influence future college courses?

Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, one of Charles Manson’s dedicated followers, spent more than 30 years behind bars for attempting to shoot President Gerald Ford.

Some members of Congress have taken to town halls to discuss important issues like health care overhaul with citizens, often with dramatic consequences.

The historic four-day festival in Bethel, N.Y., looms large for a generation of Americans as a symbol of solidarity and love of music in the face of war, tragedy and generational rifts.

A new study suggests that the rate of injury in school gym classes has risen by 150 percent, and finds that girls and boys tend to suffer from different injuries.

Some pundits are focusing on the CIA's failure to carry out the eight-year-old plan, the assassination plans that are still active today and in what cases, if any, assassination is justified.

Attorney General Eric Holder is considering an investigation into a Bush administration antiterrorism operation that would focus on whether the CIA withheld information from Congress.

A new documentary about Neil Armstrong delves into the astronaut’s humble decision to stay out of the spotlight, a choice that few modern celebrities seem to make.

The current onslaught of celebrity news coverage appears to follow Americans’ preferences. But some polls and experts suggest otherwise.

At its annual “What Teens Want” Conference on June 25, Nielsen revealed that teenagers are more invested in traditional media than widely believed.

Web sites were crippled by traffic relating to Michael Jackson’s death. Fans used Twitter and other sites to organize vigils and share tributes, articles, music and videos.

Businesses are seeing their reputations change as more and more people take to the Web to share their opinions. But it can make decision making more confusing for customers.

In order to keep her home and collect her social security benefits, Thomas Parkin impersonated his dead mother.

Chefs across America are donating their skills to homeless shelters, transforming donated food into gourmet meals.

For the past eight months, Fidel Castro’s son Antonio has been in an online relationship with a male Cuban-American blogger pretending to be a young Colombian woman.