California employers can no longer ask job applicants about their prior salary and - if applicants ask - must give them a pay range for the job they are seeking, under a new state law that takes effect Jan. 1. AB168, signed Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown, applies to all public- and private-sector California employers of any size. The goal is to narrow the gender wage gap. If a woman is paid less than a man doing the same job and a new employer bases her pay on her prior salary, gender discrimination can be perpetuated, the bill's backers say. Last year, the state passed a weaker law that said prior compensation, by itself, cannot justify any disparity in compensation.

It’s happening all across the country, for complicated reasons: Schools are closing. And this is disproportionately affecting poor, black students. Shereen Marisol Meraji and Chris Benderev go to Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania to ask kids, parents, and teachers what it’s like when the neighborhood school that’s been there for more than a century is about to shut down. Follow Kelly McEvers @KellyMcEvers, Shereen Marisol Meraji @RadioMirage, and Chris Benderev @cbndrv. Email us at Embedded@npr.org.

Leading neuroscientist Matthew Walker on why sleep deprivation is increasing our risk of cancer, heart attack and Alzheimer’s – and what you can do about it

This week we want to share with you a piece that we really liked from our friends at Radio Diaries. It’s a personal, revealing, surprising story told by a teen from a region that usually gets discussed only in terms of oil and conflict. For two years, Majd Abdulghani recorded an audio diary of her life in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — where women cannot drive, and where they only make up 16 percent of the workforce. But the society is changing, and Majd’s story of studying to be a scientist, learning karate, and ultimately navigating the world of arranged marriages is a glimpse into a world rarely seen by outsiders. Radio Diaries’ Joe Richman and Sarah Kramer introduce this audio diary, and conduct an additional interview at the end. You can learn more about Saudi women and see photos of Majd on radiodiaries.org, where you’ll also find other great stories.

Eco-friendly and affordable, shipping containers are gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional houses.

A small group of programmers wants to change how we code—before catastrophe strikes.

American tech companies positioned themselves as entities that brought positive change by connecting people and spreading information. Perceptions are shifting.

For most athletes, achieving peak performance means training hard, eating right, and maybe some stretching. But when you get to the elite level, where everyone’s doing that, it’s the mental game that makes winners and losers. How hard can you push your body? How much pain can you tolerate? How can you avoid getting psyched … Continue reading “The Outside Interview Ep 10: Dr. Michael Gervais on Mental Mastery”

The long read: In recent years, references to such attacks have become inescapable. But this lazy term obscures the real nature of the threat against us