NPR Series: It Was A Good Year For... https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=143160635 For many, 2011 wasn't a great year. But look closely at the worlds of business and sports, music and politics, and there were also people and places that had it pretty good. In a weeklong series, we learn about the trends that shaped 2011, and why some companies — and some lab mice — have reasons to be happy. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:05:20 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: It Was A Good Year For... https://www.npr.org/series/143160635/it-was-a-good-year-for No Excuses: Robots Put You In Two Places At Once It's getting cheaper to be there even when you're far away. Companies that make "telepresence robots" hope to save busy people the hassle of travel. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:18:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/143974766/no-excuses-robots-put-you-in-two-places-at-once https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/143974766/no-excuses-robots-put-you-in-two-places-at-once

It's getting cheaper to be there even when you're far away. Companies that make "telepresence robots" hope to save busy people the hassle of travel.

]]> Laura Sydell 2011: An Extraordinary Year For Gay Rights Among the highlights: the passage of New York's Marriage Equality Act; and the end of "don't ask, don't tell." We take a look back with Dan Savage and interview the first same-sex couple to get married in New York. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:18:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/144520538/2011-an-extraordinary-year-for-gay-rights https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/144520538/2011-an-extraordinary-year-for-gay-rights Among the highlights: the passage of New York's Marriage Equality Act; and the end of "don't ask, don't tell." We take a look back with Dan Savage and interview the first same-sex couple to get married in New York.

]]> NPR Staff For Lab Mice, The Medical Advances Keep Coming Before therapies are tested in people, they are often tested in mice. This year, scientists reported progress in melting away all sorts of tumors in mice, as well as promising treatments for a variety of other ailments. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:23:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/143862860/for-lab-mice-the-medical-advances-keep-coming https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/143862860/for-lab-mice-the-medical-advances-keep-coming

Before therapies are tested in people, they are often tested in mice. This year, scientists reported progress in melting away all sorts of tumors in mice, as well as promising treatments for a variety of other ailments.

(Image credit: Yoshikazu Tsuno)

]]> Joe Palca Midwest Learns To Manufacture More With Less It was a good year for manufacturing, especially in the Midwest. The Federal Reserve says Midwestern manufacturing has seen 28 consecutive months of growth — at higher rates than the rest of the country. But that doesn't mean that jobs lost during the recession are returning. The jobs that are available often call for highly skilled workers. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:15:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/143960326/midwest-learns-to-manufacture-more-with-less https://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/143960326/midwest-learns-to-manufacture-more-with-less

It was a good year for manufacturing, especially in the Midwest. The Federal Reserve says Midwestern manufacturing has seen 28 consecutive months of growth — at higher rates than the rest of the country. But that doesn't mean that jobs lost during the recession are returning. The jobs that are available often call for highly skilled workers.

(Image credit: Niala Boodhoo)

]]> Niala Boodhoo A Year That Was Good To Beets From chi-chi restaurants to chains like Jamba Juice, beets are appearing on restaurant menus around the country. But one scientist says beets could be even more popular, so he's studying the compound that gives beets their distinctive flavor. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:08:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2011/12/30/144378556/a-year-that-was-good-to-beets https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2011/12/30/144378556/a-year-that-was-good-to-beets

From chi-chi restaurants to chains like Jamba Juice, beets are appearing on restaurant menus around the country. But one scientist says beets could be even more popular, so he's studying the compound that gives beets their distinctive flavor.

(Image credit: Joseph Silverman)

]]> Daniel Zwerdling What's It Been A Good Year For? Here's The Word(s) Was there big news in your neighborhood, or an interesting trend you spotted this year? Compare your idea with those of hundreds of other readers who sent their suggestions. We've used the responses to construct a word cloud. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144017734/your-turn-whats-it-been-a-good-year-for https://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144017734/your-turn-whats-it-been-a-good-year-for

Was there big news in your neighborhood, or an interesting trend you spotted this year? Compare your idea with those of hundreds of other readers who sent their suggestions. We've used the responses to construct a word cloud.

]]> Bill Chappell Coconut Water Companies Sell Image, Not Taste For people who see soda as a sugary poison and fruit juices as loaded with calories, coconut water evokes glowing, healthy people. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:50:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/12/30/144440775/coconut-water-companies-sell-image-not-taste https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/12/30/144440775/coconut-water-companies-sell-image-not-taste

For people who see soda as a sugary poison and fruit juices as loaded with calories, coconut water evokes glowing, healthy people.

]]> Robert Smith Turkey Prospers Amid Neighboring Nations' Woes As Europe suffered economic crises in 2011, Turkey's economy boomed. And as neighboring Arab countries faced political turmoil, Turkey became a bigger regional player. Martin discusses the country's good year with John Peet, Europe editor at <em>The Economist</em>, and Rami Khouri, international affairs expert from American University of Beirut. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144435712/turkey-prospers-amid-neighboring-nations-woes https://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144435712/turkey-prospers-amid-neighboring-nations-woes As Europe suffered economic crises in 2011, Turkey's economy boomed. And as neighboring Arab countries faced political turmoil, Turkey became a bigger regional player. Martin discusses the country's good year with John Peet, Europe editor at The Economist, and Rami Khouri, international affairs expert from American University of Beirut.

]]> 2011 Put Chrysler Back In The Fast Lane In 2011, Chrysler recovered from bankruptcy by redefining itself as a better, more luxurious car company and paying off nearly $8 billion in bailout loans. To top it all off, Chrysler sales are up 25 percent this year, about twice the industry average. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/143839771/2011-put-chrysler-back-in-the-fast-lane https://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/143839771/2011-put-chrysler-back-in-the-fast-lane

In 2011, Chrysler recovered from bankruptcy by redefining itself as a better, more luxurious car company and paying off nearly $8 billion in bailout loans. To top it all off, Chrysler sales are up 25 percent this year, about twice the industry average.

(Image credit: Scott Olson)

]]> Sonari Glinton For Grassroots Protests, Big Gains In 2011 All week, NPR is looking at people, events and ideas that fared well in 2011. Host Michel Martin explores how it was a good year for grassroots protests, both as part of the Arab Spring and the "Occupy" movements. She speaks with NPR Cairo Correspondent Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Arun Venugopal, a reporter for member station WNYC. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144381810/for-grassroots-protests-big-gains-in-2011 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144381810/for-grassroots-protests-big-gains-in-2011 All week, NPR is looking at people, events and ideas that fared well in 2011. Host Michel Martin explores how it was a good year for grassroots protests, both as part of the Arab Spring and the "Occupy" movements. She speaks with NPR Cairo Correspondent Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Arun Venugopal, a reporter for member station WNYC.

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