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At the New England Aquarium, seals don't just cruise around the tank; they go to school each day. And their teacher has an individual lesson plan for each one of them.

Maria Semple's new novel centers on erratic, overworked mother Eleanor, who makes a promise before the book begins: Today will be different. And it is, but not the way she expected or hoped for.

Eugene Robinson, deputy editor of the online magazine Ozy, tells Tess Vigeland how Amsterdam is shaping up the red light district and about a New Orleans homicide detective who is an artist by day.

R2-D2, the robot in Star Wars, is the subject of an article in Smithsonian Magazine. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to the author, Clive Thompson, about how R2-D2 became such a beloved robot.

Fox's latest reality dating show takes a page out of the genre's trashy, dumb past to suggest that it found 12 women who believe Prince Harry is on a reality dating show.

A hospital in Estes Park, Colo., escaped the flood damage that affected much of the area this month. But the small hospital in the mountains now relies on a single road to evacuate critical patients. A bad snowstorm could stop traffic and ground helicopters, leaving the hospital isolated.

President Obama has signed legislation that ends the partial government shutdown and raises the U.S. debt ceiling. The Office of Management and Budget says federal employees should report to work Thursday. But it will take some time until all the agencies are back up to speed.

Security forces cleared a central Cairo Mosque Saturday, where hundreds of supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi had gathered overnight. Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been arrested, charged with murder and terrorism. Guest host Don Gonyea speaks with NPR's Peter Kenyon about the ongoing crisis.

This winter's relentless snowstorms have depleted stockpiles of rock salt and pushed the industry to its limit. Even areas with vast quantities of salt underground are scrambling to get enough to melt the ice on their roads.

Kim Stanley Robinson's latest novel, Shaman, paints a vivid portrait of life in 30,000 B.C. It's the story of young Loon, who's destined to become the new shaman of his tribe. Reviewer Alan Cheuse says the world of Shaman is so authentic, he dreamed he was living in it.