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Intense weather including storms, droughts and wildfires has racked America recently. Are they symptoms of climate change or is it just a hot summer? Robert Siegel talks to Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.

Firework shows have been cancelled across the country due to dry conditions. The city of Rockville, Maryland, has also cancelled their show due to the lasting effects of a powerful wind storm over the weekend that left thousands without power. Robert Siegel talks to Tom Moore of the Rockville city council.

Freddie Bowers and his dad, Larry, have sold fireworks in LaVergne, Tenn., for a lifetime. But, the sparklers are off limits this year since the region has had the hottest streak in recorded history and several small fires in the area have been blamed on fireworks.

For people in the fireworks business, Christmas usually comes in July. Only this year, three-quarters of the country are experiencing some level of drought and from the Mountain West to the Southeast, cities are temporarily banning fireworks.

The fallen leader of Barclays Bank got on the hot seat before members of the British Parliament on Wednesday. Robert Diamond, an American, resigned Tuesday as CEO of the bank — the latest executive to lose his job over an interest-rate manipulation scandal.

The scandal has not only consumed Barclays, it also threatens to engulf other international banks — and high-ranking government officials, too.

Diamond started his career at Barclays on Independence Day, exactly 16 years ago. On Wednesday in London, he set off some fireworks all his own.

Neil Young's dozens of albums and myriad side projects showcase his incredible range and stylistic flexibility. His music has gone from the soft folk of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to the loud, raucous rock of Crazy Horse.

Now that we have the long-awaited announcement on the Higgs, it's time to ask that other question. You know the question I am talking about, the one that makes so much sense and yet we blue-sky research researchers cringe whenever someone brings it up.

"So what? What's the big deal? What's it good for?"

Summer sun means blistering hot temperatures and wilted gardens. And it also means that ultraviolet rays are out in full force.

Besides slathering on the right sunscreen to safeguard your skin, you also need to protect your eyes from blasts of UV light.

To me, chess pie is an Oklahoma pie with definite Southern accents. For NPR's recent pie contest, I started with my mother's family recipe for Lemon Chess Pie — with a variation inspired by my Aunt Jane.

Political independence was won by our forefathers. Today it is education that sets people and nations free; the fight is ongoing. With science education, we win on three fronts when we mint new engineers, research scientists and mathematicians:

1. The individual: giving him/her the ability to think critically about some of the most pressing issues of our times, from climate change to alternative energy resources

2. Communities: preparing a generation of socially mindful citizens, willing to work together for the common good

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