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Four years of too little water is killing millions of trees in the Sierra, yet some giant sequoias still thrive. Tree-climbing scientists are exploring sequoias branch by branch to find their secret.

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan compose the first presidential ticket in history not to feature a Protestant. And, of course, they're running against the first African-American president. All of these individuals point to an enormous shift in American demographics and political power.

"The top priority is diagnosis — the capability to be able to pick up this virus, should it emerge outside of China," says virologist John McCauley. Flu researchers are getting started on creating a vaccine, but there are still many unknowns.

Annah Backstrom of the Des Moines Register and Daniel Barrick of New Hampshire Public Radio talk to Robert Siegel about the latest developments in the presidential race.

Intra-party turmoil could spill over into the next election, with labor groups threatening primaries against members — even those who sit in swing districts — who sided with the president.

Soccer, Spain's national pastime, has been tainted by racism. After two recent ugly incidents, debate is raging over how to punish racist fans, and if the teams they love should be held responsible.

Children's librarian Mara Alpert recommends 10 titles that will send youngsters off on brand-new adventures. In these books, kids will learn what baby animals do on their first day of life, what baseball games are like in Japan, and what happens when you read a poem from bottom to top.

More than 23,000 have come so far, with California a top destination — especially the Los Angeles suburbs in the San Gabriel Valley. Many teens live with host families and attend private schools.

This year's 11 top-grossing films starring black actors and by black directors almost doubles the number of last year's slate of comparable films. Industry watchers say Hollywood needs a stronger infrastructure of support for black filmmakers to sustain this level of racial diversity on and off the screen.

Federal maps help determine who on the coast must buy flood insurance, but many don't include the latest data. Maryland is now making its own flood maps, so homeowners can see if they're at risk.