It’s the greatest cosmic murder mystery of the year: How did a black hole destroy a star—and what kind of black hole is the culprit? Normally, so-called “gamma ray bursts,” sudden flashes of extremely ...

November 24, 2025 • Our annual reading guide returns with 380+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted critics. Find 13 years of recommendations all in one place — that's more than 4,000 great ...