How hearts break (NPR)
by Terry Gross
Heartbreak isn’t just a metaphor. The bodies and brains of people suffering through a breakup go through concrete, often painful changes.

What does it mean to ban a book? (Slate)
by Aymann Ismail
A school district removes a book about the Holocaust from its curriculum. A library declines to stock a book that many consider harmful to transgender people. Are these book bans? And what effect to they have on potential readers?

Killer whales earn their name (Live Science)
by Laura Geggel
In recent years, researchers have documented several instances of pods of orcas hunting and killing enormous blue whales. Their techniques demonstrate the skillful group activity of the orcas, but the fact that scientists are seeing these events also reflects good news about the blue whales.

How the Civil War didn’t end (Black Perspectives)
by Holly A. Pinheiro, Jr.
General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox brought the end of grueling military service for white soldiers on both sides. But Black regiments were forced to remain in service, helping to secure Reconstruction and also guarding the southern border and removing Native Americans from their land.

How we hurt people online (Wired)
by Katherine Cross
Harassment campaigns on Twitter can be devastating, and not just because of bad actors posting threats or worse. The design of social media platforms can make all of us complicit, even when we think our posts are innocuous.

Got a hot tip about a well-researched story that belongs on this list? Email us here.