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Why would a cat crave mushrooms? A scientist says it's the umami. Though cats can't taste sweetness like people can, they are aces at sniffing out the amino acids that signal protein-rich foods.

Young Russians are computer savvy, though until recently they had not turned to social media to challenge the government. Now, online activists are raising money and planning the next big protest against Russia's leaders.

President Obama used a recess appointment to name Richard Cordray head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Unlike similar appointments, the Senate hadn't technically recessed.

The Obama administration is trudging ahead with policies designed to protect the integrity of scientific research. But critics of the process say the policies that have been released so far don't do enough to prevent political manipulation of science.

The opposition is keeping up the pressure on Syrian security forces with repeated attacks, and Syria President Bashar Assad has shown no signs of moving toward a cease-fire. Against this backdrop, the "Friends of Syria" are gathering in Turkey.

Weekends on All Things Considered guest host Laura Sullivan speaks with NPR reporter Joseph Shapiro about the sentence of Shirley Ree Smith's "shaken baby" case. California Gov. Jerry Brown has commuted Smith's sentence. Despite her claims of innocence, Smith was convicted in December 1997, and has been free since 2006 awaiting the results of her appeals.

The four things to watch for in Louisiana are Romney's share of the vote which must be 25 percent or more for him to gain any of the delegates who are in play Saturday. Also if he gets a large enough share of Catholic and evangelical votes, that could help him get to 25 percent as well.

Eddie Alterman, an editor for Car and Driver magazine, says he doesn't want to live in a world without stick shift vehicles. "It's a world without guys building treehouses for their kids. It's a world without train sets. It's a world without fun." Alterman has started a movement to save the manual shift.

U.S. archer Khatuna Lorig hopes to return to the Olympics this summer. But she's already helped put archery into The Hunger Games this spring — by training the film's star, Jennifer Lawrence. In the film's kill-or-be-killed competition, Lawrence's character relies on her ability with a bow.

Why is a nanny placement agency more selective than Harvard? The answer includes new money, super talented nannies and a job that consumes their entire lives.