Sarah Birnbaum

Reporter

The World

Sarah Birnbaum is a reporter based in Boston.

Sarah Birnbaum is a general assignment reporter for The World, with a special focus on the arts and anything quirky. Before joining the show, she spent many years reporting on state and local politics for Massachusetts public radio stations. She was also based in Cape Town, South Africa, for a year where she reported stories for The World and NPR.Sarah studied art history and English literature at Stanford University. She got her start in journalism at CBS News and WNYC in New York.


University students across the globe protest the Israel-Hamas war 

Israel-Hamas war

Pro-Palestinian protests at universities in the US are showing no signs of slowing down. But they aren’t limited to the United States. At The University of Sydney, in Sydney, Australia, students have set up a temporary encampment modeled on US ones. And students at other universities around the world are following suit. 

Man cuts quartz in factory.

Lungs of stone: How Silica has sickened a generation of quartz cutters

Health & Medicine
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is interviewed by Neil Cavuto.

Henry Kissinger leaves lasting — and controversial — foreign policy legacy

Obituary
man at podium

Australians ready for a historic referendum recognizing First Nations people

Chief anchor Lisa LaFlamme worked with CTV Canada for 35 years.

Was this Canadian anchor fired for her gray hair?

Lifestyle & Belief
In this April 13, 2010, photo, one gram of psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is seen on a scale at New York University in New York. 

This Canadian company is betting big on the ‘psychedelic renaissance’

Health & Medicine

Psygen, a psychedelics startup in Calgary, predicts that a robust psychedelics industry is right around the corner. But the drugs remain illegal in Canada and the US, both early investment hotspots.

Israeli border police officers and Palestinians clash during a protest against the expansion of Israeli Jewish settlements near the West Bank town of Salfit. 

The word ‘apartheid’ is used to describe Israel’s control over Palestinians. Why is it so loaded? 

Conflict & Justice

Human rights groups have used the term apartheid strategically to emphasize the need for a paradigm shift in the region. But others argue that the loaded term doesn’t apply.

Benin Bronzes on exhibit at the British Museum.

Germany plans to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Will other countries follow suit?

Arts

For many inside and outside of Africa, the Benin Bronzes are symbols of colonialism and exploitation, and they’ll stay that way until they’re returned.

Dr. Arup Senapati is shown in full medical personal protective equipment and dancing in a hospital.

A doctor in India dances to cheer up his COVID-19 patients, in full PPE

COVID-19

A video Dr. Arup Senapati dancing for his patients to the party track “Ghungroo” has gone viral, winning praise even from Bollywood.

Artist Daniel Voshart's machine learning-assisted images of Roman emperors Augustus, left, and Maximinus Thrax, right.

This artist used machine learning to create realistic portraits of Roman emperors

Arts

Toronto artist Daniel Voshart spent his free time during the pandemic learning a design software called Artbreeder. He compiled hundreds of images from ancient sculpted busts, coins and statues to create realistic-looking portraits of Roman emperors from the Principate period.