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Comets are known as the icy bodies of the solar system. But new analysis of dust brought back by a space probe shows comets are also made up of minerals forged by fire.

Saddam Hussein takes the stand and launches into a political speech, praising the insurgency and urging Iraqis to halt sectarian violence. Reporters are ordered out of the chamber when Saddam ignores the judge's orders to confine his statements to the charges against him.

President Bush is scheduled to make speeches reaffirming his administration's belief in the practice of pre-emptive war. In 2002, Father Richard John Neuhaus, president of the Institute on Religion and Public Life, talked with NPR about the doctrine. He revisits the topic with Michele Norris.

Clarice Morant has been taking care of her sister for more than 20 years, and her brother for six. It's a natural role for a big sister, even if in this case, the big sister is 101.

In recent years, there has been increasing speculation that the Vatican is preparing to establish diplomatic relations with China. But China's 12 million Catholics are often still caught between the Church and the state.

The cowboy love story Brokeback Mountain leads the Oscar pack with a total of eight nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Heath Ledger. Madeleine Brand talks with Claude Brodesser, host of the public radio program The Business, about the Academy Award nominees announced Tuesday morning. The awards ceremony will be held March 5 in Los Angeles.

Religious scholar Reza Aslan explains to Robert Siegel why the Muhammad cartoons recently published in several European newspapers are offensive to Muslims. The depiction of Muhammad is considered blasphemous by many in the Muslim world and has prompted vigorous protest.

Filmmaker and photographer Gordon Parks has died. He was 93. Parks captured black America as a photographer for Life magazine, and then became Hollywood's first major black director with the hit Shaft. He also wrote fiction and was an accomplished composer.

The auction process for Knight Ridder, one of the largest newspaper chains in the country, starts Thursday. The company announced last fall that it was putting itself up for sale. The move is an effort to satisfy shareholders, who want better returns on their investment in the company.

In New York, a federal jury deadlocks in the racketeering trial of accused mob boss John "Junior" Gotti. It's his second mistrial in eight months. Prosecutors say they'll try Gotti a third time, and the judge indicates she'll set a new trial date on Monday.