It turns out that rats might not be such "rats" after all. Our science guy, Neil Shubin, talks about rat empathy and other stories on Scientific Chicago.

Radio station WFMT is celebrating its 60th anniversary of broadcasting classical music in Chicago. We talk to program director Peter Whorf about Tuesday's 10-hour "Day of Music" live broadcast celebration at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Chicago is home to the third largest public school district in the country. And it's a system that's plagued by a high dropout rate. Now a new study takes a closer look at the individual and societal costs of dropping out. Tonight, we look at the study as part of our "American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen" initiative.

A year after his death, Ron Santo finally makes it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. We have reaction.

The Tiffany glass and marble ceilings in a fireproof mansion are decked out for the holidays. Geoffrey Baer rounds up some seasonal offerings of art, culture and fun.

We find out about a new iPhone app that actually sends you a paycheck. Jay Shefsky has the story.

Geoffrey Baer takes us on an urban adventure in a new multimedia tour through Chicago's downtown loop. We get a preview of Chicago's Loop: A New Walking Tour.

The mind of the chimpanzee is far more complex than we once thought. Eddie Arruza tells us what researchers at the Lincoln Park Zoo are learning about our closest non-human relative, and why those findings just might save the endangered species in tonight's Scientific Chicago.

Illinois' pension obligations are unexpectedly rising a billion dollars next fiscal year.

The majority of Americans are already overweight. But a new study concludes that within ten years, obesity and diabetes in America will actually get much worse. We'll speak to some health professionals and take a look at the dangerous and costly expansion of America.

It's called "Project Soapbox." High school students from around the city compete in a public speaking competition. We take you to an early round.

A tiny, fingernail-sized organism that some are calling the scourge of the Great Lakes is fundamentally altering marine life. Ash-har Quraishi reports on a devastating invasive species that is causing ripples all the way up the food chain.

We meet the man behind the volunteer organization that beautifies the darkest areas of Chicago.