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.
Lungs of stone: How Silica has sickened a generation of quartz cutters
Quartz is used for countertops in millions of homes around the world — the manmade stone is popular for its beauty and durability. But for workers who make, cut and install quartz counters, it can be deadly. The World reported from Turkey, Spain and Australia — three stops along the quartz countertop supply chain — to learn more about silicosis, an incurable and often fatal lung disease caused by inhaling dust laden with excessive amounts of a mineral called silica.
This artist used machine learning to create realistic portraits of Roman emperors
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.
