While we celebrate the records Ms. Koch now holds, the achievements that come directly from her efforts are less heralded. She conducted research in microgravity on mustard greens, examining the role of gravity and space on whole-plant health, cellular development and tissue growth. Perhaps most importantly, she also looked at how growing plants affects human community.

Tennessee is one of 31 states that still impose sales tax on tampons and pads. A measure to repeal it failed last year amid questions about how the state would make up the resulting loss in revenue. But in fact, Tennessee ended the year with a budget surplus, and chose to use it to give residents a tax break on ammunition.

Rules intended to protect domestic workers have only made them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, say activists.