Lab-Grown Diamonds Come Into Their Own
Commercial labs can now make the large, clear diamonds people prize for engagement rings and other jewelry in as little as 72 hours. How will this change the diamond industry?
Technology
Judges Have More Power In Granting Warrants To Hack Digital Devices
New rules let a federal court approve government searches of devices outside the court's district. The Justice Department wanted the change to keep up with technology. Opponents consider it scary.
Not A Hack: U.S. Office Of Government Ethics Tweets At Trump
In an odd sequence of events, the federal ethics watchdog praised Trump in a series of snarky tweets for allegedly deciding to divest his businesses — something he hasn't specifically promised.
Feds Say Railroads Making Slow Progress On Revolutionary Braking System
The Federal Railroad Administration says many railroads are behind schedule in installing technology that could prevent crashes. It would slow or stop a train if the human operator failed to do so.
How To Find The Best Deals On Cyber Monday
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Joanna Stern, personal technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal, about this year's so-called "Cyber Monday." They discuss the best online tech deals, which tech gadgets make the perfect gift, and if consumers should be concerned about exploding batteries in this year's hottest gizmos.
Big Data Coming In Faster Than Biomedical Researchers Can Process It
There's a plethora of projects to gather data about the brain, various kinds of cancer and every type of cell in the body. But researchers are struggling to keep up with the information explosion.
Some Assembly Required: New Space Telescope Will Take Shape After Launch
The James Webb Space Telescope is undergoing its final series of tests in NASA workshops. It's designed to take even grander images than the Hubble telescope. But deploying it will be a major feat.
As Batteries Keep Catching Fire, U.S. Safety Agency Prepares For Change
The Consumer Product Safety Commission grabbed the spotlight in recalls of hoverboard scooters and Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phones. It's a tiny agency with a vast oversight of thousands of products.
New Rule Requires Quiet Electric, Hybrid Cars To Emit Sound Alerts
The problem with those quiet electric cars and hybrids? They're too quiet. This month rules were finalized requiring automakers to install speakers in cars to emit sounds when rolling at low speeds.
TSA Takes To Twitter For AMA
The Transportation Security Administration has been using social media to answer travelers' questions about what they can bring on commercial planes. Questions like, "Are meatballs allowed in carry-on bags?"