Technology

National

Siblings In Texas Drop Their Lemonade Stand To Mine Cryptocurrency

5:41am August 17, 2021

Ishaan Thakur, 14, and his sister Aanya, 9, earn tens of thousands of dollars every month mining cryptocurrency. They have dozens of computers able to make billions of calculations every second.

Electrical workers check solar panels at a photovoltaic power station built in a fishpond in Haian in China's eastern Jiangsu province.

Computer Models Of Civilization Offer Routes To Ending Global Warming

7:53am August 14, 2021

by Dan Charles

Scientists who warned of heat waves and rising seas this week also say that it's possible to avoid the worst effects of the warming climate. They're relying on computer models of the world economy.

Apple last week unveiled new features aimed at combating child sex abuse. The changes are being celebrated by families of sexual abuse survivors. But privacy advocates are fighting to stop it.

Survivors Laud Apple's New Tool To Spot Child Sex Abuse But The Backlash Is Growing

4:08pm August 13, 2021

by Bobby Allyn

Apple's new feature to fight child sexual abuse is encouraging to families of survivors. But privacy advocates are trying to convince Apple to drop its plans, fearing they could lead to surveillance.

A woman looks at her phone outside the The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 6. The Indicator from Planet Money spoke to an economist for advice on how to cut back on digital dependency.

Health & Safety

Feel Like You're Addicted To Your Phone? You're Not Alone

2:01pm August 13, 2021

by Tori Dominguez

As Americans spend more time on their phones, behavioral economists are studying the line between a habit and an addiction.

Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou, China. A female employee at the tech company is alleging that she was sexually assaulted by her manager.

Rape Accusations At Alibaba Bring China's #MeToo Movement Back Into The Spotlight

8:26am August 13, 2021

by Emily Feng

A woman's account of her alleged rape by her manager at the Chinese tech company has gone viral, spurring conversations across the country about sexual abuse in the workplace.

Health & Safety

How Much Phone Time Is Too Much Phone Time? Scientists Research Digital Addiction

5:34am August 13, 2021

by Stacey Vanek Smith

The average American adult spends four or five hours a day on their phone. Is there a line where that much phone time crosses into addiction? The Indicator from Planet Money asked an economist.

Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century, by Tim Higgins

Tale Of Tesla, Elon Musk Is Inherently Dramatic And Compellingly Told In 'Power Play'

9:24am August 12, 2021

by Camila Domonoske

Perhaps most interesting in Tim Higgins' book are the hints at what might have been: Tesla could have built a plug-in hybrid, or sold itself to Google, or become a battery supplier.

A test of the emergency alert systems, like this one from 2018 showing a "Presidential Alert" message, is planned Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. ET on televisions, radios and some cellphones across the U.S.

National

Your Radio, TV And Cellphone May Start Blaring Today. Do Not Be Alarmed

2:01pm August 11, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

At 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the federal government will be testing two emergency alert systems on televisions, radios and certain cellphones across the country.

Vaccination cards are key to a lot of activities, so they need to be both protected and available.

How To Have Your Vaccine Confirmation On You At All Times

6:00pm August 10, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

The cards need to be both protected and available to show when needed. You can carry the original paper card with you, plastic coated perhaps. But lots of people stash it away and show a digital copy.

Uber and Lyft sign in windshield of car, Queens, New York.

National

Lyft And Uber Prices Are High. Wait Times Are Long And Drivers Are Scarce

6:58am August 07, 2021

by Bobby Allyn

Lyft and Uber fares are estimated to be nearly 80% higher than pre-pandemic prices in some cities. The companies say a driver shortage is pushing up prices.