Who Decides Which Emojis Get The Thumbs Up?
The Unicode Consortium decides which emojis live or die. As they prepare to release the next batch of emojis, we ask the emoji gatekeeper's president about the approval process.
Technology
Cuba's Widespread Piracy Culture
Despite the trade embargo, Cubans have long enjoyed pirated TV programs. Nick Miroff of The Washington Post speaks to NPR's Rachel Martin about the black market's future when trade is normalized.
Few Railroads On Track To Meet End-Of-Year Safety Deadline
A 2008 law requires all U.S. railroads to install a new safety system that monitors and regulates train speed. Unless there's an extension, railroads say they'll shut down rather than pay fines.
Fighting Online Bullying, One Emoji At A Time
The latest Apple iOS update includes a mysterious "eye-in-speech-bubble" emoji that has puzzled developers. The symbol is part of the Ad Council's new digital anti-bullying campaign, "I Am A Witness."
'Consumer Reports' Pulls Tesla Model S Recommendation
Tesla — the electric car company beloved by environmentalists and the auto press — has hit a rough patch. A rave review from Consumer Reports has been reversed, and now Tesla's Model S is no longer recommended by the magazine. A self-driving feature introduced recently has also led to some hair raising moments behind the wheel documented online.
It's Not Just VW: A Robust Market For Reprogramming Vehicles
An entire marketplace exists on the Internet for tuners, devices that help drivers crank up the power on vehicles and then hide the evidence. We visit a local diesel shop to see how it works.
Online Health Tools Might Not Help The People Who Need It Most
An online portal to manage chronic kidney disease sounds great, but poor, older or black people were less likely to use it. That means the shift to e-health could make health disparities worse.
How Can We Open Source Exploring Our Oceans?
David Lang became an amateur oceanographer by getting a network of ocean lovers to team up and build open source, low-cost underwater explorers.
Even After Hanging Up, Hands-Free Isn't Risk-Free For Distracted Drivers
Mental distractions can persist up to 27 seconds after using hands-free technologies, a new AAA study says. But the auto industry says voice-activated systems help drivers keep their eyes on the road.
In D.C. And China, Two Approaches To A Streetcar Unconstrained By Wires
D.C. has struggled to roll out a streetcar line that uses both overheard wires and off-wire, battery power. In southern China, though, a new supercapacitor-powered tramline is already up and running.