U.S. Grants Patent For Free-Standing Space Elevator Tower
A Canadian company called Thoth Technology has patented a space elevator. The tower would rise some 12 miles into the sky, with a runway or launch pad on top.
Technology
Bloomberg Columnist: Report On Amazon's Work Culture Not Surprising
NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Justin Fox, columnist for Bloomberg View, about Amazon's work culture, following a scathing article in The New York Times.
Engineers Make Narcotics With Yeast. Is Home-Brewed Heroin Next?
The yeast produce only tiny amounts of the drug. But eventually, the technology could lead to better painkillers and other medicines. Drug officials worry the microbes could fall into the wrong hands.
IRS Hack Bigger Than First Thought
A closer look shows hackers got nearly three times the taxpayer data originally feared.
Letting Go Of The Wheel: How Google Is Easing People Into Self-Driving Cars
Google has begun testing a new self-driving car this summer that is designed to work without a steering wheel. But as the Planet Money team reports, the company's biggest challenge may be convincing Americans to hop inside.
Report: AT&T Had Long, 'Highly Collaborative' Partnership With NSA
The New York Times and ProPublica examined documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. They reveal an extensive relationship between the spy agency and the telecom giant.
Drones Increase Heart Rates Of Wild Bears. Too Much Stress?
Scientists studying animals in their natural habitats can now just send in a drone with a camera, rather than trudging through rough terrain. But a new study finds that the drones don't go unnoticed.
How Did A Simple Challenge Become A Worldwide Phenomenon?
The 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was one of the fastest fundraising efforts in history. Nancy Frates recounts how her love for her son Pete plunged her into leading a worldwide awareness campaign.
In Twitter Rant, Tinder Blasts 'Vanity Fair' Article On New York Dating Culture
In an outburst on Twitter, the dating app Tinder criticized a recent Vanity Fair article describing the hookup culture in New York City. Tinder said it was unfairly portrayed in the article, and reporter Nancy Jo Sales failed to seek the company's comment for the story.
Tired Of The Big City? Consider Telecommuting From Montana
Greg Gianforte, a successful high-tech entrepreneur, is recruiting — not for his company, but for telecommuters to move to rural Montana and bring their high-paying jobs with them.