In Midst Of Drought, Why Not Harvest Water From The Air?
All Tech Considered explores some experimental and lesser-used technologies for harvesting and disinfecting water.
Technology
ABC Brings Muppets Back To Prime Time As News Emerges About Fall Shows
TV networks officially reveal fall schedules next week, but word has already spread on some new shows and cancellations. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says early trends include more diversity, big names.
Staffing An Intensive Care Unit From Miles Away Has Advantages
Some hospitals are using a remote command center to keep an eye on ICU patients. This brings the expertise of a major medical center to rural hospitals — and may help keep the rural centers open.
The Unlikely Stars Of Americans' Favorite Video Games
More than a third of Americans play video games three or more hours a week. Part of the appeal is the richly developed characters in the games.
NSA's Bulk Collection Of Americans' Phone Data Is Illegal, Appeals Court Rules
A three-judge panel said Congress did not intend to give the National Security Agency the authority to collect metadata about Americans' phone records in bulk when lawmakers wrote the Patriot Act.
A Long Way From Wax Cylinders, Library Of Congress Slowly Joins The Digital Age
Through the library's website, you can listen to the recording of a former slave or millions of other items. But critics say the library needs to move more aggressively to adjust to the digital age.
Smartphones Can Be Smart Enough To Find A Parasitic Worm
If someone is infected by the Loa loa worm, taking a drug to treat river blindness could be risky. Now there's a fast way to identify the worm — by turning a smartphone into a microscope.
When The Sharing Economy Brings Unexpected Experiences
The number of people using these services is growing fast. Find out what happens when a writer rents out his Mini Cooper and an Airbnb tenant learns something terrible has happened to his host.
The Promise And Potential Pitfalls Of Apple's ResearchKit
Apple's new mobile software platform is designed to help collect data for medical research, but concerns have been raised about privacy and informed consent.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Unveils Home Battery; Is $3,000 Cheap Enough?
With a sleek surface and a depth of only about 7 inches, the Powerwall can be mounted on a garage wall or another surface, indoors or outside.