Technology

General Motors says its OnStar 4G LTE connection will allow cars to act as a mobile Internet hub.

National

For Automakers, Internet-Connected Cars Are A Balancing Act

9:21pm May 21, 2014

by Sonari Glinton

General Motors is putting 4G capabilities directly into its vehicles. But analysts say connecting your car to the Internet poses a challenge to automakers: how to balance safety with convenience.

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Contaminated water can spread diseases like cholera and typhoid. A new project aims to provide water filters in the form of an educational book.

Filtering A New Idea: A Book That's Educational And 'Drinkable'

10:32pm May 17, 2014

by NPR Staff

Improving access to clean water can reduce the spread of diarrheal diseases in developing countries. The "Drinkable Book" should help: It has water safety tips and each page works as a filter.

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Legal experts say it's too soon to know the impact of a European court ruling that will require Google to remove some links upon request.

World News

European Ruling On Removing Google Links May Leave A Mess

8:31pm May 16, 2014

by Aarti Shahani

Europeans now have the right to have search results about them deleted from online databases. But legal experts say each of the EU's 28 countries could interpret the decision differently.

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Student Mack Godbee and mentor Natasha Santana-Viera go over Godbee's report card. Godbee's performance has improved since a data monitoring program identified him as a dropout risk.

Putting Student Data To The Test To Identify Struggling Kids

11:14am May 16, 2014

by Sammy Mack

Schools collect a trove of student information, like attendance and grades. Now, more schools are mining that data to flag kids at risk of dropping out — often before anyone realizes they need help.

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Monica Chavez packs up a box at an Amazon.com fulfillment center Dec. 2, in Phoenix.

Online Sales Taxes Shift Consumer Behavior, Study Shows

5:34pm May 14, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

Some states have enacted so-called Amazon taxes, forcing the giant online retailer to collect sales taxes the same way traditional stores do. In those states, Amazon's sales fell about 10 percent.

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Merrill uses a drone to take aerial shots of Santa Cruz, Calif.

As Drones Fly In Cities And Yards, So Do The Complaints

10:25am May 14, 2014

by Laura Sydell

As the price of drones drops, more people are playing around with them in their cities and neighborhoods. This doesn't sit well with a lot of Americans. Are they just paranoid?

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World News

EU Court Tells Google That People Have 'The Right To Be Forgotten'

7:26pm May 13, 2014

Europe's highest court has issued a landmark decision against Google, ruling that people can go directly to Google and request that the search engine delete certain results about them. For more information, Audie Cornish turns to Meg Ambrose, a professor of communication, culture, and technology at Georgetown University.

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Joe Kummer, president of Propulsive Wing in Elbridge, N.Y., is rooting for having a drone test site in upstate New York. He says it could save him trips to the West Coast to try out new drone prototypes.

Seeking A 'Field Of Dreams' For A Rising Drone Industry

11:18am May 12, 2014

by Ryan Delaney

Drone developers in upstate New York and other regions are striving to be named official testing sites for drones as the FAA creates regulations for their use.

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National

Under The Radar: Some Pilots Of Small Drones Skirt FAA Rules

11:17am May 12, 2014

by Steve Henn

Unmanned drones aren't just a tool for governments anymore. By as early as this year, the FAA expects to propose rules opening small, unmanned airborne vehicles, or drones, for commercial use.

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(From left) Incandescent, CFL and LED light bulbs. Many people are finding that choosing the right light bulb has a steep learning curve.

In The Dark About Picking A Light Bulb? This FAQ Can Help

9:23pm May 07, 2014

by NPR Staff

It used to be easy to buy a light bulb. But the transition to more energy-efficient lighting means choosing from an array of products. We help you navigate the world of the 21st century light bulb.

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