innovation & technology
Successful energy development program in Haiti shut down because of funding
A United Nations group set out to clean up a Port-au-Prince neighborhood by converting trash to cooking fuel. It was a project with many goals, that ultimately wasn't sustainable financially. It seems many programs in Haiti suffer under their own weight.
In the wake of iPhone 5, is Apple's mystique causing it as much trouble as benefit?
Apple made waves with its iPhone 5 unveiling Wednesday — but perhaps not the waves it has at some of its previous launches. Are expectations too high for Apple, or is the company just not delivering like it used to? And, really, does it even matter?
Researcher amplifies effectiveness of solar electrodes -- with spinach
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that we can harness a natural process -- photosynthesis -- to improve the effectiveness of solar collectors. By using a protein found in plants, electrodes can be made to convert more sunlight into energy.
Sri Lankan scientists create renewable batteries powered by plantain trees
About a quarter of all people worldwide live without electricity. For them, evenings and nights are spent by candlelight or kerosene lamp. But a group of scientists in Sri Lanka say they have found a creative way to bring simple electric lighting to rural households.
In new memoir, former Facebook employee questions role of social media
In 2010, Katherine Losse moved to a small town in western Texas after quitting her job at Facebook. As she reveals in her new memoir, "The Boy Kings," Losse had grown disillusioned with Silicon Valley's "programmed" culture and needed to unplug. In doing so, she found new meaning in the technology-driven world she left behind.
'Mohawk guy' becomes the new face of NASA
Bobak Ferdowsi is young, good looking and sports a stars-and-stripes Mohawk. He's also the flight director for NASA's Mars Curiosity rover. That Ferdowki doesn't look like your typical rocket scientist is what made him an overnight Internet sensation, and the new face of the U.S. space program.
Slovenian website seeks to turn people's passwords into art
A trio of Slovenians are taking an interest in cyber-security and turning it into art. They're asking people to submit their online passwords to a database they make publicly available. Eventually, they hope to turn it into a real-world exhibit.
High school student creates computer app for diagnosing breast cancer
This year's winner of the Google Science Fair is Brittany Wenger, a 17-year-old high school student from Florida. For her award-winning project, Wenger used her knowledge of computer science and biology to design an app to help doctors diagnose breast cancer.
Robotic lifeguard 'Emily' to assist lifeguards at beaches across the country
An Arizona-based company, Hydronalix, has created a robotic flotation device named Emily that could provide assistance to lifeguards and help save lives.
European consortium planning huge telescope for Chilean desert
In the Atacama Desert, there's a massive complex of highly sophisticated telescopes. But that's not enough. A group of European countries are planning to build a new, massive telescope nearby.
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PUdden N Tane (20 May, 2013 09:40:50)Take her crayons away then put her in the corner. How could anyone even 'think' they are doing right by the picture when they make ... -
Womprat (20 May, 2013 02:50:44)There were no swamp rats. There were Womprats, though.
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Jonathan (20 May, 2013 11:59:28)You're quite right. Sorry about that! Jonathan Kealing PRI.org
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My Other Car's the Tardis (20 May, 2013 11:37:03)I think you dropped a letter in the album's title: "Ela" is "she"--not "he"--in Portuguese.
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Jonathan (20 May, 2013 11:08:23)Hi Carl-- We can't think of such a solicitation coming from The World — and The World typically airs Monday through Friday. Is it possible you ...