Allie Caren

Whether you play an instrument, sing or sculpt, "everyone does some kind of art," Pindar Van Arman says.

Van Arman is a painter, but he's also a software designer. He has built a handful of machines and worked on a DARPA challenge team in California to build a self-driving car.

Picture this: You're sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. You're rushing to work, fighting your way home, or just picked the wrong time to "run" to the store.

Stuck in a sea of red brake lights, isn't it nice when you "let someone in" and they throw a quick wave to thank ...

Celebrity child autobiographies fall into two categories. There's the scorched earth approach: One sordid story after another — call it the "Mommie Dearest" syndrome.

The second category is the warts-and-all approach, in which the performer's progeny relates parental faults in oft-painful detail, but with the ultimate goal of deeper understanding. ...

Did you miss this week's tech headlines? No problem! Here is a roundup of technology stories from NPR and beyond.

ICYMI

What Makes A Good IT Person: According to NPR's Laura Sydell, our go-to tech saviors need to be half technologist, half psychologist.

"Getting machines to work is an ...

I have two alarms: one, on weekdays, that tells me The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is set to start in 20 minutes; the other, seven days a week, that encourages me to free-write.

Every night I dash to my room to silence the iPhone tune that many a roommate ...

People have been nibbling on flowers for quite some time; they have historically been considered cleansing for the body, and for centuries they were candied, pickled or made into syrup.

But now, edible flowers are being introduced to new markets — and it's a sweet concept. John Clemons, a long-time ...

Didn't keep up with the "tech world" this week? We've got you covered. Here is a roundup of technology stories from NPR and beyond.

ICYMI

Recognizing Women In The Biz: Silicon Valley and the tech industry aren't filled with tons of women, and as NPR's Laura Sydell writes, that's no ...

The final book in Lev Grossman's Magicians trilogy comes out this week — The Magician's Land. It's a literary fantasy, inspired by Narnia and Harry Potter, that tells the story of what happens to brilliant young wizards when they grow up and have to deal with the world.

Grossman was ...

This post is part of our Weekly Innovation series, in which we explore an interesting idea, design or product that you may not have heard of yet. Do you have an innovation to share? Use this quick form.

It's possible to print an ear,

This post is part of our Weekly Innovation series, in which we explore an interesting idea, design or product that you may not have heard of yet. Do you have an innovation to share? Use this quick form.

We've all seen the headlines: Sitting too much can

Bernie Schupbach needed to sell his home in the height of the real estate crash.

His home in Yorkville, Ill., was unoccupied. It had lingered on the market for a long time — and Schupbach, a radiologist in Aurora, Ill., was growing uncomfortable.

"To me, you worry about a pipe ...

Between the Comcast kerfuffle and big layoffs at Microsoft, we weren't at a loss for tech news this week. So here's what happened since your last wrap-up, from NPR and beyond.

ICYMI

The Comcast Chronicles: As the week began, a Comcast customer service call went viral. It starred a ...

This post is part of our Weekly Innovation series, in which we explore an interesting idea, design or product that you may not have heard of yet. Do you have an innovation to share? Use this quick form.

How much time are you spending on your phone? Would ...

I was always thankful that my parents didn't "leash me" at the mall or grocery store when I was a child — but you'll never guess what parents can strap on their kids nowadays.

LG Electronics introduced a device Wednesday called the KizON. Meant for those in preschool and ...

Don't have a green thumb but seeking the therapeutic nature of gardening? Want the convenience and satisfaction of growing your own produce at home? Not to worry: All you need is an electrical outlet, a flat surface and some water.

Meet SproutsIO Inc., a "plug-and-play" user-friendly microfarming appliance for people ...

The world of technology keeps on spinning. Hang on, here's what happened this week in tech, from NPR and beyond.

ICYMI

Sell Your Spot: Trouble finding a parking spot? See if someone's selling one. New apps are popping up that allow drivers to buy and sell parking spots in high-traffic ...

The only thing worse than a long line at a public bathroom is not being able to find an open stall once you've finally reached the front of the line.

No one likes to be walked in on. No one likes to be on the doing or receiving end of ...

Of all of the things that were a big deal as a sprouting toddler, learning to talk was one of the major milestones.

"Ma-Ma," we uttered, wide-eyed, to camcorder lenses and disbelieving parents. "Da-Da."

Talking is a big part of who we are as humans: as families, as business partners ...