A look back at NASA's planet-pinpointing space 'scope

The space agency says the Kepler space telescope is having equipment issues. With the mission threatened, we look back at Kepler's mind-expanding search for Earth-like exoplanets. (Credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech) NASA announced this week that a key piece of gear on its Kepler space telescope has run into trouble.

Which ear you hold your cell phone to may reveal brain dominance

Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit say that, similar to handedness, most people who hold their cell phones to their left ear are right-hemisphere dominant and vice versa. It has long been understand that right-handed people -- who make up about 90 percent of the population -- have left-hemisphere dominant brains, and left-handed people the reverse.

The Week in Pictures: Google's utopia to a stem cell burger

Google CEO Larry Page imagines a tech-driven utopia, robotic bees take flight, and a $325,000 stem cell hamburger is ready to be eaten. The technology world was buzzing with news this week. From Google's annual I/O conference to some very tiny robotics, these are the images from the week's tech stories that stood out.

Spur-of-the-moment spacewalk a first for NASA, space station

An impromptu spacewalk triggered by the sight of ammonia flakes drifting past a window of the International Space Station wraps up with a replaced pump and a plan for "additional detective work."

Your very own drone, to follow you home

Universal Air got its start with a $15,000 Kickstarter campaign that earned $220,000. Now it wants to make drones that can autonomously follow you around. Without an Internet signal. Imagine carving your way down a particularly challenging slope, your skis kicking up clouds of snow, trees flying by, your death-defying stunts captured perfectly on camera.

Desktop Othermill carves out circuit boards, jewelry

This successful Kickstarter project lets you make anything from printed circuits to brass earrings and molds for precision parts. (Credit: Kickstarter) What if you could easily add custom-designed circuits to DIY projects like 3D-printed stuff? Here's a small mill that can churn them out with precision and power.

The Pirate Bay now offering banned 3D-printed gun files

The State Department has successfully demanded the removal of the files from Defcad. The Pirate Bay has picked up the slack. (Credit: Screenshot by Dara Kerr/CNET) For those who worry that even 24 hours without the ability to download 3D-printed gun blueprints is too much, fret no more: The Pirate Bay is on the case.

Fiery annular solar eclipse to be broadcast live on Internet

Most of Earth's inhabitants won't be able to directly watch the moon pass in front of the sun on Thursday -- leaving only a golden ring around its edges -- but anyone can catch the action online. Read this article by Dara Kerr on CNET News.

Relive Earth's wild history of meteor strikes

In the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a meteor! This nifty graph lets you explore confirmed meteor strikes on Earth.

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3D-printed guns could be outlawed in California

Senator Leland Yee plans to introduce legislation to ban 3D-printed gun technology in order to "ensure that it is not used for the wrong purpose with potentially deadly consequences." (Credit: Screenshot by Dara Kerr/CNET) With gun control battles raging among federal and state legislators, it was inevitable that the issue of 3D-printed handguns would come up, especially with such a gun now available.

Tesla hits first profitable quarter ever

Breaking records, the electric car company's total revenue for the first quarter rose 83 percent over last quarter -- giving it adjusted earnings of $0.12 per share on revenue of $562 million.

Future-tech fair exposes geeky visions

The CalArts Digital Arts and Technology Expo offers a glimpse into the future of digital entertainment. If the innovations on display here are any indication, the future looks mighty fun. (Credit: Bruce Lot and Mark Morris) It's that time of year when student boffins the world over display their final projects, offering tantalizing glimpses into their mad-scientist machinations, and possibly the future.

Lockheed laser weapon hits its mark again

In a series of tests, the prototype ADAM system destroys a number of targets that the defense contractor describes as "free-flying Qassam-like rockets." (Credit: Lockheed Martin/Screenshot by CNET) Lockheed Martin's ADAM laser weapon wants to step up its game.

Bad breath? This robot girl will tell you straight

Two new robots have hit Japan, both designed to let you know that you're a little on the smelly side. (Credit: Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNET Australia) We've all known people who, let's face it, have a bit of a pong, and not the cool video game kind.

Artist 3D-prints portraits from DNA left in public places

Artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg collects gum, hair, and cigarette butts from public places to extract DNA data and create 3D portraits based on genetics. (Credit: Heather Dewey-Hagborg) We can't help but leave our DNA all over the place. If you drop a chewed piece of gum or a cigarette butt, it might get picked up by artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg.

Boeing primes the B-52 for the digital age

The aircraft maker says a $76 million contract will let it start upgrading the U.S. Air Force's aging but still potent fleet of heavy bombers. (Credit: U.S. Air Force) Douglas MacArthur famously said that old soldiers never die, they just fade away. Some famous old aircraft take a different route: they go digital.

3D-print your own invisibility cloak, kind of

Engineers at Duke University have used 3D printing to create an object that can shield against detection from microwave beams. (Credit: Duke University) While we remain dubious about the legitimacy of using the word "invisible" when visible light isn't involved, that's what a team of engineers at Duke University have dubbed their creation.

Tesla eyes 'autopilot' partnership with Google

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk says that while his company might build its own autopilot feature, he could partner with Google on that. (Credit: Google) Tesla, the electric car maker, has been in talks with Google about the development of a self-driving car, the company's CEO revealed on Tuesday.

Google Glass is missing one critical factor

Before we call Google Glass the next big revolution in tech, remember that it cannot answer one essential question. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Google Glass has generated plenty of interest and excitement. But before we crown it an industry revolutionizer, let's not forget that Google Glass still doesn't have a clear response to the one big question that all revolutionary products must answer: How does it make my life better?

NASA's asteroid lasso mission said to halt Apocalypse scenario

Speaking at the Human to Mars Summit, NASA's top administrator Charles Bolden pledges to work to "prevent an asteroid from colliding with devastating force into our planet." (Credit: NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office) Shortly after a large meteor hit Russia in February, injuring about 1,000 people, President Obama's administration announced that the U.S.