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While viral videos are a common feature of modern Internet life, recently a few audio clips, including sounds from a comet, have become popular.

While viral videos are a common feature of modern Internet life, recently a few audio clips, including sounds from a comet, have become popular. Underwood & Underwood/Corbis hide caption

itoggle caption Underwood & Underwood/Corbis

All Tech Considered

Did You Hear? Going Viral No Longer Just For Videos, Memes

Sure, the Internet is littered with viral cat videos. But recently some bits of audio have drawn millions of listens. Yet it may be too soon to say we're entering a new age of viral audio.

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John P. Elwood, attorney for Anthony D. Elonis, speaks to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Elonis says he was just kidding when he posted a series of graphically violent rap lyrics on Facebook about killing his estranged wife, shooting up a kindergarten class and attacking an FBI agent.

John P. Elwood, attorney for Anthony D. Elonis, speaks to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Elonis says he was just kidding when he posted a series of graphically violent rap lyrics on Facebook about killing his estranged wife, shooting up a kindergarten class and attacking an FBI agent. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Susan Walsh/AP

Law

Justices Struggle To Find Line Between Threats, Free Speech Online

The U.S. Supreme Court struggled Monday with conflicting notions of where to draw the line between free speech and criminal threats in the Internet age.

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In this undated photo released by the Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts Bria and Shirell practice selling cookies on one of two new digital platforms. It's the first time the organization has allowed the sales of cookies using a mobile app or personalized websites.

In this undated photo released by the Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts Bria and Shirell practice selling cookies on one of two new digital platforms. It's the first time the organization has allowed the sales of cookies using a mobile app or personalized websites. Girl Scouts of the USA/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Girl Scouts of the USA/AP

The Two-Way

Girl Scout Cookies Will Soon Be Just A Click Away

The organization has announced a program called Digital Cookies that allows Girl Scouts to sell Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas and other cookies through personalized websites or a mobile app.

At his trial, Elonis argued that he was only exercising his First Amendment free speech rights, which he also says he wrote on his Facebook page.

At his trial, Elonis argued that he was only exercising his First Amendment free speech rights, which he also says he wrote on his Facebook page. iStockphoto hide caption

itoggle caption iStockphoto

Law

Is A Threat Posted On Facebook Really A Threat?

The Supreme Court is tackling a question of increasing importance in the age of social media and the Internet after a man was convicted of posting threats against his estranged wife and an FBI agent.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel uses a mobile phone during a meeting of the German federal parliament in Berlin, on Nov. 28, 2013. The country's labor minister supports a call that would prohibit employers from sending emails to employees after normal business hours.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel uses a mobile phone during a meeting of the German federal parliament in Berlin, on Nov. 28, 2013. The country's labor minister supports a call that would prohibit employers from sending emails to employees after normal business hours. Michael Sohn/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Michael Sohn/AP

Parallels

German Government May Say 'Nein' To After Work Emails

In a country that strives to protect work-life balance, there are calls to ban employers from sending work email after business hours. Some big companies are already doing that.

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International Space Station Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore holds up the first object made in space with 3-D printing on Nov. 25.

International Space Station Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore holds up the first object made in space with 3-D printing on Nov. 25. NASA hide caption

itoggle caption NASA

All Tech Considered

To Boldly Go Where No 3-D Printer Has Gone Before: Yep, Space

NASA 3-D printed an object on the International Space Station for the first time this week. It's an important step toward long missions — like to Mars — where all necessary items won't fit on board.

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An employee demonstrates how a mother is checked for sound quality before it is duplicated during production at the Rainbo Records factory in Canoga Park, Calif. The vinyl record industry has seen an uptick in sales in recent years, keeping manufacturers like Rainbo busy.

An employee demonstrates how a mother is checked for sound quality before it is duplicated during production at the Rainbo Records factory in Canoga Park, Calif. The vinyl record industry has seen an uptick in sales in recent years, keeping manufacturers like Rainbo busy. Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Business

Vinyl, Once Thought Dead, Makes A Comeback In The Digital Age

In the last six years, vinyl sales have tripled. Manufacturers are now having a hard time keeping up with demand.

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This Nov. 19 screenshot shows the cover photo of an unofficial Marine group on Facebook called Just the Tip, of the Spear. The group and those like it have been accused of promoting sexism and of acting as a forum for hate speech.

This Nov. 19 screenshot shows the cover photo of an unofficial Marine group on Facebook called Just the Tip, of the Spear. The group and those like it have been accused of promoting sexism and of acting as a forum for hate speech. Just the Tip, of the Spear - 21/Facebook hide caption

itoggle caption Just the Tip, of the Spear - 21/Facebook

All Tech Considered

Marine Corps Finds It Tough To Shut Down Sexist Facebook Groups

Female Marines are being humiliated and generally degraded by their peers on Facebook. The groups' pages are frequently shut down, but return within days due to a dedicated following.

Computer Engineer Barbie is shown at the New York Toy Fair in New York. Critics took issue this week with a book that portrays Barbie needing help from boys in order to make a video game and fix a virus.

Computer Engineer Barbie is shown at the New York Toy Fair in New York. Critics took issue this week with a book that portrays Barbie needing help from boys in order to make a video game and fix a virus. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP

Book News & Features

After Backlash, Computer Engineer Barbie Gets New Set Of Skills

The 2010 book Barbie: I Can Be a Computer Engineer was highly criticized this week; it shows Barbie designing a game, but relying on male friends to code it for her. So the Internet set out to fix it.

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