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Why you shouldn't expect a hoverboard any time soon

Researchers at NYU say they have made a breakthrough in understanding how insects manage to remain in one place in the air. But building vehicles that can do the same is a tall order.

Want your business to grow? Learn how to step away

Once a business starts growing, the entrepreneur faces a challenge: do they work in the business or work on the business?

Pentagon budget: Does it pit active-duty forces against retirees?

Personnel costs in the Pentagon’s base budget have grown enormously over the past decade. Now, officials are trying to making tough choices about where to make cuts.

Obama's NASA budget favors a space telescope over Mars exploration

The proposed 2013 federal budget shifts funding away from missions to Mars and emphasizes manned spaceflight and astronomy.

Pakistani PM charged with contempt, job on the line in court showdow

The judges are set to charge Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with contempt for defying their orders to reopen an old corruption case against his political ally, President Asif Ali Zardari.

Shocker: Video of live woolly mammoth not entirely authentic

Footage from a Russian filmmaker's personal history project was altered to create a widely discussed – and now thoroughly debunked – sighting of a woolly mammoth.

EU approves Google's $12.5B Motorola Mobility acquisition

EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement Monday that regulators didn't believe the transaction itself raised any competitive problems.

Obama's needed rapport with China's Xi

Xin Jinping will be in power for a decade, so his visit to the US must establish a trust that can help smooth growing differences and prevent confrontations.

How Pinterest combines the best parts of Facebook, Tumblr, and Etsy

Pinterest is easy, creative, and winning investors. So how does the new social network work, exactly?

Rumblings of renewed militancy continue in Bayelsa, Nigeria

The violence seen in the lead-up to the gubernatorial election could be just the beginning of trouble in the Niger Delta, says guest blogger Alex Thurston.

What women really want for Valentine's Day: more freedom

The biggest Valentine's Day gift to women would be more freedom to make their own choices about when and how often to give birth, says Worldwatch Institute president Robert Engelman.

NASA calls for new spaceships to taxi astronauts to space station

NASA is looking for two private firms to design and build 'space taxis' to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Could Mitt Romney lose to Rick Santorum in Michigan? (+video)

It looks like 'anti-Romney' Republicans in Michigan are coalescing around Rick Santorum as their candidate. Even on his home turf, Mitt Romney suffers from an 'enthusiasm gap' problem.

UN human rights chief: UN inaction emboldened Syria in violent dissident crackdown

Navi Pillay expressed serious concern that the deliberate stirring of sectarian tensions may plunge Syria into civil war. She again appealed for President Bashar Assad's government to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

What makes a planet livable? Five things scientists look for.

Since 1995, astronomers have been hunting in earnest for possible havens for life outside the solar system. So far, they've detected more than 550 extrasolar planets, or exoplanets. Another 2,000-plus possible planets are waiting in the wings for confirmation. Researchers are working on ways to identify a "potentially Earth-like" planet – even if it isn't an identical twin. One group, led by Washington State University astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch, has proposed a way to rate any planet's potential habitability and how similar some of its basic properties are to Earth's. Based on the rating systems, published in a recent issue of the journal Astrobiology, here is what the team looks for.

How to find a retirement plan that works for you

Everyone has a different idea for how they want to spend their retirement. Given how varied people's goals are, why is it reasonable to think that everyone should plan for retirement in the exact same way?

Mars budget cuts 'irrational' says former NASA science chief

NASA faces deep budget cuts, forcing it to eliminate some missions to explore Mars. The cuts will allow the agency to continue its plans to build a successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Israel blames Hezbollah and Iran for attacks on diplomats. Is it right? (+video)

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that has carried out attacks as far afield as Argentina before, is certainly a prime suspect in today's attacks in India and Georgia.

Outrage over Egypt's arrest of NGO workers, but US would have done the same

The outrage over Egypt's arrest of 43 NGO workers, at least 16 of whom are American, is understandable and well deserved. But it also speaks to a little acknowledged paradox: These organizations are conducting democracy-building work that would never be tolerated in the US.

Does Obama blueprint reduce budget deficit fast enough? (+video)

US budget deficit, which has hit $1 trillion for four straight years, would fall to $900 billion in 2013, under Obama's budget blueprint released Monday. It is slated to keep falling, but even by 2018 would barely satisfy credit-rating firms.

Corporate boards are missing the big picture – and profits

Boards of directors need to maximize value for stakeholders, not just shareholders. Why? It's good business.

Two years after US breaks up Michigan militia, trial begins

Members of the Hutaree militia are charged with conspiring to commit sedition, or rebellion, as well as weapon crimes.

Did Mitt Romney steal Maine caucuses from Ron Paul?

The caucus for Washington County, Maine was cancelled Saturday due to the threat of inclement weather. Ron Paul supporters believe that with those votes, Paul could have won the state contest.

'The Vow' leads strong pre-Valentine's weekend at box office

'The Vow,' starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, took in $41.7 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters from Friday through Sunday in the biggest domestic opening so far this year, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters on Sunday.

Russian opposition to intervention in Syria shows no sign of abating

Russian opposition is not just about its interests in Syria – increasingly it is based on skepticism about Western democracy promotion in the Middle East.

Good Reads: China's next leader comes to Washington, as US enters a funk

Lots of talk of America's decline but few suggested solutions as Chinese vice president Xi Jinping visits Washington this week.

Signs of a Hong Kong real estate bubble?

The price of residential properties in Hong Kong declined 3.8 percent since November, according to a report by the University of Hong Kong.

Iranian internet email access returns after mysterious four-day outage

The semiofficial Mehr agency had said that more than 30 million people in the country were affected by the outage.

Peru captures rebel leader. Is this the end of the Shining Path?

President Ollanta Humala declared the Maoist guerrilla group is no longer a threat after the capture of Comrade Artemio, reports guest blogger Hannah Stone.

In landmark trial, Pakistan prime minister charged with contempt

The indictment of Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani has polarized public opinion, with some seeing a victory for rule of law, but others worried about an antidemocratic precedent.

Tesla SUV with wings or not, we should kill the electric car

Environmental groups are cheering: Tesla unveiled its newest fleet of electric vehicles this weekend, and California recently tightened its emissions standards. I was once enthusiastic about electric cars, too – as a solution to our environmental and energy challenges. I was wrong.

London: 8 stories from its residents

London, already one of the world's most admired cities, will make even more headlines this July when it hosts the Summer Olympic Games. And while millions will see the city on their TVs during the summer, its residents know it best. Writer Craig Taylor spoke with various people living in London for his book "Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now – As Told By Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It and Long for It." The title says it all. Here are 8 stories about living in the European city from those who know it well.

'The Walking Dead' midseason premiere shows the characters finding their focus

'The Walking Dead' moved slowly at the beginning of season 2, but the action seems to be heating up

Charlie Weingarten finds fresh ways to champion selfless acts of philanthropy

A member of a philanthropic family founded Explore.org to inspire selflessness and lifelong learning.

Whitney Houston: a singing sensation silenced too soon

Whitney Houston, who died tragically Saturday in Los Angeles, was a child of the African-American church and a trailblazer for black female singers. Whitney Houston, some say, had a 'once-in-a-generation' voice.

Despite riots, Greece pushes ahead with austerity (+video)

The Greek Parliament voted last night to slash the minimum wage and public sector jobs in exchange for a bailout, despite public fury that led to Molotov cocktails and tear gas.

Consumer confidence slides

Early reports indicate that consumer expectations will drop in February, indicating that consumers are tightening even further on spending.

How well do you know 'Once Upon a Time'?

This fall, ABC's new show 'Once Upon a Time' took well-worn fairytales and flipped them on their head. In their universe, characters like Snow White, Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are existing in their familiar magic world -- and in a present-day world, they're living like normal citizens, with no memory of their past as princesses wearing glass slippers or tricksters stealing infants. The show's been a success story for ABC, appealing to viewers of various ages. How well do you know the show? Test your knowledge on all things Storybrooke.

Phil Mickelson soars, Tiger Woods stumbles, at Pebble Beach

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were paired together in the final round. But Phil Mickelson finished with a victory, and an 11-stoke margin, over Woods at Pebble Beach.

NASA moon waypoint could be first deep-space human outpost

According to a Feb. 3 memo from William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations, a team is being formed to develop a cohesive plan for exploring a spot in space known as the Earth-moon libration point 2.