Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

From This Collection

Small talk: Pink lights, games with cats, Google ads

The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: using pink lights to deter criminals, an interspecies iPad game you can play with your cat, Google replacing ringtones with ads.

Small talk: A breakup museum, Apple's pinch-and-zoom, McFlurry misconduct

Dec 21, 2012
The Dinner Party serves up news that didn't quite make the headlines -- perfect for your dinner party conversations this weekend.

Small talk: Used clothes, anti-viral beer and the coco-apple?

Dec 7, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: Giving your used clothes away, a pineapple that tastes like coconut and the anti-viral properties of beer.

Small talk: E-mail species, antique coins and why you can't smile in New Jersey

Sep 21, 2012
Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam of the Dinner Party fill you in on what stories flew under the radar for your weekend.

Small talk: 'Bob Dylan bond,' 83-year-old flight attendant retires

Sep 7, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: A social media site for the 1 percent, explaining the Bob Dylan bond, and the longest-running flight attendant in the history of aviation retires.

Small talk: Printing a house, music to wake up the Mars rover

Aug 17, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: The Californians Help Eliminate All The Evasive Registration Scofflaws program, the morning playlist of the Mars rover Curiosity, and a printer that can make a house.

Small talk: Kickstarter consultants, counterfeit bills

Aug 3, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: Missile Defense staff warned to stop surfing porn sites, an entire industry of consultants to help you raise money on Kickstarter, and counterfeit $100 bills in Arizona.

For public good, not for profit.

Small talk: Robot swimmers and a $33 ticket to Hong Kong

Jul 20, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: Robots learn how to swim, a mom hacks into her kids' school system computers to change grades and a glitch on United Airlines' website offered a $33 plane ticket to Hong Kong.

Small talk: Zombie bullets, mirror ads and Disney v. Redbox

Jun 8, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: Bullets for killing zombies, ads in public bathroom mirrors and Redbox buying Disney movies to rent out to customers.

Small talk: Facebook predictions, traffic down, paying loans in cash

May 25, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: Facebook can predict the stock market, U.S. traffic is down (but not on L.A.'s 405 freeway), and paying off loans with cash.