The engagement ring may be one of the biggest expenses of your wedding, and as with buying any big-ticket item, you need to do your homework. We tapped Jerry Ehrenwald, the president of the International Gemological Institute, for some quick guidelines on what couples need to do when they're buying an engagement ring. Learn about the four Cs. "Before purchasing a diamond, learn all about the Read more

In grade school, studies of space are often limited to the eight (that was nine in my day, Pluto fans) planets of the solar system. Discover the mysteries that lie beyond our own planetary backyard on the iPad app Journey to the Exoplanets ($10), which examines the outer planets that continue to be discovered. Created by Scientific American magazine, the app includes audio, video, illustrated, Read more

We've tried too many wireless speakers with dim, disappointing sound qualities that we've almost given up hope on a reliable and attractive mobile audio system. Until we came across the Zooka wireless speaker for iOS devices ($90 or $150 for a limited-edition glow- in-the-dark version) on Kickstarter. Zooka connects via Bluetooth to any iPhone or iPad and includes a 3.5mm audio input when Read more

Whether you use a traditional copper IUD or the plastic version that releases the hormone progestin, a recent international study shows that both types of intrauterine devices (IUDs) may lower a woman's risk of cervical cancer. The data was collected from 10 previously published studies comparing women with cervical cancer to women without the disease, as well as data from 16 HPV frequency Read more

You might want to view law school scholarships with a grain of salt. In a New York Times expose, it was revealed that many students lose their law school merit scholarships because of a system that is designed for them to do so. Law schools offer more scholarships because they want to lure highly qualified students in order up their U.S. News rankings. However, the students quickly find out that Read more

Flickr is one of the most widely known photo-sharing sites for professional shutterbugs. But according to a new graph released by the Yahoo-owned site, recreational iPhone 4-toting photographers are gaining ground. The graph shows the most popular cameras used on the site: Nikon D90, Apple iPhone 4, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and Canon EOS Rebel T1i are the most popular. Read more

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering questions about the often dreaded annual gynecological exam. Dear DrSugar, I am confused about how frequently I am supposed to have a pap smear. I am 28 and mine have always been normal, and I am now married and monogamous. Should I have a pap every year or every other year? Do the recommendations change with age? If I don't need a pap smear Read more