Stories by Christopher Mims

10 innovations that are radical enough to alter our lives

Hormones don't necessarily make men violent, but they do cause them to seek social dominance

"Newt Skywalker" nudges out Romney and Paul based on the former congressman's engagement in issues related to energy, the Internet and military weapons

10 new technologies that will make a difference

Forget cell-phone payment systems--just wave your hand to charge it

Year-round crops can stabilize the soil and increase yields. They may even fight climate change

A new type of battery could replace fossil fuels with nanotech crude

Neural computers will excel at all the tasks that make regular machines choke

Our highly selective list includes Teflon, dropped calls and the space shuttle

The nine billion people expected by 2050 will stress the planet, but cost-effective means can prevent overpopulation

The PlanetSolar catamaran will circumnavigate the globe in 120 days running on nothing but the sun's energy

Could methane-digesting bacteria and an Arctic cap of fresh water prevent a climate catastrophe?

From solar power to powering our planet with garbage, Scientific American explores ideas that would improve our planet

A new wave of start-ups wants to install rooftop solar panels on your house. Upfront cost: nothing

New details on Bill Gates's hurricane-alteration scheme haven't convinced some scientists that it's likely to succeed

A deep dive into one of the least scary geoengineering schemes to control global warming

From wind and wave to sun and trash, a look at how existing power plants are providing electricity generated from renewable sources on a massive scale

Entomologists struggle to find an alternative to the vanishing honeybee

We weren't sure what to do with a SheevaPlug, a cheap and powerful home server stuffed into a package the size of a power brick, so we asked a bunch of uber-geeks--Here's what they said

An explosion in the number and kind of commercially available hybrid trucks means battery power isn't just for lightweight commuter vehicles anymore

Honda was in New York City this week demonstrating its Stride Management Assist and Body Weight Support Assist exoskeleton devices

In a race against time, researchers propagate native solitary bees as an alternative to our most important pollinators

Lacking a stinger is no barrier to kicking butt in the evolutionary cage match between Australian bees and hive-invading parasites