Humans Fold: AI Conquers Poker's Final Milestone
A new program outperforms professionals in six-player games. Could business, political or military applications come next?
Stories by Jeremy Hsu
Don't Panic about Rare Earth Elements
The materials used in iPhones and Tesla cars need not become a long-term casualty of a U.S.-China trade war
Can Robots Help Pick Up after the Recycling Crisis?
They will have to overcome the challenges of America’s convenient single-stream recycling system
Solar Power's Benefits Don't Shine Equally on Everyone
Racial and ethnic minorities have less access to solar power, regardless of income, highlighting the need for environmental justice
Out of the Way, Human! Delivery Robots Want a Share of Your Sidewalk
As automated delivery ramps up, cities must decide how to make the best use of public spaces
Drones Used to Find Toylike "Butterfly" Land Mines
Quadcopters with thermal imagery cameras can help detect vicious mini-mines that often kill or maim children
Experts Aren't Taking a Shine to California's Rooftop Solar Rule
Energy economists say the new home requirement is inefficient and benefits wealthier people; supporters say it’s just one piece of the puzzle
Is the U.S. Lagging in the Quest for Quantum Computing?
U.S. government funding is needed to sustain the arduous journey toward a practical quantum computer, experts say
Why Are There So Few Autism Specialists?
Lack of interest, training and pay may limit the supply
Asteroid Sample-Return Spacecraft Are Approaching Their Targets
Japanese and U.S. missions could yield new discoveries about the origins of life on Earth
Japan's Hayabusa 2 Spacecraft Nears Its Target, the Asteroid Ryugu
The mission is one of two currently seeking to retrieve samples from asteroids; the other is the U.S. spacecraft OSIRIS-REx
Stellar Effort: Chart of the Milky Way Includes More Than 1 Billion Stars
The second data set from Europe’s Gaia mission could provide clues to the galaxy’s past and future
The Hard Truth about the Rhino Horn "Aphrodisiac" Market
Media coverage hyping the supposed use of rhino horn to pump up sex drive does no favors for conservation efforts
Here's How Drones Do (and Don't) Threaten Passenger Aircraft
Quadcopter crashes with a helicopter and plane—the first-ever in the U.S. and Canada, respectively—show that such encounters are no longer hypothetical
Solar-Sail Technology Gets Its Day in the Sun
The privately funded LightSail 2 spacecraft will make a test flight in Earth orbit
Future Solar Storms Could Cause Devastating Damage
A new model suggests a major such event in 150 years could equal the current U.S. GDP
Can a Crowdsourced AI Medical Diagnosis App Outperform Your Doctor?
The Human Dx platform aims to improve the accuracy of individual physicians
U.S. Icebreaker Fleet Is Overdue for an Upgrade
The Coast Guard is testing models for new ships it hopes to begin building in 2020
Will Tesla's Tiles Finally Give Solar Shingles Their Day in the Sun?
Elon Musk bets homeowners will pay a premium for resilient panels that look like an ordinary roof
NASA Technology Fights Flight Delays
A new air traffic control system could ensure that you spend less time flying the crowded skies
