Stories by Larry Greenemeier

Wallets, wreckage and digital coin. Before the new year appears, let's look at some of the most important technology stories Scientific American covered over the past 12 months.

Apple got a patent for a system to adjust your falling device in flight to minimize the damage on landing. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

The president is offering Cuba something the Castro government never asked for: access to U.S.-backed telecommunications services and gadgets

IBM scientists in India developed an experimental power supply from reusable lithium ion cells salvaged from three-year-old laptop battery packs. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

New York City public schools are missing hundreds and possibly thousands of computers, due to poor record keeping, theft, corruption or some combo. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

More than ever, there’s an app for that (and that, and that). SA examines new devices that enhance smartphones and tablets

Movie audiences who went to theaters this fall to see The Theory of Everything got a glimpse of the challenges physicist Stephen Hawking has overcome to deliver his groundbreaking insights into the nature of black holes, space and time.

Scientific American readers say smartphones have not replaced tablets or PCs, and still need better batteries, cameras and biometric security options

Training rescue robots to land safely from falls like cats could give them nine lives in the field. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

Dutch cyclists can now pedal a path paved with solar panels. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

Future technologies demand batteries that do more work but run cool, so a major new push has begun to remake them. Patent pioneer Esther Takeuchi explains how

Those who responded to our call for images of obscure, obsolete devices did not disappoint. Here are our favorites
 

Yondr’s locking gadget-case aims to keep digital distractions down during live performances. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

The WHO and the CDC have revised guidelines on personal protective equipment for health care workers, but concerns over wearing too much or too little gear persist

Even as 3-D printing's impact on science, healthcare and consumer electronics grows, these devices aren't likely to find their way into your home anytime soon.

Physics-flouting design could change sports dynamics

New technologies are extracting detailed data from our brains that reveal what we know, have seen or have dreamed. Some of the signals could even fly a plane

Nikon’s Small World photo competition celebrates its 40th anniversary

Law enforcement agencies and retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy balk at Apple's operating system and payment app privacy efforts. Larry Greenemeier reports

 

Tell us how you use your smartphone, which gadgets it has replaced and where you would like to see the technology go

Share your nostalgia for a long-obsolete device with other Scientific American readers

An air-conditioned cabin is the best way to drop a car's fuel efficiency on a hot day. This is true of electric vehicles (EV) as much as it is for gas-guzzlers.

Careful study of desert-dwelling snake mobility sheds light on the physics of crossing sandy surfaces

Twitter and M.I.T. have teamed up to launch the Laboratory for Social Machines to analyze the impact of social media messages on society. Larry Greenemeier reports