Robotics
Evolution Gym Sculpts Novel Robot Bodies and Brains
The virtual robots look weird, but they get the job done
Stories by Prachi Patel
Biotech
AI System Can Sniff Out Disease as Well as Dogs Do
Researchers are training algorithms to emulate trained dogs’ ability to detect cancer and other diseases, perhaps including COVID-19
Energy
Sunlight Powers Portable, Inexpensive Systems to Produce Drinking Water
A new generation of tech uses heat from the sun to provide clean, salt-free water
Biology
Sewage Treatment Offers Biodiversity Boost in U.K. River
A Thames tributary has been recovering since regulations changed in 1991
Technology
Disappearing Plastics Stay Strong in the Shadows and Melt Away in the Sun
The material could form self-destructing drones or sensors
Culture
Art Meets Science in These Dazzling Lamps Made of Microbes
Swedish designer Jan Klingler has garnered attention for his stunning lighting featuring bacteria
Engineering
How 3-D Printing Could Break into the Building Industry
Imagine a single trained operator making a bridge, home or barracks
Biology
Camera Mimics Mantis Shrimp’s Astounding Vision
The device can detect polarized light and takes pictures in bright and shadowy conditions
Biology
Creating Synthetic Silk from Microbes
Engineered bacteria produce silk-like fibers that are as strong as natural ones
Chemistry
How Do Bomb Squads Assess a Suspicious Package?
Explosives experts use a combination of x-ray scans, chemical swabs and other tools to evaluate the parcel
Electronics
Turn a Wall into a Touch Screen Cheap
Researchers used a couple of hundred dollars worth of materials to turn a wall into a giant touch screen
Biology
Engineered Microbe Shakes Up the Tree of Life
Scientists have created a life-form that combines features of bacteria and archaea
Chemistry
The Quirkier Uses of Graphene
The versatile carbon material can be used in everything from hair dye to running shoes
Environment
Stemming the Plastic Tide: 10 Rivers Contribute Most of the Plastic in the Oceans
The Yangtze alone pours up to an estimated 1.5 million metric tons into the Yellow Sea
Automobiles
Could Cobalt Choke Our Electric Vehicle Future?
Demand for the metal, which is critical to EV batteries, could soon outstrip supply
Space & Physics
Seeing the Unseen: New, Low-Cost Technique Tracks Objects Hidden by Fog
A new, low-cost technique could reveal objects shrouded in mist or dust
Space & Physics
Fuzzy Fibers Could Help Rockets Take the Heat
The Velcro-like threads could help tomorrow’s spacecraft engines reach Mars or beyond
Energy
Tiny Silk Batteries Dissolve within Weeks
Biodegradable power source could run medical implants deep in the body
Electronics
Wireless Phone Charging Picks Up Steam
Newer technologies, growing consumer interest and adoption by gadget makers are breathing fresh air into the concept
Biotech
These Microscopic Bots Could Swim through the Bloodstream to Deliver Drugs
Chemists create micro swimmers that can be controlled by light
