RoboticsDecember 10, 2021
Evolution Gym Sculpts Novel Robot Bodies and Brains
The virtual robots look weird, but they get the job done
Stories by Prachi Patel
Prachi Patel is a freelance journalist based in Pittsburgh. She writes about energy, materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology and computing.
BiotechMarch 4, 2021
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
EnergyFebruary 1, 2021
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
BiologyDecember 1, 2019
Sewage Treatment Offers Biodiversity Boost in U.K. River
A Thames tributary has been recovering since regulations changed in 1991
TechnologyAugust 26, 2019
Disappearing Plastics Stay Strong in the Shadows and Melt Away in the Sun
The material could form self-destructing drones or sensors
CultureJuly 1, 2019
Art Meets Science in These Dazzling Lamps Made of Microbes
Swedish designer Jan Klingler has garnered attention for his stunning lighting featuring bacteria
EngineeringMarch 25, 2019
How 3-D Printing Could Break into the Building Industry
Imagine a single trained operator making a bridge, home or barracks
BiologyFebruary 1, 2019
Camera Mimics Mantis Shrimp’s Astounding Vision
The device can detect polarized light and takes pictures in bright and shadowy conditions
BiologyDecember 1, 2018
Creating Synthetic Silk from Microbes
Engineered bacteria produce silk-like fibers that are as strong as natural ones
ChemistryOctober 26, 2018
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
ElectronicsJuly 26, 2018
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
BiologyJuly 1, 2018
Engineered Microbe Shakes Up the Tree of Life
Scientists have created a life-form that combines features of bacteria and archaea
ChemistryJune 1, 2018
The Quirkier Uses of Graphene
The versatile carbon material can be used in everything from hair dye to running shoes
EnvironmentFebruary 1, 2018
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
AutomobilesJanuary 1, 2018
Could Cobalt Choke Our Electric Vehicle Future?
Demand for the metal, which is critical to EV batteries, could soon outstrip supply
The SciencesSeptember 1, 2017
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 & PhysicsJuly 1, 2017
Fuzzy Fibers Could Help Rockets Take the Heat
The Velcro-like threads could help tomorrow’s spacecraft engines reach Mars or beyond
EnergyApril 13, 2017
Tiny Silk Batteries Dissolve within Weeks
Biodegradable power source could run medical implants deep in the body
ElectronicsMarch 3, 2017
Wireless Phone Charging Picks Up Steam
Newer technologies, growing consumer interest and adoption by gadget makers are breathing fresh air into the concept
BiotechFebruary 1, 2017
These Microscopic Bots Could Swim through the Bloodstream to Deliver Drugs
Chemists create micro swimmers that can be controlled by light
Public HealthDecember 1, 2016
Cheap Paper Diagnostics Would Save Lives in Remote, Impoverished Places
Cheap, rapid screening for diseases such as Ebola and tuberculosis could save lives in remote and impoverished places
EngineeringOctober 9, 2016
Silkworms Spin Super-Silk after Eating Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
The strong, conductive material could be used for wearable electronics and medical implants, researchers say
ElectronicsAugust 22, 2016
Maker Movement Turns Scientists into Tinkerers
Researchers in growing numbers are starting to enlist do-it-yourself 3-D printers, cheap electronics, sensors and more to advance their work
ConservationAugust 1, 2016
The First Comprehensive Look at Global Food Waste Is as Bad as You'd Expect
The U.S. is one of the top offenders