Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Stay safer on different forms of transportation
Stories by Sophie Bushwick
An Expert on Voting Machines Explains How They Work
Election officials also rely on high-speed scanners, envelope openers and good old-fashioned paper
Seven Ways the Election Will Shape the Future of Science, Health and the Environment
Climate change, nuclear arms control, the pandemic and more will be determined by whoever wins the White House and Congress
New Bio-Inspired Molecule Helps Concrete Resist Freeze Damage
An additive, inspired by a natural protein, creates a more durable building material
These Researchers Are Putting Fly Babies into Virtual Reality
A new system called PiVR creates working artificial environments for small animals such as zebra fish larvae and fruit flies. Developers say the system’s affordability could help expand research into animal behavior. ...
Fruit Flies Plug into the Matrix
A new budget-friendly virtual-reality system helps researchers study the brains of small animals
Mail-Sorting Machines Are Crucial for the U.S. Postal Service
An expert explains how automation enables quick deliveries—which will include ballots for November’s election
Schools Have No Good Options for Reopening during COVID-19
Bringing students back into classrooms or keeping them home can both have negative consequences
How Could the Beirut Explosion Happen? Experts Explain
To get to the roots of disasters like this one, investigators rely on video footage, documents, interviews and other evidence
Laser-Textured Metal Surfaces Kill Bacteria Faster
Zapping copper with lasers enhances its antimicrobial properties
New Design Helps N95 Mask Wearers Breathe Easier
The device prevents oxygen deprivation in coronavirus-blocking respirators
New Artificial Eye Mimics a Retina’s Natural Curve
Researchers have crafted a device that replicates the shape of the eye’s sensory membrane
DIY Tool Lets High Schoolers Practice Gene Editing
With a few dollars, researchers replicated an instrument that typically costs thousands
A Shiny Snack Bag’s Reflections Can Reconstruct the Room around It
Researchers used the light reflecting off the wrapper to build an image of its surroundings
Footstep Sensors Identify People by Gait
A supersensitive detector system can also glean clues about health
Flexible Armor Inspired by Mollusks Better Defends Joints
A scaly sea creature called a chiton sparks an idea for new protective gear
Engineers Offer DIY Solutions to Coronavirus Equipment Shortages
As hospitals beg for protective gear and ventilators, some individuals are taking a creative approach to the problem
Ultrasonic Attack Device Hacks Phones through Solid Objects
Hackers could trick voice assistants to make calls or compromise texts
Delivery from Local Store Is Greenest Shopping Method—Most of the Time
Researchers also calculated the carbon footprints for online and in-person shopping
Will Past Criminals Reoffend? Humans Are Terrible at Guessing, and Computers Aren’t Much Better
A new study finds algorithms’ predictions are slightly superior but not under all circumstances
