Climate
‘Whitest White’ Paint Beats the Heat
A new nanomaterial mixture lets surfaces release more heat than they absorb
Stories by Sophie Bushwick
Engineering
Hacker Attack on Essential Pipeline Shows Infrastructure Weaknesses
Ransomware is steadily hitting harder. Could banks or subway systems be next?
Engineering
The NYPD’s Robot Dog Was a Really Bad Idea: Here’s What Went Wrong
Design, context and timing influence whether humans embrace a robot or reject it
Computing
Algorithm Virtually Unfolds a Historical Letter without Unsealing It
In the centuries before envelopes, “letterlocking” secured a message’s information
Automotive
Will Trackless Trams Gain Traction in the U.S.?
A hybrid form of transportation could be an alternative to buses or light rails
Computing
How Hackers Tried to Add Dangerous Lye into a City’s Water Supply
A cybersecurity expert explains how safety systems stopped the attack
Behavior & Society
How to Stop Doomscrolling News and Social Media
“Doomscroll Reminder Lady” Karen K. Ho explains how to step away from the screen
Public Health
Why COVID Vaccines Are Taking So Long to Reach You
Bottlenecks in supply chains and difficult appointment-registration systems are slowing distribution
Computing
What the Capitol Riot Data Download Shows about Social Media Vulnerabilities
A massive amount of information downloaded from Parler includes potentially incriminating material. But innocuous posts on mainstream platforms can also create vulnerabilities
Arts & Culture
From Rapping Robots to Glowing Frogs: Our Favorite Fun Stories of 2020
It has been a tough year, but science still brought us some weird, cool and quirky findings
Public Health
Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Stay safer on different forms of transportation
Computing
Giant U.S. Computer Security Breach Exploited Very Common Software
A cybersecurity expert explains how hackers used SolarWinds to steal information from government and industry organizations
Biology
Electricity-Carrying Bacteria Lead to New Applications—and New Questions
As researchers develop sensors and other devices based on conductive microbes’ nanowires, they continue to debate exactly how the organisms conduct electricity
Computing
An Expert on Voting Machines Explains How They Work
Election officials also rely on high-speed scanners, envelope openers and good old-fashioned paper
Policy & Ethics
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
Engineering
New Bio-Inspired Molecule Helps Concrete Resist Freeze Damage
An additive, inspired by a natural protein, creates a more durable building material
Neuroscience
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. ...
Computing
Fruit Flies Plug into the Matrix
A new budget-friendly virtual-reality system helps researchers study the brains of small animals
Computing
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
Public Health
Schools Have No Good Options for Reopening during COVID-19
Bringing students back into classrooms or keeping them home can both have negative consequences
