Materials Science
Recycled Wind Turbines Could Be Made into Plexiglass, Diapers or Gummy Bears
A new resin can hold fiberglass wind turbines together for years and then be recycled into valuable products, making green energy even greener
Stories by Sophie Bushwick
Politics
Nearly $53 Billion in Federal Funding Could Revive the U.S. Computer Chip Industry
The CHIPS and Science Act aims to support domestic semiconductor production, new high-tech jobs and scientific research—even NASA
Health Care
Algorithm That Detects Sepsis Cut Deaths by Nearly 20 Percent
Over two years, a machine-learning program warned thousands of health care providers about patients at high risk of sepsis, allowing them to begin treatments nearly two hours sooner
Engineering
This Sticker Looks Inside the Body
A new stick-on ultrasound patch can record the activity of hearts, lungs and other organs for 48 hours at a time
Privacy
Roe v. Wade Was Overturned: Here’s How Your Phone Could Be Used to Spy on You
From figuring out how often you go to the bathroom to potentially being used to prosecute you, your trusty smartphone might not be so trusty in a post-Roe world.
Public Health
Better Face Masks Are Possible: Here Are Some Winning Designs
A two-part competition aims to spark innovation and connect the groups trying to redesign high-quality masks that protect against COVID
Reproduction
Your Phone Could Be Used to Prosecute for Getting an Abortion: Here’s How
Technology editor Sophie Bushwick breaks down the precedent for using your phone to monitor personal health data.
Privacy
Yes, Phones Can Reveal if Someone Gets an Abortion
To protect personal information from companies that sell data, some individuals are relying on privacy guides instead of government regulation or industry transparency
Engineering
Record-Breaking Jumping Robot Can Leap a 10-Story Building
To propel itself higher than any known engineered jumper or animal can, it had to ignore the limits of biology
Materials Science
New ‘Ionogels’ Are Tough, Stretchable and Easy to Make
They could find use as protective material, 3-D printer “ink” or longer-lasting batteries
Defense
Russia Is Using ‘Digital Repression’ to Suppress Dissent
The Putin regime has a portfolio of digital tools to control information and crack down on protests within the country
Policy
Russia’s Information War Is Being Waged on Social Media Platforms
But tech companies and governments are fighting back
History
How Much Medieval Literature Has Been Lost?
An ecological model suggests islands are better at preserving literature as well as species
Artificial Intelligence
AI Outraces Human Champs at the Video Game Gran Turismo
The program also challenges certain assumptions about self-driving cars
Defense
Cyberattack Misinformation Could Be Plan for Ukraine Invasion
A falsified video would be an update on the traditional use of propaganda campaigns during warfare
Electronics
New Charging Technique Puts Crumbling Batteries Back Together
The method could extend the lifetime of lithium-metal batteries by 30 percent, a new study suggests
Aerospace
How Airlines Can Solve Their 5G Problem
A delayed rollout bought time to address worries that the new telecommunications standard would interfere with aviation instruments
Public Health
New Sensor Tells You How Well Your Mask Is Working
FaceBit tracks a face covering’s fit and wear time, as well as its wearer’s vital signs
Behavior
How to Stop Doomscrolling News and Social Media
“Doomscroll Reminder Lady” Karen K. Ho explains how to step away from the screen
Animals
The Best Fun Science Stories of 2021: Rhythmic Lemurs, a Marscopter and Sex-Obsessed Insect Zombies
Check out the weird and wonderful stories that delighted us this year
