ElectronicsMarch 18, 2020
Ultrasonic Attack Device Hacks Phones through Solid Objects
Hackers could trick voice assistants to make calls or compromise texts
Stories by Sophie Bushwick
Sophie Bushwick was formerly the technology editor at Scientific American. She makes frequent appearances on radio shows such as Science Friday and television networks, including CBS, MSNBC and National Geographic. She has more than a decade of experience as a science journalist based in New York City and previously worked at outlets such as Popular Science,Discover and Gizmodo. Follow Bushwick on X (formerly Twitter) @sophiebushwick
EnvironmentFebruary 27, 2020
Delivery from Local Store Is Greenest Shopping Method—Most of the Time
Researchers also calculated the carbon footprints for online and in-person shopping
ComputingFebruary 14, 2020
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
EngineeringFebruary 1, 2020
A Drone’s-Eye View of the Quick and the Dead
New machine-learning technique can distinguish living bodies from deceased ones
EngineeringJanuary 31, 2020
Sweating Robot Beats the Heat
By leaking water, a soft robotic gripper cools itself more efficiently than humans do
ElectronicsJanuary 29, 2020
Cyborg Jellyfish Could One Day Explore the Ocean
An electronic device increases their speed, and later versions could control their direction as well
EngineeringJanuary 23, 2020
3-D Printing Gives Voice to a 3,000-Year-Old Mummy
Researchers printed a replica of the vocal tract of ancient Egyptian scribe Nesyamun
EngineeringJanuary 21, 2020
A Simple Twist of Thermodynamics Could Lead to Greener Refrigeration
Fibers that become colder when they are untwisted could inspire more environmentally-friendly fridges
TechnologyJanuary 15, 2020
Bacteria-Filled Bricks Build Themselves
The microorganisms transform sand and gelatin into a living construction material
EngineeringJanuary 8, 2020
How Iran Can Still Use Cyber and Drone Technology to Attack the U.S.
Cyberattacks and missile launches have already happened
ComputingJanuary 4, 2020
New Particle Accelerator Fits on a Silicon Chip
The device uses lasers to accelerate electrons along an etched channel
ComputingDecember 27, 2019
How NIST Tested Facial Recognition Algorithms for Racial Bias
Some algorithms were up to 100 times better at identifying white faces
ElectronicsDecember 1, 2019
New Technique Welds Ceramics with Lasers
The process could lead to the creation of tougher, more biocompatible electronic devices
ElectronicsNovember 20, 2019
New Virtual Reality Interface Enables "Touch" Across Long Distances
Lightweight, flexible patch conveys a tactile sensation directly to the skin
ChemistryNovember 18, 2019
Levitating Drugs, Star Wars Tech and a Simulated Universe: Science GIFs to Start Your Week
Enjoy and loop on
ComputingNovember 13, 2019
Hearing Is Seeing: Sound Waves Create a 3-D Display
An interactive system produces levitating images by projecting color onto a tiny bead as it zips around a darkened box
ComputingOctober 24, 2019
This Video Watches You Back
Stealing Ur Feelings sounds an alarm about how companies could use emotion-recognition technology
Quantum ComputingOctober 8, 2019
New Encryption System Protects Data from Quantum Computers
As quantum computing creeps closer, IBM successfully demonstrates a way to secure sensitive information
ComputingAugust 9, 2019
A Computer Tells Real Smiles from Phonies
Slight changes around the eyes are indeed a giveaway as to whether a smile is sincere or faked.
ElectronicsJuly 23, 2019
“Anonymous” Data Won’t Protect Your Identity
A new study demonstrates it is surprisingly easy to ID an individual within a supposedly incognito data set
EngineeringJuly 1, 2019
New Sensor Could Detect Electrical Failures in Ships or Buildings
A monitoring device could measure overall power consumption and identify critical malfunctions
Natural DisastersJune 12, 2019
Watch a Raging Forest Fire Surround You in 360 Degrees
Nightmarish spherical videos, shot from the center of an inferno, demonstrate how they spread
BiotechMay 16, 2019
Smartphone App Screens Kids for Ear Problems
Parents can use a digital tool at home to detect fluid behind the eardrum
EngineeringApril 17, 2019
How France Can Rebuild Notre Dame
An expert offers a scientific perspective on what has been lost and what can be restored