The Sciences
The Science of Sous Vide
How underwater cooking differs from the broiler method
Stories by W. Wayt Gibbs
The Sciences
The Incredible, Edible Foam--and the Mysterious Mathematics behind It
Mathematicians are still struggling to understand what happens atop your morning cappuccino
Sustainability
How Hackers Can Steal Secrets from Reflections
Information thieves can now go around encryption, networks and the operating system
Sustainability
Plan B for Energy: 8 Revolutionary Energy Sources
If efficiency improvements and incremental advances in today's technologies fail to halt global warming, could revolutionary new carbon-free energy sources save the day? Don't count on it—but don't count it out, either...
The Sciences
Evolution in a Bottle: Synthetic Life Oozes Closer to Reality
Self-replicating RNAs advance science another step toward artificial life
Health
Untangling the Roots of Cancer
Recent evidence challenges long-held theories of how cells turn malignant--and suggests new ways to stop tumors before they spread
Tech
Innovations from a Robot Rally
The Grand Challenge competition spurred advances in laser sensing, computer vision and autonomous navigation--not to mention a thrilling race for the 2-million prize
Health
Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic?
Dissenting researchers accuse government and medical authorities--as well as the media--of misleading the public about the health consequences of rising body weights
Tech
Plan B for Energy
If efficiency improvements and incremental advances in today's technologies fail to halt global warming, could revolutionary new carbon-free energy sources save the day? Don't count on it--but don't count it out, either...
Tech
A Great Leap in Graphics
The quality of 3-D computer graphics is poised for a quantum jump forward, thanks to speedier ways to simulate the flight of light
The Sciences
A New Robot Rolls, and a New Prize Is Set
The quest to build autonomous vehicles for the battlefield continues
The Sciences
Ultimate Clocks
Atomic clocks are shrinking to microchip size, heading for space--and approaching the limits of useful precision
Tech
Innovations from a Robot Rally
This year's Grand Challenge competition spurred advances in laser sensing, computer vision and autonomous navigation-not to mention a thrilling race for the $2-million prize
Tech
Creative Paths to Open Access
Technology supplies new protections against threats of a fortress society
Space
Breaking the Mold
As the glass cools on his latest giant mirror, Roger Angel keeps pushing telescope design. His next one might even find Earth-like planets around other stars
The Sciences
How Should We Set Priorities?
The world faces no shortage of problems--or of good ideas to solve them. Which should we tackle next? Even as leaders converge on some answers, new markets are being set up to preempt politics...
Space
Cosmic CAT Scan
Observing the early universe--with 10,000 TV antennas
Biotech
Nanobodies
Antibodies, often described as magic bullets, are actually more like tanks: big, complicated and expensive. Tinier "nanobodies," derived from camels and llamas, may be able to infiltrate a wider range of diseases at lower cost...
The Sciences
The California Gambit
Biologists applauded the Golden State's $3bn wager on stem cell science. But as W. Wayt Gibbs reports, the stakes may be higher than they realise
Health
Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic?
A growing number of dissenting researchers accuse government and medical authorities—as well as the media—of misleading the public about the health consequences of rising body weights...
