Computing2328 articles archived since 1845

Wireless Services Increasingly Strained as Mobile Explodes

Unlike fiber-optic networks, the wireless network cannot double in capacity by simply adding electronics

The Joke's on Your Computer: The Latest Humor Coded into Software

Programmers continue to plug humorous gems into everyday software

Use It Better: Secret Easter Eggs

The most elaborate Easter eggs of all time

150 Years Ago: Ghost Photo

Innovation and discovery as chronicled in past issues of Scientific American

App Turns iPhone into spiPhone

An iPhone app can enable the smart phone to tell what somebody is typing on a nearby computer keyboard. Christopher Intagliata reports

Why Economic Models Are Always Wrong

Financial-risk models got us in trouble before the 2008 crash, and they're almost sure to get us in trouble again

Computers versus Brains

Computers are good at storage and speed, but brains maintain the efficiency lead

IBM Simulates 4.5 percent of the Human Brain, and All of the Cat Brain

A special online-only addition to November 2011's Graphic Science

Tiny Toilers: Precision-Controlled Microbots Show They Could Take On Industrial-Scale Jobs

Magnetically levitated microbots, some the size of a pinhead, demonstrate construction skills on the small scale

The Real Science behind Scientology

It's not what you think

On the Trail of Space Trash

The U.S. Air Force has a new plan to track tiny pieces of orbiting debris

Body Language Improves Our Communication

Recent research finds that body language significantly improves how well we are understood by our audience. Christie Nicholson reports

November 2011 Briefing Memo

U.S. Spy Agency to Use Twitter to Forecast Unrest

US intelligence agency aims to forecast unrest by reading the runes of social media.

Apple's R&D spending hits a low

Guess what Apple's research and development spending is as a percentage of revenue? Chances are your answers are so far off that Apple's R&D spending could be a drinking game.

Cold Cases: Scientists use a variety of tools to help them identify human remains [Video and Slide Show]

Forensic anthropologists refer to animal skeletons and to new 3D software to help identify victims.

Cold Cases: Scientists use a variety of tools to help them identify human remains [Slide Show]

Forensic anthropologists refer to animal skeletons and to new 3D software to help identify victims.

Cybersecurity Threats to Pick Up Steam in 2012

A new Georgia Tech Information Security Center report cites search engines, mobile phones and personal information as prime targets for hackers. Larry Greenemeier reports

iOS 5 update bricked my iPod Touch

The iOS 5 update initially bricked my iPod Touch. (Credit: Lance Whitney/CNET) An attempted upgrade to iOS 5 bricked my iPod Touch, forcing me to spend hours restoring the device.

Hallelujah! BlackBerry service is finally restored

Research In Motion's BlackBerry service, which had been out since Monday in some parts of the world, has been fully restored, executives at the company said Thursday morning.