Engineering
New 6G Networks Are in the Works. Can They Destroy Dead Zones for Good?
Next-generation 6G technology could “enable applications that we may not even imagine today”
Engineering1422 articles archived since 1845
Climate Change
Pipelines Touted as Carbon Capture Solution Spark Uncertainty and Opposition
Federal investment in carbon capture could help fight climate change, but this technology is facing fierce opposition
Engineering
Streetlights Are Mysteriously Turning Purple. Here’s Why
Newly purple streetlights might seem innocuous, but they could affect driver and pedestrian safety
Engineering
Introducing Scientific American’s Redesign, Newsletter and Podcasts
Geoengineering is happening, AI wants to talk with animals, and why we aren’t going to live in space
Natural Disasters
Dams Worldwide Are at Risk of Catastrophic Failure
Here’s why disasters like Libya’s dam collapses happen and how to prevent them
Climate Change
New Air-Conditioning Technology Could Be the Future of Cool
Standard AC units cool buildings but contribute to global warming. New technology aims to change that
Engineering
Science, Destroyer of Worlds—And Movie Scripts
Oppenheimer won’t bomb in the box office, but despite its director’s best efforts, the science in the film is a bit of a fizzle
Engineering
How Empty Office Spaces Can Be Converted into Homes
It is possible to transform empty office buildings into residential ones—but remodeling these spaces won’t be easy
Drug Use
Science Reveals How to Roll the Perfect Joint
Researchers used a smoking machine to test the intensity of marijuana rolled into joints
Engineering
Where Are the Worst Bridges in the U.S.?
More than 42,000 highway bridges across the country are in “poor” condition, according to national bridge inspection standards
Oceans
See How Crushing Pressures Increase in the Ocean’s Depths
If the missing Titan submersible was near the Titanic when it imploded, it would have experienced pressure higher than that of a great white shark bite
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: June 2023
Computer chess master; private bathing for birds
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: May 2023
King Tut’s bountiful tomb; music from fire
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
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: April 2023
Artificial rain; a scientist lives on Vesuvius
Pollution
Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts Stirred Up Toxic Sediment
The Nord Stream pipeline explosions happened in a dumping ground for chemical warfare, but other contaminants proved most toxic to marine life
Food
Why Is It So Hard to Make Vegan Fish?
Futuristic food science technology could finally bring plant-based salmon filets and tuna steaks to the table
Engineering
New Color-Changing Coating Could Both Heat and Cool Buildings
A thin film can switch from releasing heat to trapping it, and wrapping the coating around buildings could make them more energy-efficient
Natural Disasters
How to Engineer Buildings That Withstand Earthquakes
Though deadly quakes can’t be prevented, science does have some ways to protect buildings—and the people inside them
Computing
New Exascale Supercomputer Can Do a Quintillion Calculations a Second
New “exascale” supercomputers will bring breakthroughs in science. But the technology also exists to study nuclear weapons
