Engineering

A flying robot reveals how birds stay aloft and could inspire next-generation drones

Originally published in July 1857

The behavior of such machines influences how people treat one another

Originally published in March 1900

Measuring zoo animals’ heart and breathing rates from a distance keeps them—and humans—safe

Originally published in August 1951

Failing to protect our coasts from sea-level rise would cost vastly more

Fiber-optic cables stretching below cities, through glaciers and along the seafloor could record earthquakes and more

The use of off-the-shelf components means bad actors can easily look for vulnerabilities

Originally published in January 1914

Butterfly wings contain complex thermodynamic structures that can teach us to make efficient—and colorful—cooling materials

Originally published in May 1862