Tech
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Chemistry
Wanted: Crime-solving bacteria and body odor
Forensic investigators are moving past old-school sleuthing to analyze microbes and odors that tell a more complete story, while pursuing ways to enhance traditional tools as well.
- Science & Society
A bot, not a Kardashian, probably wrote that e-cig tweet
Some 80 percent of recent e-cigarette-related tweets were promotional in nature, raising concerns that the positive spin is targeting a young audience.
- Tech
50 years ago, an automat began taking paper money
Ubiquitous today, vending machines that accepted bills were once considered exciting technological achievements.
- Science & Society
Contentious science topics on Wikipedia subject to editing mischief
Global warming and other politically charged issues are prime targets for sabotage on Wikipedia.
- Tech
‘Monsters’ examines a history of technological hubris
Drawing on the Hindenburg disaster, a science writer develops criteria for recognizing risky technology.
- Tech
Moving exhibit pays tribute to lost space shuttles’ crews
At Kennedy Space Center, pieces of wreckage from the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia are on public display for the first time.
- Science & Society
A few key signs betray betrayal
Like many relationships that collapse after betrayal, teasing out what goes wrong and who is at fault in betrayal isn’t so easy.
-
- Animals
Help ornithologists develop bird photo ID tool
Cornell ornithology lab’s computer identification of common North American avian species needs your photos.
- Genetics
Enormous quantities may soon be called ‘genomical’
Genetic data may soon reach beyond astronomical proportions.
- Tech
Flame-finding pistols set off decades of blazing technology
Researchers unveiled a gun-shaped flame detector in 1965
- Tech
3-D–printed body helps jumping robot land on its feet
To launch itself into the air, a jumping robot relies on a 3-D–printed body made of a gradient of soft and stiff plastics.
