Tech

  1. Chemistry

    A new iron-based catalyst converts carbon dioxide into jet fuel

    Jet fuel made from carbon dioxide could one day reduce pollution from air travel.

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  2. Planetary Science

    Farming on Mars will be a lot harder than ‘The Martian’ made it seem

    Lab experiments developing and testing fake Martian dirt are proving just how difficult it would be to farm on the Red Planet.

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  3. Earth

    Technology and natural hazards clash to create ‘natech’ disasters

    Hurricanes, wildfires and nature’s other extreme events are increasingly causing damage to infrastructure crucial for safety and communication.

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  4. Tech

    A smartwatch app alerts users with hearing loss to nearby sounds

    With a new smartwatch app, users who are deaf or hard of hearing can get alerts that an alarm is going off or someone is knocking at the door.

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  5. Astronomy

    Turning space images into music makes astronomy more accessible

    Music created from telescope data helps people with blindness and visual impairments experience the wonders of astronomy, and could aid research.

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  6. Tech

    A new thermometer measures temperature with sound

    An acoustic thermometer takes temperature by listening to the faint hum that objects give off when they get hot.

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  7. Neuroscience

    Tiny, magnetically controlled robots coax nerve cells to grow connections

    Research using microrobots and nerve cells from rats could point to new treatments for people with nerve injuries.

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  8. Tech

    A Game Boy look-alike runs on solar panels and button smashes

    A new prototype console that looks and feels like the original Game Boy harnesses user-generated energy to run without batteries.

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  9. Computing

    How next-gen computer generated maps detect partisan gerrymandering

    The U.S. census will trigger a new round of redistricting beginning in 2021. Researchers have developed numerous tests to identify gerrymandering.

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  10. Tech

    Methanol fuel gives this tiny beetle bot the freedom to roam

    A new robot insect uses energy-dense methanol as fuel, not batteries. It could be a blueprint for future search-and-rescue bots with long run times.

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  11. Physics

    How understanding nature made the atomic bomb inevitable

    On the anniversary of Hiroshima, here’s a look back at the chain reaction of basic discoveries that led to nuclear weapons.

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  12. Space

    50 years ago, NASA prepared to launch America’s first space station

    In 1970, NASA was building Skylab. The orbiting laboratory led to many scientific firsts but was plagued by technical difficulties.

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