Engineering Design

  1. Artificial Intelligence

    DeepSeek pioneers a new way for AI to ‘reason’

    Chatbots answer one question at a time. Reasoning agents work through a problem step by step. DeepSeek makes this new type of AI far less costly.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  2. Science & Society

    Does your natural history museum need a makeover?

    A lot of their old-fashioned dioramas — a type of exhibit — are biased, boring or even unscientific. Here’s what modern museums are doing to fix that.

    By Amber Dance
  3. Tech

    A robotic hand helps piano players’ fingers move faster

    Robotic devices like this might someday help musicians, gamers, athletes or even surgeons improve their dexterity.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  4. Genetics

    This young biologist looked for links between diet and dyslexia

    Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Giselle Drewett wanted to know how lifestyle might influence a gene related to dyslexia.

    By Maria Temming
  5. Tech

    Meet 5 types of robots with living body parts

    Creature-machine mash-ups seem weird or even creepy. But biohybrids that make use of living tissue could be the future of robotics.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  6. Plants

    Microbes give plants a way to make ‘meaty’ nutrients

    Enzymes from animals helped a test plant make two nutrients essential for a balanced diet. Normally, those nutrients would only be found in meat.

    By Skyler Ware
  7. Artificial Intelligence

    Scientists Say: Large language model

    Large language models, or LLMs, are language-processing systems that underpin advanced AI technologies such as ChatGPT.

    By Katie Grace Carpenter
  8. Tech

    High-speed lasers write data — to last millennia — inside glass

    Project Silica is advancing a new way to store data — potentially forever. Some students plan to use this new media to send a message into space.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  9. Computing

    This computer scientist uses math to help people be treated fairly

    Ariel Procaccia has designed computer algorithms that help split up credit on group projects, distribute donations, pick citizens’ assemblies and more.

    By Maria Temming
  10. Tech

    This teen engineer’s device sniffs out common food allergens

    Inspired by his own severe food allergies, Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Samvith Mahadevan built a device to protect people from allergen exposure.

    By Maria Temming
  11. Tech

    For teens, virtual reality worlds aren’t all fun and games

    More than a third of surveyed teens who used VR headsets reported they had experienced hate speech, bullying or harassment in virtual reality environments.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  12. Tech

    Move over Iron Man, exoskeletons are getting real 

    Real-world wearable devices help people stay safe at work and accomplish everyday tasks.

    By Aaron Tremper