Engineering Design

Climate

Coastal cities around the world are sinking, satellite data show

Of 99 coastal cities studied, nearly one-third are sinking. This leaves coastal communities increasingly vulnerable to rising seas.

Earth

A new clock shows how gravity warps time — even over tiny distances

This clock measured how gravity changes the passage of time in different places — even spots just one millimeter apart.

Archaeology

Muons reveal the inner worlds of pyramids, volcanoes and more

Tracking these subatomic particles can uncover surprising hidden structures.

Physics

Some of the sun’s iconic coronal loops may be ghostly illusions

Wrinkles in the sun’s outer atmosphere might trick the eye into seeing glowing arches, scientists now report.

Agriculture

Here’s why cricket farmers may want to go green — literally

Crickets are great sources of protein, but they often kill each other in captivity. Green light could help solve the problem, two teens find.

Humans

Teen-designed tech could expand access for people with disabilities

Several inventors at the 2022 Regeneron ISEF competition offered creative solutions that translate sign language and help blind people navigate.

Chemistry

Reusable plastic bottles release hundreds of pollutants into water

Data show the plastic ends up tainting drinking water. For now, scientists don’t know what health risks downing these pollutants might pose.

Health & Medicine

Patches and robotic pills may one day replace injections

Instead of a shot in the arm, a light-activated patch or robotic pill may one day deliver your medicine.

Space

We finally have an image of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy

New observations from the Event Horizon Telescope reveal the chaotic region around the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, in extreme detail.

Environment

Bubbles could help remove trash from rivers

One young engineer devised a way to make bubbles sweep away the trash floating down a creek, like the one in her backyard.

Plants

Electric shocks act like vaccines to protect plants from viruses

To protect crops against viruses in their home country of Taiwan, two teens invented a novel approach to fight blights.

Chemistry

Let’s learn about cellulose

The world’s most abundant natural polymer is finding all kinds of new uses, in everything from ice cream to construction.